Greenhouse grown results at home?
 

While doing some research on the phalaenopsis orchid, I was amazed at how beautiful the plants look while in the growing phase in greenhouses; the leaves are all big and sturdy, healthy root system, etc. Is there any way these same results could be achieved at home?

If you are asking about being able to grow phalaenopsis in the home, yes they can be successfully grown. For obvious reasons, greenhouses tend to have the best looking and healthiest plants (temperature control, air movement, watering, sun), however many people have learned how to mimic what various orchids want/need inside their own homes.

Not sure if I truly answered your question though.

with supplemental light and humidity, anything is possible!

I would argue "no" for the following reason(s):

Certainly if you live in a tropical environment you could argue that your "home" orchids are just as vigorous as those in a greenhouse in Pennsylvania.
However, probably not as vigorous as a greenhouse down the road from you.

If you take both environments and maximize them, keeping the location constant, you will imho do better with a greenhouse. :twocents:

That does not mean you won't do WELL in your home though!

I agree with Eyebaby, that was pretty much what I was trying to state. For obvious reasons, greenhouses have the best growth and healthy tropical plants.

In a greenhouse you can optimise the conditions to suit the plants, in your house you have to compromise for those conditions to also suit you as well.

There are things you can do to grow phals well in your house, but a greenhouse optimised to phals will always do better.

Absolutely cannot disagree with you ! :biggrin:

I agree with the comments above. But don't feel that you cannot grow a healthy phal in a window or under a light in your home. They are more suited to home growing than many of the other types. Just give them some good but not bright light, good aeration at the roots and water just when or just before they become dry. You can set them on a humidity tray or gently mist them in the mornings being careful not to get water in the crowns. A bit of plant food now and then, and they will most likely look healthy and bloom.

Whenever i get a new phal, its leafs start, cracking, for lack of a better word. Usually happens along the center of the leaf, it seems to dry and split the leaf in two. what could cause this?

Most likely low humidity in the home :twocents: