First time question

[kot444]

Hi everyone!
First, have to say huge thank you to you all as I've got a lot of usefull information here just reading the posts.
But now I have a question and hope you can help me.
In the pictures below one is my current settings for orchids by southwest window, which is heavely shaded by cherry tree in backyard. Because of this tree all my kids were outside all summer long and came back only a week ago.
As you can see, lowest shelves have halogen lighting (50 watts) and upper ones have CFLs. I don't know what mine light meter is measuring (I have simple Hydrodfarms one), but under halogens in the middle of shelf it shows >4000 fc and on edges at leaves level around 1000-1200 fc. Under CFLs it barely goes over 1000 fc. After a week under halogen lights all new growing leaves on phals have got this purplish tint you can see on the picture of phal.
The paph on two other pictures - bellatulum x (Key Rinaman x Inca) -started the sheath about tree weeks ago (I thihk it is sheath because it has some tiny-tiny hair on it, but leaf around does not), but it is sitting like this without any changes for more than a week now.
So my question is - taking into account available settings, which place is best for it, does it need more light, warmer or cooler, sholud I water it more or keep it on dry side? It is my first one with sheath and I really want to get a flower.
Thank you all one more time, Natalia

[jay]

First of all,

Welcome to the forum!

Second, paphs generally do not need the super high light. Paphs generally will do well in low to medium light. As far as foot candles that is about 800-1200 foot candles. If it is getting ready to bloom, then you are already doing something right and probably don't need to move it. Too many changes may disrupt the flower/bud. Some paphs also take a very long time in bud before they open. It can be a long process that really tests our patience.

Kmarch will probably have more information to add as he is much more knowledgeable on the topic of paphs.

I hope you enjoy your stay and will share more photos as it opens.


Jay

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum, kot444.

You have a nice setup there!

[mayres]

What wattage and type of bulb are you using to get 4000 footcandles? That sounds very high for fluorescent lighting. I have measured HO T5 54 watt tubes at the bulb and cannot get over half that. (?). Do you have maybe 100 watt CFL in those single bulb fixtures that look like desk lamps? Curious as I'm purchasing a six tube T5 fixture from hydorfarms later this week. As Jay said - 800-1200 should work fine for your paphs and phals. A little red tinge on your phals is good - shows they are moving toward the upper end of acceptability. mike

[Fabolusus]

There is no way a 50 watt halogen would register 4000 fc. Do you get direct sunlight? That could be altering your readings. I have been growing paphs and phals under various cfls and have been able to easily bloom them. I use 85 watt bulbs (equivalent to 400 watt incandescent) for my phals, and 42 watt (150 incandescent equivalent) for my paphs. I think T5 flouros work better for large areas, and I know that Mayres has been successful with them.

[arleneg]

Hi & welcome to the forum, Natalia.

Like Jay mentioned, low to medium is good enough for the Phals and Paphs. Those purple coloring on the edges on the Phals are fine, as long as the leaves don't burn from too much sun.

Mike & Fabolusus -- I think she's getting that much f.c. due to the shelves being in front of a south-west window.

[PhalPal]

I have two 6X8 foot windows (tinted) facing directly south, no window coverings and I am lucky to get 1500 fc. Kot where are you measuring your light from?? directly below the bulbs or at the plant itself?? It appears to me your lights are too far above your plants to get that many fc. I'm very curious about this thread because I will soon be moving my orchids into their own room and will need many more lights.

And welcome to the forum!!!

[kot444]

Hi again and thank you all for welcoming me here!
About lights.
I'm very short on space so when I was looking for some supplemental light I was looking for something really small. And even T5 fixtures are actually too massive and quite expensive too. So I found this cabinet lighting with halogen bulb (RONA, $18, bulb included) :
(here was url to the site: linogene.com
Bulb specification says 50 watt, 650 initial lumen, whatever, I decided to give it a try as it is only for evenings and overcast weather. Pictures show the measurement in 10 cm (4") from the lamp and about 20 cm (8") on leaves level. It is dark outside already, no sun, believe me. I told before I don't know what exactly my light meter measures, but it's what I see. (sorry, can't make better pictures)
But there is no way to use it in 4 inches from the leaves without fan working - too hot. With fan temp goes up about 8 F and stays there and leaves are slightly warm. And I kept the glass covering on the lamp, without it it's even brighter. For the lowest shelf I use dimmer, still afraid to burn the 'kids.
For me it looks like working....
About the plant. I tought bellatulums are flowering in summer, when it is wet and warm (moonsoons), now in fall it was suppose to go to cold and dry with more light. But because of the sheath should I keep it warmer, and water more often... or I might need to leave it alone....:Natalia

[kmarch]

Regarding your Paph: first off congrats on the spike! Secondly a couple of corrections: The name of the one parent isn't Key Rinaman but rather it is Kay Rinaman; The cross Kay Rinaman x Inca has been registered and named. It is: Paph Via Flora Vista (quite a pretty name). Furthermore, the cross Via Flora Vista x bellatulum has also been registered and named. It is: Paph Bellevue, so, the name of your Paph is: Paph Bellevue. Given the parentage, It should be a beauty! Lately there has been a trend of crossing exhibition type Paphs with Brachypetalum Paphs like P bellatulum or godefroyae.

Now, regarding its care: If I understand correctly your Paph was outdoors until a week ago when you brought it in for the winter, and this is when you noticed it was in spike, correct? Normally I'd agree with jay and say don't move the plant but in this case it's getting cold outside and you don't really have a choice, you have to bring it in. So I recommend you stick to good Paph culture, evenly moist, lots of nice fresh air circulation, diffuse lighting.

It is not uncommon for a Paph to start to spike, push up the bud 1/4 to 1/2 an inch or so, then sit for several weeks. I have a bellatulum that has been in this state for about a month now. Given good culture, eventually the spike will start to grow and grow remarkably fast.

When your Paph blooms, would you please post a picture of it on the forum here? Because it is an unusual cross there are few pictures of it available. A pic of it here in our gallery would be beneficial in educating folks on this interesting line of breeding.

Cheers

[jay]

I think I misread the original post. I did not mean to leave it outside, I thought that it began its spike while inside.

Can't wait to see a picture of it though.


Jay

[kot444]

Thank you Kmarch, Jay!
So I will leave it on the upper shelf under CFL, protected from the sun and close to the fan and continue to water as before, when still little bit moist but not dry and hope to see the flower....
Natalia

[Fabolusus]

Just out of curiosity, what readings do you get when you set your light meter to the "500" setting? Also, what wattage are your cfls?

[kot444]

At "500" it goes way right under lights but by the window without lights with overcast weather we have now it will show about 30, at "5000" it barely moves.
CFLs are for sure not enough, they are 26 (100) watts 6500K, will look for something better.
Natalia

[kot444]

Sorry, I mean "it will show about 300" not 30