Low light sympoidal orchids?

[plantzzzzz]

It seems like most of the plants recommended for low light: phals, some paphs, are monopodial. I greatly prefer the sympoidal habit.

Are there sympoidal growers with similarly showy flowers that will flower and grow in phal light?

[estación seca]

I've seen Guarianthe/Cattleya aurantiaca flowering in habitat in México on a rock that was in dappled shade in dry November, and would be in deep shade in the wet summer. It was getting far less light than people recommend for it. I checked, and it was actually attached to the rock - it didn't just fall from a tree overhead.

In Canada you might be able to grow some Masdevallias. Flowers are not always huge, but they can be extremely colorful. Check them out here on Orchid Board. Some are very cool-growing, and others more tolerant of house conditions.

[plantzzzzz]

The reason I ask is that I have a very nice large, low pan-type pot, but the only place I have that's big enough to hold it is a northern bay window. I have no problem flowering phals here, but stuff that I would love to grow here needs more light.


C. Aurantica is gorgerous, but maybe you stumbled across an individual with particularly low light requirements?

I grow masdevallias in my basement window (south facing), but I thought they need more light than phals?

[estación seca]

I doubt species have individuals with dramatically low light requirements. If you can find an aurantiaca and you like it, I would give it a try.

I'm not a Masdie grower, but Masd. floribunda did well here in medium shade.

[Subrosa]

I grow my Gongora and Phalaenopsis side by side.

[Ray]

All paphiopedilums are sympodial; the rhizomes tend to be quite short.

[MrHappyRotter]

I wanted to point out that Paphs are sympodial growing orchids. I realize that may not make a difference in regards to your preferences, but their growth habit is just like your average Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Oncidium, Cattleya, etc in that each growth develops, matures, blooms, produces new growths, then dies.

So, I'm assuming what you're really getting at is that you prefer orchids that have psuedobulbs, a sympodial growth habit, and do well in shadier conditions. Does that sound correct?

Do you have a rough estimate of the light levels we're talking about? There's a lot of overlap between the range of light levels that a Phalaenopsis would happily grow and bloom in compared with the light levels that numerous Oncidium alliance plants would grow and bloom in. You might have to adjust your expectations in terms of how often these plants will bloom and understand that you may not get as many flowers per spike as someone growing them in optimal conditions. Generally speaking, smaller growing, thin leaved Oncidium alliance plants tolerate shadier conditions.

Keep in mind though that there are few commonly available orchids that can grow and bloom at the lower end of the average Phal's tolerances. So if you're dealing with that situation, you might as well invest in some supplemental lighting and expand your options.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Jewel Orchids (such as Ludisia discolor), Oeceoclades, are also sympodial.

[plantzzzzz]

Today I learned that Paphs are sympoidal! I guess it's pretty obvious now that slipper orchids aren't my thing.


Anyway, thanks for the responses, I will try some Masdevallias as they're not too hard to find here.


And yes, I like sympoidal plants because I like their ability to form big clumps with multiple growing points in shallow pots. I get that some monopodial plants (neofinetia) can also do this, but it doesn't seem as common.

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I've seen Guarianthe/Cattleya aurantiaca flowering in habitat in México on a rock that was in dappled shade in dry November, and would be in deep shade in the wet summer. It was getting far less light than people recommend for it. I checked, and it was actually attached to the rock - it didn't just fall from a tree overhead.

In Canada you might be able to grow some Masdevallias. Flowers are not always huge, but they can be extremely colorful. Check them out here on Orchid Board. Some are very cool-growing, and others more tolerant of house conditions.

Well this clears up some confusion
My aurantiaca had not been well taken care of this year. It had gotten moved in some pretty deep shade because I was building my little pergola and that was the only place I had for it. It got maybe 3 hours of filtered lighted though an 80% shade cloth for most of the year... Figured I would worry about blooms next year and was just keeping it alive. low and behold I have 5 spikes set for the spring