Growing in the Office - Orchid Board

oldbizmark · #1 11-03-2016, 11:14 AM

I used to grow a lot of orchids but took the last 5 years off because of children. I am thinking about getting back into growing - but this time at the office. I am on the 37th floor with east facing windows. Just was curious if there would be any issue with the commercial glass blocking out part of the spectrum vital to orchid blooming. Are there certain orchids that would/wouldn't bloom with light coming in through an office building window. I know east facing is not ideal, either, but we can't all get the south facing windows. I am planning to get a humidity tray but would like to keep the setup as simple as that and maybe some fertilizer and a mister.

thanks for your advice.

matt

Tindomul · #2 11-03-2016, 02:30 PM

Let's start by asking where in the US you are. If you are farther north then that would mean a lot less sunlight even from a east window. Though you must get great sunrises.

oldbizmark · #3 11-03-2016, 04:10 PM

Joseia · #4 11-03-2016, 07:36 PM

You can definitely grow phals in an east facing window. I grow a lot of orchids in my office with a NE facing window and have no problem blooming phals and I get just enough light to bloom some cattleyas and dendrobiums. My windows are tinted and it doesn't seem to bother any of my plants. Low humidity is a problem in the winter, so I have most in trays that I fill with water - make sure to keep the orchid pots above the water. I also have a lot of office plants in the office and they seem to help with raising humidity also. I work in northern Virginia, outside of Washington DC, so not that much further south than you in NYC. I've got about 30 plants in my office, mostly orchids, and they have definitely reduced my stress levels. People come to my office just to relax in the peaceful, green environment.

Roberta · #5 11-03-2016, 08:12 PM

A trick that worked beautifully for me with regard to blooming Phals indoors - daylight from window was just not adequate for enough hours, so I put a fluorescent light on a timer 12 hours a day, and that did the trick - I got nearly 80% reblooming, where without the supplemental light it was very sporadic.

oldbizmark · #6 11-04-2016, 09:05 AM

Thanks, guys. What I am concerned about is the blooming part. I am sure that the orchids will survive (maybe even thrive) by window with the right care. However, I have had Phals before that never bloomed in the office after the initial spike that it was bought with died off. If I can't get a phal to bloom, then I will have no chance with a cattleya. Maybe I should try orchids that prefer shade?

Roberta · #7 11-04-2016, 11:55 AM

In the Cattleya department, consider some of the mini-Catts. Many of these are bred to be able to grow as "windowsill" orchids. If they have a high proportion of Sophronitis coccinea (like many of the little red and orange ones do) they have a parent that doesn't need a lot of light. Suggestion... Sunset Valley Orchids. Fred Clarke, the owner, has been breeding this type of Catt for many years. If you send him an email asking for recommendations, I am sure that he can direct you to specific plants that will bloom for you.

Remember... for Phals, though they are thoroughly hybridized, they are hybridized with other Phals that like the same conditions. Catts have the whole wide range of the Cattleya tribe as possible parents, allowing for much more variation in their requirements.

Tindomul · #8 11-04-2016, 12:47 PM

I grow Catts in my east facing window, here in Queens NY. They bloom every year. I get enough light I would not put a Phal on the window sill. Too much light. When I do have Phals in my home, they are placed near the window and they bloom well. You have to experiment and see how the plants respond.

oldbizmark · #9 12-03-2018, 12:14 PM

Hi, guys. Thank you for your help. I wanted to report that I now have three orchids on a humidity tray - two cattleya alliance (SLC Hsin Buu Lady and Cattleya Brassavola nodosa Little Star Exotica) as well as a phalenopsis (behind them) and all are doing well. Really well. All three are currently "spiking." I did have an issue on the Buu Lady with black spots on the leaves, but it seems to be under control. This was certainly the result of the pot not being above the water line of the humidity tray - something I am fixing. The Little Stars is spiking for the first time since buying it. I am very excited to see what it looks like. Now that I have had success, I am looking to expand. I will reach out to Sunset Valley, as someone suggested, and see what other beauties I can add to my collection. Thanks again!

Fairorchids · #10 12-04-2018, 09:50 PM

Sunset Valley is having their annual Customer Appreciation Sale at the moment. If the details are not on their web site, send me a PM with your email address, and I can forward the notice to you.

Also, there are two shows coming up in NJ, where you can find orchids to your hearts content:
North Jersey OS, Jan 18-20 at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick.
Deep Cut OS, Feb 7-10 at Dearborn Market, in Holmdel, NJ.