Another new member!

[kazjak]

Hi folks!

What a great site! Thank you Google! I'm a guy from Ohio that has been bitten by the orchid bug. Lucky for me I have the green thumb in the family(not my wife) and have spent most of my time with outdoor perennial gardens. Last year I had a onc. sherry baby(never rebloomed),a Den-Phal(never rebloomed), and a Phal all from Home Depot. I successfully rebloomed the Phal this fall which prompted me to go hog wild adding to my collection. I added 6 more Phal's(ebay/nursery), a Paph, a mini Cattleya, a Macodes Petola, and a Brassia that I purchased post bloom. I have one major question... Never do I hear anyone talking about orchids growing in a North window. My sliding door is on the North end of the house and I've been growing my orchids in that window ever since. The Phals love it!!! They aren't "light green" but they all are healthy with great roots and are in bloom or spiking. Am I going to have trouble with these plants in the future? I'm going to move my high light plants outside this May so I can hopefully see good growth and blooming this fall. Sorry for Rambling... I'll attach a picture of my setup... Keep in mind I just put up the lights.

[pikevi]

Hello kazjak,

Welcome to the forum.

[dennis]

hey welcome what part of ohio i am between akron and youngstown

[kazjak]

I live in Seville, just south of Medina.... I frequent that area often to restock my flyfishing supplies at the TMF Sportshop in Ravenna. When I'm not Cycling or Gardening I'm flyfishing deep into PA! Hardly leaves anytime for the wife and kids! Ha Ha.

[mayres]

You are CORRECT - orchids should NOT be grown in a north window - not enough light (in general). I see that you are adding supplemental light - that will help, but you most likely do not have enough light-power with that setup to do much good except for your low light plants. Good idea on moving the high light plants outside for the summer and early fall - be VERY careful during the aclimation process - from personal experience I can tell you that it can be tricky and you can easily burn all your plants to the extent that it will take years to recover. If you are going for lights indoors fluorescents are the easiest for phals and paphs - though you need to have them VERY close to your plants - inches - the closer the better. Your high light plants will not bloom in north windows or with fluorsecents - HID lighting is the answer - it can have heat issues to deal with and the fixtures are not cheap. Most of us are in the learning process - looks like you are well on your way and will soon be informing many on what works for you! Enjoy. Mike

[fred]

hi and welcome to the forum
I hope that you enjoy your stay with us
nice to hear that you have the orchid bug
I think we all have that
I always seem to have room for more plants
only dont tell my wife that

[arleneg]

Hi kazjak,

Welcome to the forum.

Dendrobiums and Oncidiums need more light than the Phalaenopsis. Therefore, you will need to find a new location (east, south, or west window) for them. They need 1500-2500fc.

Good luck. When they do bloom, please show some pics.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The Brassia, Dendrobiums and Cattleya are going to need high light, with the Brassia probably being the most obstinate when it comes to reblooming. Good luck with all your new babies.