Do You Turn Your Plants?

[Mountaineer370]

Another thread here reminded me that I have wanted to ask this particular question for a long time. As long as I can remember owning plants, which is since I've been a teenager, I was taught to turn them a quarter turn or so each time you water or on some other regular schedule. This allows all of the plant to receive the benefit of the light coming in the window and prevents the growth from becoming off balance, oriented only toward the window.

So I've almost always done this with my orchids, too, the exception being when one is in spike, because it's my understanding the spike can become twisty and crooked if you are frequently changing the orientation of the light.

For those of you growing under overhead lights or in greenhouses, this is probably not an issue at all, so maybe my question is only applicable to those of you growing in a windowsill. Still, I'm interested in hearing from anybody who might like to talk about it. Do you turn your plants periodically or not? Why or why not?

[Dollythehun]

I do but not always as a practice. If the spike is too tall, then Ihave to reposition them. Sometimes they've grown into each other and need repositioned, sometimes I forget how I set them down. They still grow toward the light just like a window.

[Leafmite]

I usually just look for the side that has the best foliage and face that toward the window. If I have pots with multiple plants, the side of the pot with the taller plants are the furthest away from the window so everyone gets plenty of light. Because I do not rotate plants, I have had plants that are nearly leafless in the back (window light, only).

With orchids, it just depends on the orchid. Some of the Phal-type Dendrobiums prefer not to be moved and Cattleyas and Angraecums that has been newly potted should probably be also left alone. The rest probably are not going to care too much.

[Mountaineer370]

Thanks Dolly and Leafmite! Does anybody else want to weigh in on this, one way or the other?

[rbarata]

I do rotate when needed. I really never cared if they like it or not... any of my plants died because of it.

[WaterWitchin]

I rotate those that grow upright from time to time as they reach toward the light. Ones that ramble, I sometimes rotate because they start growing too much into another plant's space, as I keep them pretty tightly packed onto the shelves. Also in winter I move around plants that start getting too much light, trying to find a sweet spot for optimum light without burning (under lights in winter).

[Puja]

My phals are all growing in pretty narrow windowsills, which means there is a space issue if they constantly grow towards the light. Especially because they tend to get cold damage in winter where the leaves touch the window. I turn them 180 degrees whenever a newly emerging leaf is about 2 inches. That way they grow slightly back and forth after every turn and the result is pretty much a straight plant over the years. I have one that I left alone for a year or two and its top leaves were cramped against the window. Now that the pot has been turned, it is sticking out of the windowsill which isn't ideal because my dogs might knock it off by accident (another reason why I need them to grow straight).

I turn my den. nobile every season as well so the new growth doesn't concentrate on the same side of the pot but spreads around a little.
My oncidiums and other pseudobulb-having hybrids stay in place. They tend to grow in two opposite directions anyways so I just split them when space becomes an issue. Might also be that most of them are in locations with more light coming from multiple directions so they tend to grow less crooked (between two opposing windows, floor to ceiling windows, etc.).

Considering what you wrote in the OP, I should point out I only do this with smaller plants and ficusses (ficus' ?) as they tend to go completely bald on one side very quickly if they have no light there. Other plants, especially our small indoor trees, are kept in one spot with the same orientation. I've noticed it tends to interrupt their growth if they constantly have to change which branches to focus energy on. Plus it helps that they are mostly in corners and against walls, so the side you're always viewing looks the best if you never move it.

[TomThumb]

I turn my phals because i have them hanging in pots iin my window. If they flop they will press against the window so I prefer them to stand up straight. I won't be upset if they want to flop over anyway. I'll jusyt have to find a way to address if they press against the window.

I did order some phal. schillerianas and will have them hanging on their side because i like how their flowers look cascading down. They also seem to need less light than my other phals according to the vendor so i will be hanging them further from the window and they will have more room to flop.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

On a tangent, Phal schilleriana takes a bit more light than the solid green leafed Phals do.

Back to the main topic...

For the most part I do not try to rotate my orchids. They have a certain orientation in which they grow in and I like that they naturally grow in one direction.

Orchids I like for having a natural arrangement of a rosette of leaves are the evergreen stream side Disas. I do not have to turn the plants around for these.

The only exceptions might be on the rare occasion of if I wanted a nice, well rounded looking clump of Pleurothallis, Dryadella, Masdevallia, or Dracula.

[TomThumb]

Thanks for the info King!

The site i ordered them from said they do well in 800-1000FC while i've been thinking my other phals are geting 1000-1500FC.

I will figure out a solution for the schillerianas so they get enough light!