Light levels and meters.
 

:hello

Today while I was at lowes I found a light/ph/moisture meter. It was only 10$. Im thinking about returning it because the moisture thing doesn't work on bark, but I digress.

Anyway, it is telling me that at my west facing window, behind the screen, I am only getting 500 fc.

If this is correct, is this bright enough for phals. I thought it was much brighter than that. Maybe it doesn't work correctly? I measured it when it was already about 5 in the afternoon. When would be the best time to measure it. Apparently my house is super dark. :(

Should I return this meter and get a better one?

ANY advice is welcome. And probably needed lol.

Also, has anyone used the momet plus meter?

The reading of 500 fc is probably correct for the time of day and the West side.
Joann

Is that good enough for my phals?

They will need a bit more light to grow well and bloom. Mine get about 2,000 fc but I think 1,500 is good.
Are the leaves on your plant a dark green?
Joann

Was the window shaded when you measured the light?
Or does this window get hit with sun earlier in the afternoon at all?
I really don't know about FCs, but grow a number of orchids in west facing windows.

It wasn't shaded, but my orchids seem to be doing fine. Lots of new root growth when I unpotted them tonight to put them in smaller pots. I hope they're getting enough light in the living room too though. I'm running our of room on that window. I guess I could put them in the office window but it seems like a waste because no one will be able to see them because that's our junk room. Lol. My next house is going to have LOTS of living room windows.

How do I get more?

Hi! I bought a light meter this week and went round measuring light levels everywhere the same as u :) my north facing window (where I keep my phals) also has a much lower light level than I originally thought - about 500fc! However my phals have always loved it there and bloom constantly :) so there they will stay light or no light!

I also found that as light comes from all directions, how I turn the light meter in the window affects the reading, as well as how bright the day is and what time of day ;) I guess they just adapt as they are also supposed to be warm loving plants also, but uk temps are never that warm either :) however what they do seem to like in my dingy window is the temp drop they get in the winter so they can slow down and store energy to bloom in the spring.

I would say if ur phals are happy where they are then don't worry too much about the light :) King of Orchids had some links to phals growing wild and the light there is dime as they grow quite close to the forest floor way under the canopy.

If u do expand ur collection and use a brighter window keep a look out for pinky leaves and new leaves that are hard and stick up like a flag, or burnt patches as this means too much light.

If the new window is too bright u can always tone it down with a net to defuse the light :)

I've had two light meters and generally find them to be about worthless. I don't know why but I could never get consistent readings or values that made much sense. With phals I just try to put them in the brightest area I have available without any direct sunlight. Good luck.

In my opinion unless you are conducting scientific research having a light meter isn't worth the money no matter how cheap they are. No shadow, no burn works better than any meter. ;)

I got two new dendrobiums last night. Do they like the same conditions as the phals? Also, do I pot them and care for them the same as the phals?

They're dendrobium blue twinkle and dendrobium eima queen.

I have one phal that it's née leaf stick up for a while but now it's falling over. Is that what I'm supposed to watch out for? I thought new leaves stuck up when they first come out.

This is one of my Phals, its fine and healthy :)

Pic 1. Newest leaf trying to get past a flower spike for a nice lay down.

Pic 2. Second newest leaf, caught a bit of a sun tan.... but still a very happy leaf. Still a bit more erect than the other one but the colours fading and the leaf's starting to relax.

Pic 3. The whole plant is very happy even if the sun was coming in in the afternoon and catching the plant. This is the best August we have had here for about 3 years, the last few August has been nothing but rain so i didnt realise that at this time of year the sun catches the corner where my phal has been... i swapped corners with a Militonia that likes a little more light, and all is well :)

Either way a bit of a tan hasnt done the plant any harm. It has 2 massive spikes and the longest spike is thinking about making a fourth branch... a branch from every node but the first one... thats one seriously happy phal!

That's great! I just hope they'll get enough.

I'm running out of windows! lol!