What species for a bright windowsill?

[The Orchid Kid]

I have amassed a few orchids in my collection now, but my biggest windowsill is not really ok for any of them I think. It gets the afternoon sun which can raise temps on the sill to over 35C and I know most orchids don't like direct sun....though the sun intensity might not be that strong in the North of England?

So are there any that do love lots of light and direct sun? I have a Psychopsis and Laelia anceps but they are the only ones I have put in this position and they seem happy.

On a similar note....how shady is shady? I have Paphs, Phals and Masd. about 2m away from a West facing window. About right?

[Bud]

The biggest windowsill can have a diaphanous draped curtain(not permanent) maybe a nylon bridal tulle to diffuse the afternoon sun. Some Dendrobiums, Vandas and Mokaras would love to be hanging on that window....for other sensitive leaves just a reminder that the glass can serve as a magnifier and burn the leaves=its best to put it a couple of feet away from the window even if it is diffused with a drape.

[quiltergal]

Tolumnias would love that window.

[WhiteRabbit]

How long does the window get sun?
All of my orchids take at least some direct sun (guess definitions vary), many, a few hours in summer.

I have orchids in west facing windows (South San Francisco bay area, latitude 37 degrees; average summer day temps mid 80s - low 90s); smaller Catts, Dens, Onc, strap leaf Paph, Neofinetia, Neostylis. Tolumnia does not seem to get enough light there (in my case) - get a few hours of direct sun in summer - I do have to watch some of them if temps suddenly jump up significantly.

[NYCorchidman]

Dendrobiums will also do well and lots of oncidium hybrids. but you might want some "protection" like fine fishy net like curtain.

It is really difficult to accurately describe how shady and bright.
2 meters away from bright window with no shading...coule be fine. Observe how your plants grow. If you don't see any burning on the leaves or color bleaching to yellow, then all is good generally speaking.

I have south exposure but for orchids, I use fine mesh net curtain I got from IKEA. I grow cattleyas, dendrobiums, oncidiums, phals...then right behind these guys, I have a plant stand where many of my paphiopedilums are. That is within 60 cm from the window, but remember my windows got shade curtains and taller plants also help lessen the light intensity for the slippers. The slippers do get some direct or near direct sunlight at some point during the day and they grow very well.

I have one cattleya hybrid that grows by the south window with no protection and that plant never get sunburned. I tried other catts and dendrobiums. Well, they didn't like it too much. lol

[Discus]

If your windowsill (but not the whole room) gets hot, blowing a fan (even something as small as a large computer muffin fan (12cm diameter) will alleviate it by averaging the temp across the room. The air movement is good for the plants anyway. Opening a window will also help, but you may not want to do that for whatever reason; if you own the house, you could rig up one of those bathroom/shower extractor fans to exhaust hot air out of the room (via your attic) or suck colder air in from outside. Preferably under themostatic control.

If you want to work out light intensities a little more accurately, try this method (last paragraph). Orchids on a Balcony: New Gadget: Light Meter

[The Orchid Kid]

A drape is not really going to work that easily as would be a hassle to fit, due to the architecture of the bay window.

Gets sun from about 3pm - 8pm. I am at 55 degrees North so not quite San Fran sun strength. Having a window open should help when (if?!) it gets hot.

I will watch for yellowing but so far so good.

Is not always clear what shady or light means in the home I guess. I got my Miltoniopsis and Beallara in a big window that faces North and towards the house next door and gets no direct sun, just whatever light comes between the houses. Great camera light tip Discus - that will help!