Good cheaper orchids for a north window? - Orchid Board

gardengirl13 · #1 02-24-2014, 11:05 AM

Are there any fun orchids that would do well in a north facing window?

We moved this past nov and the new house house has a wonderful window for plants, but it faces north. It has a nice ledge on it but has shutters on the lower half, so from the glass to the shutter is about 6", if we wind up removing the shutters then it'll have more like 10", but we'd prefer not to since it faces the road and we like the privacy of being able to close them and have the top open in the evening.

We have a small kitchen window that currently is housing my higher light orchids but once there are leaves on the trees I don't think they'll make it there any more. They seem to be doing ok, but not great. In moving I've lost 7 orchids!!!!! Yikes! Mostly due to light issues and severe dryness even with humidifiers going since this has been a VERY rough winter! On this window there is two that get sold since I have no attachment to them since I've had them for a couple years without bloom. I hate saying that, but now space is at a premium and I'd rather put something else that will do better there, like another phal. But the third I'd like to see if it'll do ok, but again should be blooming or spiking as I bought it as it was fading in April last year, but I know they force them out of turn, so I'm not sure when it will bloom. I'm only really wanting it to bloom again due to it's wonderful smell! The other I've had too long and can't get it to bloom. I had it slightly darker for a year nothing, then moved it to an east window for a year nothing, then the south window and nothing. No new leaves, no new visible roots. Nothing. Oh well. I tried.

But the phals, psychopsis and cochleata are all very happy in our bedroom east facing window. Not sure if there is enough light there for the psychopsis and cochleata though. Both have new growth, but still no signs of a spike in the psychopsis which has been growing roots and leaves but nothing else. The cochleata has a sheath I think, which is right on target with last years April spike! So I guess he's happy there for now! This is the only window in the house that will get any sun once there are leaves on the trees.

I wish we had room for my shelving unit that I had the orchids on in the other house. I'd seriously think about getting a light for it, but there is just no room unless we get rid of some furniture.

the good thing is my husband says that since the phals are doing so well in this house if I lose any others we'll just buy me more phals! So if I do lose those three I should feel ok replacing them with phals.

But Norman (psychopsis) I will keep and keep waiting. I feel this need to get it to bloom!! He has new leaf growth like I said. But what can I do to get him to bloom?! I had him in the edge of a south window with decent light and he never sent up a spike. Is there a leaf count they need before sending a spike up? He came with only four (three very dry seeming and a fourth was shriveled and still slightly is) and now has 9. All the new ones seem much healthier then the old. Any ideas?

And again should I skip the front window? Should I just put houseplants there? If you need more info, it's a rather large window, maybe 8'x4' or so. Gets excellent light but no sun obviously! But once the leaves are out I'm not 100% what will happen. I think it'll keep getting good light, but slightly less strong. The room itself is VERY bright. It's the kitchen/livingrm/dining and has cathedral ceiling and windows up at the top (it's kind of a ranch chalet kind of house) no windows in the dining room on the west side, but the small kitchen window is there, but the dining room has a very large slider also facing north. Only the "front" door is on the east side with no windows. But even on a cloudy day the room is still bright. Phil our ficus is thriving very well as are other house plants.

Leafmite · #2 02-24-2014, 01:56 PM

There are orchids that thrive in shady conditions. I like to look through the Oak Hill Garden Orchid site as they list the needs for all the orchids.
One shade-happy orchid that I have is a turberolabium woodii (I hope I spelled that right) and it is now spiking for me. It is a mini, fragrant, orchid that is on a mount and is really, really easy to grow. I kept it in shade this summer and it is behind my cinnamon tree so doesn't get much light during the colder seasons, either. I set the mount in water overnight (when I remember) to soak.

---------- Post added at 12:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:51 PM ----------

Haraella rectrocalla is another shade-happy orchid that I have. Andy's has ones that are fragrant (they might have a different name). It is also a mounted mini. Andy's Orchids also has the information on what conditions the orchids need so that is also a good site to discover orchids for your window.
Due to space issues, I have been buying mostly mini-orchids, lately, and have been slowly weeding out many of the larger ones. My psychopsis will also be staying as I am fond of the thing. I bought it as a tiny seedling and just love those leaves. I don't know anything about getting them to bloom, however, as mine isn't yet blooming size.

WhiteRabbit · #3 02-24-2014, 02:45 PM

I have grown and bloomed in a (true) north facing window : Haraella retrocalla, Aerangis citrata, noid Masdevallias, noid Phals, an Odontioda (Odontoglossum x Cochlioda).
Have a small rooted Ludisia cutting growing there.

trdyl · #4 02-24-2014, 03:58 PM

Phal. equestris would be a good one. Some are more fragrant then others. They are also quite temperature tolerant.

Subrosa · #5 02-24-2014, 04:14 PM

Stanhopeas and many related genera like shady conditions.

Leafmite · #6 02-26-2014, 02:26 PM

There are fragrant phal equestris? I want one!

trdyl · #7 02-26-2014, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leafmite

There are fragrant phal equestris? I want one!

Yes, there are. Unfortunately, I do not have any keikis at the moment. The most fragrant of the 3 that I have is 'Cherryvale' that I got from Baldans Orchids back in 2005. It is not the "best" fragrance in the world, but it isn't one of the worst either.

gardengirl13 · #8 03-07-2014, 05:47 PM

Oh this is giving me hope!! I've been looking around and found a few online that prefer lower light, one variety wants a shaded east window, so I assume this window, due to it's size, would be ok to try. I found a couple others too that don't mind lower light. I'm thinking maybe it would be better to remove the shutter and be able to get bigger plants. If we brace the shelf more we should be able to have a nice selection of orchids and other houseplants there!

Thanks everyone! I'll keep looking, and once I get stuff I post photos in my windowsill post! and maybe here to so others looking for north window info can find it easier.