what is meant by shade

[buffalo]

I been reading about terrestrial orchid like jewel orchids.and the word for the amount of light is often shade. I know it means no direct sunlight that is a given. Shade as found on forest floor is that near a window , far away from window, window that gets no direct light, one article i read said enough light to read a newspaper.

[estación seca]

Well, I can read the newspaper at the beach on a sunny day, or by candlelight at midnight. So that doesn't help me much, either.

I think most peole think shade means there is no shadow cast if something is put between the light source and the target. But maybe I'm wrong, and that's not how I decide on what shade is - I just look.

With long experience (that means killing lots of plants) gardeners come to understand what different light levels are. You can take a shortcut and prevent many deaths by buying a light meter reading in footcandles. They aren't that expensive.

You can also use an automatic camera and a little work. See this link

MEASURING LIGHT INTENSITY *

There are apps for mobile phones but I found the free and free trial ones are hard to use and demand access to all your personal information on the phone. Also, lots of phone camera systems aren't designed for people who care about light levels, so they don't work well for this purpose

But really, you should go buy a light meter.

*(which replaces the original page, referred to elsewhere on OB but no longer existing)

[Plodde]

I think you have the right idea when you say " no direct sunlight"

Honestly i think thats good enough. Just keep it somewhere out of the sun but obviously not in a dark room or anything.

Also you will find out fairly quickly if your orchid is getting too much sun, ei, leaf burn or the leaves and canes becoming extremely light green in color.

It will take longer to find out if your orchid is not getting enough light. It usually will have very slow growth or won't flower.

Hope this helps. Or hope someone that can explain it a little better comes along.

[bil]

Originally Posted by estación seca

But really, you should go buy a light meter.

Yep. The problem is that determining shade is like defining socialism. Not as easy as you might think.

Do you want bright shade, half shade, heavy shade or full shade?

[katrina]

I think a better descriptor (for most in the jewel orchid group) would be "bright shade" which I have read means bright but w/out any direct sun exposure. Similar to what most phals need and in footcandles that usually translates to 800-1200.

With that said, many of my phals actually do get some direct morning and/or late day sun. Would jewels be harmed by that...not sure. If you can grow phals though, the jewels should be quite happy under similar conditions.

[Fairorchids]

Working in greenhouses, I am used to dealing with shade cloth. These are rated in terms of how much of the sunlight they block.

Cymbidium : Need 0-20% shade cloth
Cattleya : Need 35-45% shade cloth (also multi-floral Paphs)
Paphs & Phals: Need 55-60% shade cloth
Seedlings : Need 70-80% shade cloth (when first deflasked)

Jewel orchids should probably be under 60-70%, so it is a bit more shade than just 'no sunlight'. Outdoors I would go with north side of house, rather than south and in shade.

[buffalo]

Thanks for those responses very helpful