How to deal with tall flower spikes under lights

[SHag42]

Hello,

I have never grown much under lights but here recently. I had to bring in all my phals because it has been raining here every day in North Fl. I keep them on the porch but the rain will blow in on them. that's not a problem if it is just every now and then but that has not been the case lately. OK the only thing I had to use was a 4' 2 bulb T12 shop light with grow bulbs. I forget now what I even used it for. maybe some low light terrarium plants. I know that this light will somewhat need to be close to the plants to do much good. But the problem is some of these have tall spikes on them that wont let me do that. After having this set up I am thinking about leaving the plants in the house full time. I like having them in here where I can admire them more and control the water they get. I was thinking about getting a 4' 4 bulb T5 HO light. From what I have read those can be about 2' above the plants of course I have one spike that would still be in the way. How do you deal with this situation? Any input would be very much appreciated before I go and purchase a light. I have about 15 phals, 3 catt. and 1 onc.
Thanks

[Wild Orchid]

I use floor and table lamps with flexible necks when placing plants on the lower tables (usually in the winter time.) Not always a perfect situation. Sometimes plants are just in the circle of light rather than directly under the light.
Also, while the spike is growing, usually the amount of light they get is just enough. And once it's long enough and buds starts opening, the plant no longer needs the intense lighthing, so I remove the Phal from the direct light source and give others room for growing.

I don't know if that's helpful but.. that's what I do. Will be interested to hear other members' solutions.

WO

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by Wild Orchid

I use floor and table lamps with flexible necks when placing plants on the lower tables (usually in the winter time.) Not always a perfect situation. Sometimes plants are just in the circle of light rather than directly under the light.
Also, while the spike is growing, usually the amount of light they get is just enough. And once it's long enough and buds starts opening, the plant no longer needs the intense lighthing, so I remove the Phal from the direct light source and give others room for growing.

I don't know if that's helpful but.. that's what I do. Will be interested to hear other members' solutions.

WO

Thank you for the input. I will have to work on a better set up for my plants if I am going to leave them in the house. I just don't get enough sunlight here. To many trees around. I like the shade but it sure does put a damper on growing things. Hopefully will be moving before to long and my new place will have plenty of light. Just hope it has enough windows. One question though why is it that they don't need as much light while in bloom? I always thought plants needed more light when they are blooming because of all the energy that is being used. That doesn't seem to be the case with orchids from what I have read. But no one has said why that is. would love to understand this.

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by SHag42

One question though why is it that they don't need as much light while in bloom? I always thought plants needed more light when they are blooming because of all the energy that is being used. That doesn't seem to be the case with orchids from what I have read. But no one has said why that is. would love to understand this.

Hmm... Good question. I guess, I just picked this up from observing how my orchids grow. Once the buds are open, which is usually close in time with each other (there are always exceptions, of course), that eliminates the need for the intense light that promotes budding. I hear some people bring orchids in the house or place them temporarily as a center peace on the table while they are blooming.
So I guess what I was saying is that yes, I try to provide as much light as possbile around the year. But once the Phal has reached its blooming glory, placing it directly under the light is less important as opposed to the active spiking period.

Does that make sense?

Hope others would chime in.

Happy growing!

Cheers,
WO

[silken]

We give the orchids optimum light to get them to bloom. So once they have, you can afford to cut back and bring them in to display them somewhere. Also extreme light sometimes makes the flowers wither and fade sooner than if they are kept a bit cooler and less light. If you have a plant that is almost constantly in bloom, then at some point you do need to put it back in its normal growing conditions so it can also produce leaves and roots. But for the most part, once they bloom, they can sit in a lower lit place in the house.

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by SHag42

I was thinking about getting a 4' 4 bulb T5 HO light. From what I have read those can be about 2' above the plants of course I have one spike that would still be in the way. How do you deal with this situation? Any input would be very much appreciated before I go and purchase a light. I have about 15 phals, 3 catt. and 1 onc.
Thanks

I have those lights. And one of them is about 2 feet above... 26" I think. I have a couple plants with long spikes (like psychopsis) and I find with those I'm able to have the spike go outside the immediate light zone (my fixtures are only about 15" deep) and since I grow on racks, this is easy for me to do. The plants need light while the flowers are developing and opening, not just while developing the spike. But, once they ARE open, I find my orchids don't need much of anything (i.e. much light or much water, for a week or two at a time) except some lovin' and appreciation, so I move them away from the lights.

Good luck and have fun!

