best phal options for low light house - Orchid Board

phalnoob · #1 06-29-2015, 02:43 PM

Hey all im new here and really overwhelmed about lighting for plants!
I was gifted a mini phal and i just love it so i bought 3 big ones, all of different colours.
My homes living room is north facing so hardly any sun and im in the uk so hardly any full stop haha! My room is also north facing which has led me to want lighting to supplement my phals iv got my mini on my bedside table and the desk lamp is an led 3000k bulb which wont do much i suppose. They are doing well tho one has brown round the edges of the leaves but they cant get burnt on thise windowsills as no sun that side.

I was thinking of lighting a wooden shelf unit in my room so that they can spend the morning (bit of sun before it moves round) then pop them there for the rest of the day. Would a t8 for fish tanks be ok, around 4500k, 1 on each shelf with 2 phals under each.

Thanks for reading hopefully can get them sorted soon on a budget lol!

Cheers
Rico

wintergirl · #2 06-29-2015, 04:57 PM

All my phals are thriving in a North facing window, I even have a shear curtain on it. You will not need to add extra light unless there are big trees or something blocking your window.

phalnoob · #3 06-29-2015, 06:50 PM

Thabks for replying. They seem to be doing ok on the sills. The leaves on one have brown edges and the tip of one is brown. Any suggestions as to that?

Such lovely plants im so addicted lol.

Are there any other species tht i could keep with them?

wintergirl · #4 06-29-2015, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phalnoob

Thabks for replying. They seem to be doing ok on the sills. The leaves on one have brown edges and the tip of one is brown. Any suggestions as to that?

Such lovely plants im so addicted lol.

Are there any other species tht i could keep with them?

It sounds like the brown edges may be old damage, not any new problem. If it is cosmetic, some people trim the dried brown parts. I don't because then there is an open wound on your leaf which can bring problems to your plant. As for other plants, anything that takes "phal light" would be ok.

Optimist · #5 06-30-2015, 06:20 PM

Some of your true species phals are more low light. I take low light to mean 500 to 1500 footcandles. Now, your K is that in Kelvin, or Killowat. Not sure what measurement you use over there. that is 5389 to 16135 LUX. basically you just play around with converters until you find something your light bulb company will understand. A good grow light will never hurt the situation but I do not think your choice will break the bank as long as you stick with plants requiring low lighting. Many folks get in trouble trying to raise a full sun plant indoors.

wintergirl · #6 06-30-2015, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimist

Some of your true species phals are more low light. I take low light to mean 500 to 1500 footcandles. Now, your K is that in Kelvin, or Killowat. Not sure what measurement you use over there. that is 5389 to 16135 LUX. basically you just play around with converters until you find something your light bulb company will understand. A good grow light will never hurt the situation but I do not think your choice will break the bank as long as you stick with plants requiring low lighting. Many folks get in trouble trying to raise a full sun plant indoors.

Oh that can be done

I have catts and vandas in a North window with added lights.

I just buy the cheap grow lights and put them in the shelves. It is working.

Optimist · #7 07-01-2015, 12:38 PM

Well the problem is the op is asking what the best phal is for low light house, and then saying she will put 1 t5 per shelf, making it "not" a low light house.

Why not just get Paphs?

phalnoob · #8 07-02-2015, 08:30 AM

Thank you for the replies. All are doing good just now my first one i got a few months ago has 8 flowers and 6 big leaves and what looks to be the start of 2 more, its like little lumps at the base, is it maybe another spike or leaves? which have been great and have lasted so well! My others still have buds to open and seem to be doing great.
It was kelvins i meant sorry! Im more thinking for when its duller and when winter comes, the weather is so changeable, uk had its hottest day yesterday for a long time with places upto high 30s which may not be too hot elsewhere but here its not something we are used to!