SPIKES AND PHALS - Orchid Board

FL_GROWER82 · #1 10-17-2007, 12:17 AM

I am concerned that my phal is not getting enough light. It currently lives on a north facing lanai here in Florida and the leaves naturally grow towards the light.

During the summer some direct sunlight would get to the orchid...now it seems like it cannot get enough light and I would like the orchid to spike again this year with a nice spray.

I think that I am going to keep the orchid indoors with the ME and the AC for a couple of weeks...I have also thought about seeing to it that it gets some sun early in the morning but not too much so that the phal does not get a sunburn and end up dying.

Any suggestions?

ladyslipper · #2 10-17-2007, 02:01 AM

Hi there! Bearing in mind that I am writing to you from Alberta, Canada, but I grow mostly phals and in the summer, they get fairly intense sunlight for most of the morning supplemented by 2 T5 light tubes and 2 48 watt flourscent tubes. (I will likely add a 3rd T5 tube sometime in the near future). I try to aim for between 1000 & 1500 ft candles (sorry, I am not good and talking about lumenins, still trying to figure that part out.). You can usually tell if a phal is getting alot of light by the colour of the leaves. I think all of them get a red colouring which is the leaves way of dealing with alot of sun. You want to make sure that if you increase the light, you offset that by making sure the medium is damp but not wet, good drainage and really good air current. But keep it away from the air conditioner as the shock of cool air could make it sulk. If you do put the plant in direct light, you may want to put a shear between the plant and the sun. Put your hand between the plant and the window. If your hand gets hot, its too hot for the plant. Sorry for the long winded answer, but I hope this helps.

regards, mary

FL_GROWER82 · #3 10-17-2007, 08:23 AM

I myself am still trying to figure the footcandle business out and am realizing that an inexpensive light meter MIGHT be in order...I just put my phal out for a couple of hours in the morning light and we will see how that goes...I think that I just need to try something different...and thank you for the advice.

Zach

Tindomul · #4 10-17-2007, 11:19 AM

In NYC, all my big Phals receive all the morning sun they can soak up about 5 feet from the window. So its not really alot and but they have all turned reddish. So I suggest slowly introducing them to more light.

quiltergal · #5 10-18-2007, 01:15 AM

It looks fine to me. The leaves are a nice light to medium green which is supposed to be an indicator of adequate light. The leaves would be more of a dark forest green if it wasn't getting enough. Remember a north facing window or lanai in Florida is a lot different than a north window in more northerly lattitudes.