Umm..too close to bulb?

[Cuttlefish]

Hi all,

This may be a silly question, but I have a dendrobium in an East window with a compact fluorescent bulb at the top of the window for additional light... but now I have a flower spike that's about to touch the light bulb!
Will the plant get angry if I move it away from the light?

Thanks for your time.

[dounoharm]

congrats on the flower spike!!! can you shift it over so the spike misses the heat of the bulb? you might cook your flowers....the plant wont get angry i am sure, lol....

[Cuttlefish]

Okay, I've shifted it sideways, won't the spike just turn toward the bulb again?
I probably should have mentioned that the spike is just over 12" long (and I don't know how long it's going to get!) It still seems to be growing an inch or so per day, so how far away from the light/window do people generally grow? Is darker okay while it's in bloom? I'm worried about light levels as it's December in Canada!
Thanks so much!!

[Ross]

I would leave it. You're fighting a loosing battle with this one. Once the flowers open (I really doubt you'll fry them) then the spike won't change much and you can change it. The spike can probably grow right through the center of the CF, but I think you might run out of space. If you are really concerned, straighten out a coat hanger, cut a long piece from the straightened wire and place in or attach to, the pot and use little hair clips (the dragon flies, etc.) to clip the spike to the wire. Careful! The spike will break off if it is too stiff and you move it too far.

By the way, how strong is the CF bulb? Just curious. I use three different bulbbs (2 ea at 54 watt consumption and one at 105 watt consumption.) The 54's are supposedly equiv to around 250 watt incondescent and the 105 to something like 500 watt. This is a south window. If I had an east window, I'd probably add even more light at our latitude. South window at 45 degrees north is like north window in Florida!

[Cuttlefish]

Oh dear. I've only got two 23W bulbs and some aluminum foil on that window! No wonder it's so leggy...
Well, I guess I could whip out the big gun. I have a 400 Watt metal halide set up that I've been afraid to use, not only from a $$ stand point, but this is my living room we're talking about... a small living room.
Actually, with a bulb that big could I move the set up from the window entirely? There's a little space left in my bathroom...

Oh, and I've tried to control a spike before (phal) with bonsai wire, but I got greedy and it snapped. : ( Told myself I wouldn't try that trick again.

[Ross]

No need for the hot light. Check out 2 to 200 Watt Compact Fluorescent Bulbs : 1000Bulbs.com They have some badass bulbs. Lots to pick from. I'd up the anti with maybe the 105 watt CF and try something like this

That "bad boy" in the front is the 105 watt CF. The other smaller bulbs at top-back are the 54 watt units.

The CF bulbs are cooler and shed more light per watt consumed (as I have found.)

[Cuttlefish]

Thanks Ross!! love that set up!

Never thought I'd be spending my x-mas money on new light bulbs, but now I'm excited!
I'll try to post a pic when I get flowers!