Adequate Sunlight for Cattleya - Page 4 - Orchid Board

estación seca · #31 01-09-2017, 09:09 PM

Squirrels. Rats. Raccoons. Deer. Wabbits. Javelina.

Roberta · #32 01-09-2017, 09:31 PM

Can't say that I have ever had a javelina in my yard (or deer or bunnies, even) Squirrels, rats, opossums don't seem to bother the orchids ... the only one of those beasties that I have had issues with are raccoons. I grow Disa and Phrag besseae (and hybrids) in a little fountain that has been dumped several times by raccoons that are attracted to the running water... now in an enclosure made of plastic lattice with bird spikes all over (looks like a porcupine but so far so good)

DesignerofBeauty · #33 01-09-2017, 09:36 PM

Hmmm, we don't have javelina in RI (thank goodness). We definitely have rabbits, squirrels, raccoons and the like. Something to consider.

Roberta · #34 01-09-2017, 09:45 PM

Rabbits don't climb, so putting the orchids up on a bench is probably wise. I have lots of squirrels - but they aren't interested in the orchids. Putting the orchids on a bench will make them less interesting to the raccoons too... if near ground level they might get eaten, but up 2' -3' or so, I think you're quite safe. In my yard, it's the water, not the plants, that attracts the raccoons (had to take measures with birdbath too to prevent having it dumped)

malteseproverb · #35 01-09-2017, 11:10 PM

I put them in my yard where part of the second story overhangs a bit so they get mostly shade and cover from the rain. They sometimes get wet but I pot them in rather large pieces of bark so they dry quickly if the rain gets them. And it's so hot out there in the summer that the rain is needed. The airflow, bright light, etc. is unmatched indoors. It's probably much nicer and cooler for them during your MA summers than my disgusting Philly ones. I also keep my dens and cymbs out there for summer. I have found that doing this means I don't have to worry too much about the winter blues.

But speaking of squirrels, one thought my den wassellii looked tasty and took a couple of bites once... I keep that one on a very bright windowsill in the summer now. I guess the fat green shoots look like nuts? ...

Roberta · #36 01-09-2017, 11:25 PM

This is something that one would never get to see if one only grows indoors...
http://orchidcentral.org/Images/Arpo...0guest%205.jpg
http://orchidcentral.org/Images/Arpo...0guest%202.jpg
http://orchidcentral.org/Images/Arpo...0guest%204.jpg

DesignerofBeauty · #37 01-09-2017, 11:43 PM

THIS IS AMAZING. I love hummingbirds. So cool!!

---------- Post added at 10:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:42 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by malteseproverb

But speaking of squirrels, one thought my den wassellii looked tasty and took a couple of bites once... I keep that one on a very bright windowsill in the summer now. I guess the fat green shoots look like nuts? ...

LOL!

Roberta · #38 01-09-2017, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesignerofBeauty

THIS IS AMAZING. I love hummingbirds. So cool!!

I often find seed pods on my bright red reed-stem Epidendrums... I am pretty sure that its the hummingbirds that get them knocked up. But in general they love little flowers with bright colors. While that Arpophyllum is from the Americas and probably has evolved to be a hummingbird magnet, I see them going after some of the little Vandaceous things too, which are Asian and so would not see hummingbirds in nature. But it's a rare treat to see them around the orchids, and even rarer to catch them staying in one place long enough to be photographed. I feel very privileged.

pipsxlch · #39 01-10-2017, 05:59 PM

Roberta, those pictures are beautiful!

I have to say that I have watched bushy tailed tree rats (otherwise known as squirrels) munching on my orchids. My Booth Lee only has half the blooms and spikes it started this year, I need to get busy and remind the pests of their place. Rat bait and an air rifle do pretty good.

Salixx · #40 01-10-2017, 06:17 PM

I live in northern New England and have bloomed my oldest Catt. in a southern window and have another Catt in bud and yet another that at least has formed sheaths. Many have that purple tinge to the leaves. I would strongly recommend buying a light meter, I have a cheapo lux meter I got off Amazon for less than $15 and it has been invaluable. I still push things with my plants to see what I can truly get away with but it at least I know when I am pushing my luck.

Things to keep in mind are outside sources of light obstruction. Buildings and trees can cause problems even in a southern window especially in winter when the light is so slanted. My southern windows get lots of light because I have deciduous trees outside (which means during the winter, no leaves, yay!). The sun is also slanted, so the light comes "deeper" into the room and provides better light for the plants albeit over shorter periods and I have enough sunny days that things seem okay. The snow on the ground helps to refract some extra light back into the windows. All the catts are still almost against the glass anyway.

I had a few plants outside last summer, next to the garage door that leads up to my apartment. I generally had zero critter problems. I had one eastern chipmunk that insisted that there was something good in the moss my Stan. nigroviolacea was planted in and kept digging around in it but never damaged it. I also feed the birds (which means I feed the squirrels as well) which maybe be way they left my plants alone. I will probably move most of the Catts outside come summer to make up for less than ideal light in the winter. If you do that, just be careful - I managed to burn a few plants by giving them too much sun too quickly!

As for extra lighting, I am going to echo skipping the CFL. Not only are they becoming harder to find, but, IMO the replacement LED bulbs are better. For one, they are not made with mercury so require no hazardous waste handling. They are harder to break. Drop it? It's usually fine. If not, once again, no gaseous mercury to breath in. Finally, they are not as hot. You will be very hard pressed to burn your plants with them unless you actually stick them directly on the diodes. I have some high light Catt alliance minis about 6'' under Walmart brand, 60w equivilant LED bulbs with daylight spectrum (5000k). Those are Catt. Small World, Brought. nigrolensis and Soph. cernua. No blooms (one is too young, one was neglected and one just bloomed) but they all have nice purple/red highlights.

On a final note, you may wish to check out Laelia praestans. It is one of the dwarf Laelias but is unusually because it requires less light than most cattleya alliance would. I have read they like it closer to Phal light... in fact, I think they are more like Phals masquerading around as Catts to begin with. They like to stay more moist as well. I bought one from Bob Cleaveland at the last orchid show I went to as nbs seedling and grow it with lower light plants. I can't wait for it too bloom, it's such a little cute plant!