phal lighting - Orchid Board

sii · #1 08-31-2010, 10:25 AM

To be honest I don't know if my phal is a hybrid. How would you know? What's the difference between a hybrid and a species?

Anyways, I'm struggling with trying to find out what the best lighting conditions are for my phals. I have them by a south facing window. They get bright morning light until about noon. When I touch the leaves they don't feel hot. The colour of the leaves is light green with the exception of one. I've been moving them around this year. I hope I found a good spot for them. I'm so confused.

I thought phals were easy to grow, but I'm finding out it's like trying to fit together a puzzle with so many pieces.

Eyebabe · #2 08-31-2010, 12:32 PM

Most phals take low light...about 1500-2000 candles which is one unit of measurement.
Many beginner orchid books have suggestions on how to tell the amount of light your window is receiving.
Most phals in the mainstream market are hybrids.
Species usually have smaller flowers and many are waxy...except stuartina and aphrodite and a handful of others.
The Complete Guide to Moth Orchids by Steven Frownie does an excellent job of describing species and hybrids alike. Furthermore, there are cultivation chapters in the back not only related to lighting, but potting material, propogation, insect and pest control etc.
Don't underestimate Orchids for Dummies or Ortho's Complete Guide to Orchids either...but for phals, Frownie's books gets A+.

grasshopper · #3 08-31-2010, 02:38 PM

Light green leaves are usually a good indicator of appropriate light. I move my phals to a south window in the fall/winter, but they are very close to the window, and get quite a bit of sunlight (some direct) during the day. Their leaves often get reddish/purplish tinged, which means I'm pushing the light limits. But they bloom reliably and seem to like their fall/winter home.

sii · #4 08-31-2010, 04:21 PM

Eyebabe - thanks.

Grasshopper - Some of my orchids do have the reddish tinge. Should I leave the orchids in this location all the time?

grasshopper · #5 09-01-2010, 10:04 AM

Most of my phals spend the summer outside, and I move them to the south window when the temps get too cool for them. If you are growing strictly indoors, then I think leaving them in this south window should be fine. Best thing to do is just watch and listen to your plants. If they're growing new leaves and roots and blooming reliably, then they are quite happy where they are!

sii · #6 09-01-2010, 10:07 AM

Thanks grasshopper! I'll be watching. :-)

RosieC · #7 09-02-2010, 09:44 AM

A redish tinge often indicates the light is on the higher side. If they have a bit of a tinge but not too much then they are probably fine where they are but don't increase it too much.

Jennyfleur · #8 09-02-2010, 10:29 AM

Hi,
I found in the past never to under-estimate the power of reflected light.

I have my Phals on my living room (west-facing) mantle-piece: the room is quite large and has a bank of south facing windows and a pair of west facing windows. I keep the western window curtains drawn while the sun is on that side of the house and so the plants will never be in direct sun. However, the light from the south windows is enough to reflect off the cream coloured walls and create a nice light room all day. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, plants don't need to be right by a window in order to get light. Also, even though all the plants are in essentially the same place, they all have different leaf shades - so don't discount natural variation either.

(Oh, also on the subject of reflections, make sure that there's nothing shiny -like a surface or cd case or somthing- that will produce a reflection straight on to your plants and cause burn)