From Lights to sun in spike?

[snowflake3111]

So I have been growing my orchids under lights all winter they have been doing amazing under the LED Lights. I have 2 spikes on each plant. I never had 2 spikes on these plants before I am so happy.

My Zygo is in bloom and sending out another spike. I just took the others that are still in spike out from under the lights and in the east facing window so I can enjoy them.

We are coming into Spring time the days are getting longer and I am afraid this change from lights to sun will effect my spikes.

Will this effect them? Should just wait for buds before I move them to my sunny window?

[jkofferdahl]

I wouldn't move them until they bloom, not set buds. Changing a plant's orientation to the light source, which you have to do to go from lights to an east window, can cause both spikes and buds to twist and become disoriented to the spike.

[Ray]

I agree 100%.

[snowflake3111]

Thanks guys. I was thinking it was a bad Idea just wanted to make sure. They are under the lights.

[jkofferdahl]

I thought I'd post a follow-up. I recently received a Phal in spike (I bought it as a replacement for a plant one of my invasive mice ate). The plant was in a greenhouse when the spike grew and even as this now opened bud began to develop. When I received it I placed it under my T5s. Obviously I had no idea how the plant was originally oriented to light. Because the flower is peloric it's sort of hard to tell, but it is almost completely upside-down. The true lip is near the top and the column is almost inverted:


Here, on the original plant, you can see how the flower should be oriented:

[snowflake3111]

Cool photos.

This would explain why my Zygo spike arches when I put it by the window. It was in bud when I moved it. I thought nothing of it. I like the arch. It was growing straight till I moved it. Blooms opened all good and it looks good. The ones under the lights do grow nice and straight.

[Salixx]

Most spikes will grow towards the light source. Lights are straight above, so they go straight while the window is to the side and you get a (sometimes) nice arch. The arch sometimes drives me crazy, my Aiceara in bud right now keeps growing into the window and it's been so cold I don't want it to touch the window! I don't have a long enough stake to make it stop.

I think most will not be too deformed if you move them early, before the buds have oriented themselves. That said, I don't move my spiking plants because I am afraid to mess things up or get distorted, upside-down flowers like mentioned above. Really, what I am afraid of is that the plant may abort the whole thing and I would be heartbroken! Not sure how great the risk is of that but I am a worse case scenario type of person.

[Subrosa]

The spikes on this Cymbidium can't make up their minds which way they want to grow!

[Salixx]

I like it, looks like some alien creature!