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by Wild Orchid

Hmm... Good question. I guess, I just picked this up from observing how my orchids grow. Once the buds are open, which is usually close in time with each other (there are always exceptions, of course), that eliminates the need for the intense light that promotes budding. I hear some people bring orchids in the house or place them temporarily as a center peace on the table while they are blooming.
So I guess what I was saying is that yes, I try to provide as much light as possbile around the year. But once the Phal has reached its blooming glory, placing it directly under the light is less important as opposed to the active spiking period.

Does that make sense?

Hope others would chime in.

Happy growing!

Cheers,
WO

Yes it does. Thank you very much for your reply. I am just trying to get everything right and it seems like a hard thing. To have the right light, water and humidity. For me the humidity does not seem to be much of a problem. It stays pretty humid here, and because of that I have found that I can not have anything that holds moisture in my mix. I was using the standard mix from lowes and found that the peat in it held to much water and created root rot. So I have switch over to my own mix of bark, sponge rock, charcoal and lava rock. I am hoping that this works. Now if I can get the lighting right I should be set to go.

---------- Post added at 02:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:57 AM ----------

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

I have those lights. And one of them is about 2 feet above... 26" I think. I have a couple plants with long spikes (like psychopsis) and I find with those I'm able to have the spike go outside the immediate light zone (my fixtures are only about 15" deep) and since I grow on racks, this is easy for me to do. The plants need light while the flowers are developing and opening, not just while developing the spike. But, once they ARE open, I find my orchids don't need much of anything (i.e. much light or much water, for a week or two at a time) except some lovin' and appreciation, so I move them away from the lights.

Good luck and have fun!

Glad to hear about the lights. I wanted to make a good choice and from what I have read those see to be the best for a hobbyist without going all in with the big boys.
So you find that when they are in bloom they don't need as much water either? That is a good point to remember. I try not to overwater but it is hard at times. I like to water once a week but my plants seem to all have different schedules of their own. I have started to use the skewer method and hope that will help. Plus I have converted all my pots to the clear ones. I am sure trying to have fun and think it will be a very enjoyable hobby once I get the jest of it. Thanks again for the input.

---------- Post added at 02:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:07 AM ----------

Originally Posted by silken

We give the orchids optimum light to get them to bloom. So once they have, you can afford to cut back and bring them in to display them somewhere. Also extreme light sometimes makes the flowers wither and fade sooner than if they are kept a bit cooler and less light. If you have a plant that is almost constantly in bloom, then at some point you do need to put it back in its normal growing conditions so it can also produce leaves and roots. But for the most part, once they bloom, they can sit in a lower lit place in the house.

Yeah, so I get to set them out and just enjoy them for a while. That will be a refreshing change. I have one phal that I have had for about 3 years and it seems like the thing just blooms all the time. It started having problems which is what brought me to this forum. I discovered it had root rot and I had to repot and cut off the spike that had been blooming for a long time. And now it has a new spike getting ready to bloom. But still the plant is not up to par. Thanks for the great info it sure does help when you are at ground zero.

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by SHag42

Glad to hear about the lights. I wanted to make a good choice and from what I have read those see to be the best for a hobbyist without going all in with the big boys.
So you find that when they are in bloom they don't need as much water either? That is a good point to remember. I try not to overwater but it is hard at times. I like to water once a week but my plants seem to all have different schedules of their own. I have started to use the skewer method and hope that will help. Plus I have converted all my pots to the clear ones. I am sure trying to have fun and think it will be a very enjoyable hobby once I get the jest of it. Thanks again for the input.

Yes, I think most of us want to over-water at times! My experience is that once the plant is fully in bloom, it is no longer actively 'growing', for the time being at least. The roots, leaves, and spike/flower have all done their thing to produce what's there, and there is less need for water - I just have to make sure the plant doesn't get dehydrated. If I water too much then, it stresses out the plant, it focuses on the roots, and the flowers drop sooner. Just my experience though! Looks like you are asking good questions and trying to learn, which can be part of the fun :-)

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

Yes, I think most of us want to over-water at times! My experience is that once the plant is fully in bloom, it is no longer actively 'growing', for the time being at least. The roots, leaves, and spike/flower have all done their thing to produce what's there, and there is less need for water - I just have to make sure the plant doesn't get dehydrated. If I water too much then, it stresses out the plant, it focuses on the roots, and the flowers drop sooner. Just my experience though! Looks like you are asking good questions and trying to learn, which can be part of the fun :-)

Yeah I think I tend to go a little overboard with the TLC. Just wanting so badly to help them grow. But like children the need to do there own thing a times I guess. What you say makes a lot of sense. I will cut back on watering the orchids I have in bloom. Thanks for the info it helps a lot. And learning is a lot of fun, just don't want to kill the poor things any more. That stresses me out.

[Laserbeak]

Clamp lights are great too, you can use them with LED spotlights or just the plain old incandescent grow lights.