Do you rotate your orchids in the window?

[Maree]

I have always kept my orchids in the same position on my desk. Now one of them has a new leaf that seems to be bending over backwards towards the sunlight and I wonder - should I routinely turn them? What does everyone else do? Thanks much -Mel

[Ross]

I let the plants determine what gets rotated. I definitely rotate plants in spike (except Phals) like Tolumnias, because otherwise the spikes lean toward the window too much. Phal spikes will do strange things if you rotate them.

[jkofferdahl]

As Ross said, it depends on the plant. I never rotate either a Phal. or a Paph. in spike. Otherwise, yes.

[BikerDoc5968]

Jk and Ross why not phals? Just curious....'cause from time to time, I will "reorganize stuff in the GH and invariably they never go back the same way....so am I being a bad guy, here....should I be leaving well enough alone?????

[Ross]

Phals try to change the positioning of the blooms when you reorient the spike. So you are likely to get upside down flowers, or worse. This only applies to the plants already in spike, not the ones with only leaves. Once the spikes emerge, leave them alone if you want perfectly arranged flowers on the spikes.

[camille1585]

I turn all of mine once in a while, to keep them growing evenly. For the phals, I think they can be turned while in spike, as long as the buds are not formed. I turned one of my phals while it was in spike and is has a very curvy spike now! I didn't turn it while the buds were growing, so the blooms look fine, all facing the same way.

[Joansorchid]

Ooops!
I have a phal in spike and I have been turning it. The spike does look a little wavy though. The buds are forming so I think I will leave well alone now that I have just read all of your comments.

[Brooke]

I turn phals in spike as long as the buds are still small. With some of my really long spiked phals, I turn them to orient the spike in the direction I want them to open.

Once the buds start to enlarge, they remain in one direction.

Brooke

[greenbean]

I've noticed from my sole phal and pictures of others that they have a tendency to flop (not wilt, just lean over in one direction). It doesn't really matter how I turn it, it just wants to grow in that one direction. However, I think it would be worse if I didn't rotate it occasionally. And I agree as well with not rotating them while buds are forming.

[dave b]

As mentioned, i dont rotate stuff in spike, as it causes weird results on the inflorescence. I quit rotating most of my orchids a long time ago. I enter blooming plants when possible into our societies displays at shows. They actually present themselves better towards the viewer if allowed to have the natural 'flop'. Especially stuff like Phals. In the wild, they flop. It allows water to easily run of the plant too. I do rotate my paphs and phrags when not in spike, keeping them as upright as possible.