Unclear about Schoenorchis gemmata light requirements - Orchid Board

JFeathersmith · #1 05-25-2016, 02:06 AM

I bought this little plant about 13 months ago at a show, after being smitten by a blooming specimen on display. I talked to the vendor about light and water requirements, so it's been living in my bathroom since then, since it sounded like the low light in there would suit it.

The room has 1 east-facing window that has a coating on it that prevents seeing through the window; it does get very bright in there, but I've had the plant several feet away from the window. It started growing a new leaf in early December, but it's been so slow, and our winters are so dim, that I've been concerned maybe it isn't getting enough light. I was watering about once a week until this winter when I started watering more often and fertilizing it every other watering or so, to help it with the new leaf.

Then several weeks ago, I put it nearer the window, maybe 6 inches away. We were having a long stretch of unseasonably sunny weather, so it was REALLY BRIGHT. After a week or two, it developed dark coloration along the edges of one leaf and the tip of another. I know for some plants, this means "too much light!" and for others it means "this is great!" but I've been unable to figure out what it means for this species, and as often as I've read what its light requirements are, I don't have a good handle on translating that to my conditions OR how to interpret what the plant did in the brighter light.

I posted about this on another forum, and someone wondered if maybe the plant had cold damage - it is colder close to the window, and our nights are still in the 40s (tho the apartment doesn't drop below 65), so I thought perhaps that was possible, but after putting the plant back on the wall, away from the window, the dark coloring has faded.

Which is great! It hasn't been sunburned, or cold damaged. But was it happy with all that light or no? Almost all images I've seen online show solid green foliage, so I'm assuming the dark coloring is a sign of too much light, but perhaps not a dire sign of stress either.

I think it's not getting something that it needs, because the leaf it finished growing before this one is shorter than its earlier ones. :\

WhiteRabbit · #2 05-25-2016, 09:53 PM

estación seca · #3 05-26-2016, 02:26 AM

I don't know anything about that plant. That kind of coloration can be caused, in other plants, by either or both of high light levels and cool temperatures.

Jenascrich · #4 05-26-2016, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFeathersmith

I bought this little plant about 13 months ago at a show, after being smitten by a blooming specimen on display. I talked to the vendor about light and water requirements, so it's been living in my bathroom since then, since it sounded like the low light in there would suit it.

The room has 1 east-facing window that has a coating on it that prevents seeing through the window; it does get very bright in there, but I've had the plant several feet away from the window. It started growing a new leaf in early December, but it's been so slow, and our winters are so dim, that I've been concerned maybe it isn't getting enough light. I was watering about once a week until this winter when I started watering more often and fertilizing it every other watering or so, to help it with the new leaf.

Then several weeks ago, I put it nearer the window, maybe 6 inches away. We were having a long stretch of unseasonably sunny weather, so it was REALLY BRIGHT. After a week or two, it developed dark coloration along the edges of one leaf and the tip of another. I know for some plants, this means "too much light!" and for others it means "this is great!" but I've been unable to figure out what it means for this species, and as often as I've read what its light requirements are, I don't have a good handle on translating that to my conditions OR how to interpret what the plant did in the brighter light.

I posted about this on another forum, and someone wondered if maybe the plant had cold damage - it is colder close to the window, and our nights are still in the 40s (tho the apartment doesn't drop below 65), so I thought perhaps that was possible, but after putting the plant back on the wall, away from the window, the dark coloring has faded.

Which is great! It hasn't been sunburned, or cold damaged. But was it happy with all that light or no? Almost all images I've seen online show solid green foliage, so I'm assuming the dark coloring is a sign of too much light, but perhaps not a dire sign of stress either.

I think it's not getting something that it needs, because the leaf it finished growing before this one is shorter than its earlier ones. :\

I have one as well and have a hard time finding care info

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rbarata · #5 05-26-2016, 11:02 AM

It probably has red (or similar) flowers? Am I right?

JFeathersmith · #6 05-26-2016, 11:12 AM

They are white and a really incredible purple.

rbarata · #7 05-26-2016, 11:59 AM

That dark coloration is green or purple? Usually, plants with red or purple in their flowers tend to develop purple edges in the leaves, stalks and/or roots. This happens when light levels increase and it's not a bad thing as long as light doen't increase more.

JFeathersmith · #8 05-26-2016, 12:09 PM

Yeah. On the leaf edges, it had a purplish look to it - the leaf tip that darkened looked almost black.

The rest of the leaves didn't noticeably turn a lighter green, like I've read will happen when orchids are getting higher light, but maybe that takes longer?

I may try to find a better compromise spot in the bathroom, then, because the light is definitely going to get stronger close to the window through summer.

sweetjblue · #9 05-26-2016, 12:26 PM

If your plant was several feet from the window and you moved it to within 6" without acclimating it gradually, that in all probability is the reason for the reddish shading your seeing. They like bright filtered light, no direct sun.
The fact that your newest leaf is smaller than the last is a good indication it wasn't getting enough light where you had it before.
Try it in the window but move it back alittle ( to around 12") and water several times a week letting it dry between watering with intermediate temps.

Picture is at J&L Orchids last June. It's a lovely specimen they have.

JFeathersmith · #10 05-26-2016, 10:57 PM

Yeah . . . I didn't exactly move it closer in a gradual way. The way the walls and shower and everything are in there, it's difficult to find "in between" places to put the plant to acclimate :\

Since it's really overcast (and looks like it will be again for a while, sigh), I've moved it back to the close location; easy enough to put back on the wall the next really bright morning. Maybe I can rig something to hang it off the shower rod, a bit farther from the window, though in that case it might end up shaded by the rest of the shower structure (thinking out loud a bit). Anyway. Thanks for the advice!

Watering it twice a week seems about right; it doesn't dry out any faster than that right now.