light

[springblooms2]

Hi there. I was wondering about where exactly to keep my Phal? I think I read on this board that medium light is best. What exactly does that mean?

Right now I have mine in the center of my living room which has one western facing window and 2 eastern facing door-sized windows.

The other place I was thinking of keeping it is on my dining room table, which is facing 3 eastern facing windows. The Phal would be much closer to windows than it is in the living room. But it will also be beneath my dining room overhead lights.

Which is the best location? Or is there a better one?

Thanks so much for your help!

[Lacie]

About how far from the windows would it be in either of those locations? It sounds like either will be fine though. The overhead lights in your dining room are negligible, they won't be helpful or harmful.

---------- Post added at 11:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 AM ----------

Oh, and "medium light" generally means bright location, but no direct sun (east windows and north windows are generally recommended for phals, west are generally lower light but a phal could live on a west windowsill, and south windows tend to have too much direct sun for phals - though of course all of this can vary by location!).

If in the middle of your living room it is very far from the windows, I might choose the dining room in your case. But that also depends on how much light those large east windows let in.

[springblooms2]

Ok. Thanks for explaining. In my living room, the Phal would be about 12 feet from the large east windows. In the dining room, the Phal would be about 5 feet from the 3 normal size east windows.

Thanks for your help.

[Lacie]

I would probably put it in the dining room then, 12 ft is a lot. 5 ft is a lot too, but with three windows it should be fine.

[fishmom]

Here is another approach to judging light--the shadow that is cast on the leaves. A fuzzy shadow will probably be enough light for a phal to flower, a sharp shadow will be better for things that require more light. If there is no shadow, you are not likely to get any flowers.

Here is a link to an article about this: Light, the Key to Successful Blooming