Cattleya labiata under grow lights. Need shortening of "daylight" hours?

[Jeff214]

Hi,

I was reading on Chadwick and sons orchids page (and posts here on this forum) that Cattleya labiata blooms in response to shortening of daylight... and therefore, tends to bloom in the fall (in the northern hemisphere).

I'm growing a few Cattleya labiata (along with C. luddemaniana and C. warscewiczii) indoors under a grow light. I can change the hours that they're on... but it's a bit of a hassle (buy a timer I guess). I was wondering if anyone's had any experience growing Cattleya labiata under grow lights - and if you've had success flowering without changes in "daylight" hours.

Thanks.

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

Hi,

I was reading on Chadwick and sons orchids page (and posts here on this forum) that Cattleya labiata blooms in response to shortening of daylight... and therefore, tends to bloom in the fall (in the northern hemisphere).

I'm growing a few Cattleya labiata (along with C. luddemaniana and C. warscewiczii) indoors under a grow light. I can change the hours that they're on... but it's a bit of a hassle (buy a timer I guess). I was wondering if anyone's had any experience growing Cattleya labiata under grow lights - and if you've had success flowering without changes in "daylight" hours.

Thanks.

I grow under lights and change the photoperiod monthly to match my current day length and utilize a timer.

IME most blooming is triggered more from seasonal temperature changes as these plants grow in tropical climates with less day length fluctuation that in many of our locales.

[MarinaDC]

I have like 10 of them in diff stages of maturity from diff sources. All are in active growth right now, esp the younglings. Not the time to shorten the light cycle i also grow under lights in the basement

[Jeff214]

I was thinking of changing the light cycle now since I have one where a new growth is starting. I'm unsure what the optimal timing might be.

or I could follow the sun schedule outside.

[smweaver]

I think it's probably a combination of shortening days and cooling temperatures (especially the differential between day and night temps). I don't grow under lights, so my cattleya species (including labiata) do experience the shortened daylight periods once fall and winter arrive. It would be interesting to see if, by providing consistent light levels throughout the year with your grow-light set up, your labiata behaves differently in regards to its flowering (or lack thereof).

[isurus79]

This is my first winter not growing under lights and I've always changed the day length on the first day of the month. A timer is something like $10 and worth investment. You never have worry about turning the lights on or off again.

Steve is right about the combination of factors affecting blooming cycles. These species ranges are not necessarily super close to the equator and will have noticeable day length changes. All of these species will have significant temperature changes in their natural habitat as well.

[Jeff214]

I may invest in a timer and replicate daylight lengths outside. I don't think mine is actually blooming size yet anyway.

An experiment would be interesting, but I'd need to invest in a few more to compare under different conditions! One day...