When can I move my orchid away from Window
 

Hello!
This is the first time my phalaenopsis got a spike! I'm really excited.
I live in Seattle and I had to put it in a Window facing south, the only room that has a window with that direction, but not exactly where I want it to be so I can enjoy the flowers!

My question is, when can I move the orchid to my kitchen table or living room?

The spike is about 5 inches right now, and no flowers yet.

How you guys can help me figure it out!

I personally would leave it where it is right now so it can get enough light to make as many buds as it can and move it to wherever you would like when it starts to open its first flower.

I would also make sure the pot is in the exact same position until the first bloom starts to open, this way you will get a nice display. If you rotate it or change its position a lot you might get the blooms facing every which way instead of looking uniform.

In my limited knowledge I would keep it in the window until it starts to bloom. Putting out spikes and flowers is very energy consuming for the plant so keeping it in the window allows it to have more energy.


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Thank you!!!!

I have a question about not moving it so the display is nice- does it matter which way the bend of the spike faces the light? It seems the orchids I purchase in bloom are all perfectly balance and facing a good direction and mine are all over (one was because I moved it around a lot). Do the buds go toward the light or anything or you just want it to stay however no matter which way that is?

I believe the buds tend to try to face the light, but I think as long as you pick a direction and leave it like that you should get a nice display.

I don't usually move a spiking orchid. The orchid is sending out a flower spike because it is receiving enough light. Moving it away may cause your spike not to develop or buds to drop. Move the orchid to it's display area after it has fully bloomed.

What if you moved the phalaenopsis to a window (further from the grow light) to get the drop in temperature at night to prompt spiking? Would it be reasonable to move it back to the brighter area once the spike was started, provided it would still get sufficient light?

A large difference between the day and night temperature usually encourage some orchids to put out a flower spike. However, one don't really have to work so hard to move an orchid around. Just give it enough light without burning it's leaves, and most orchids will want to flower eventually.
In my experience, knowledgeable neglect can be good for the plant and the grower.

I grow mine in my "guest" bathroom (hah! Guests!)
With a lamp and I was going to get all prepared to drop the temp and stuff, and then all of the sudden, spikes. I didn't get to drop the temp. :(
During the winter, our place is usually around 64 lowest and summer we keep it at 72-74 day temp. So idk what happened, but I guess that was enough. I was going to stick the orchids in my poorly insulated coat closet near the front door at night. Lol