light requierment

[fyd96]

good morning all. this my first time here so I hope I'm doing this right. I have just bought a moth orchid and one site says put In morning and late afternoon sun as another site says no morning sun. can some one please tell me which one Is right. I'm confused and want to do this right . thanxs all.

[Ellen]

The short answer is that there's no one "right" way to grow orchids. It probably doesn't matter whether you put your phal ( aka moth orchid) in morning sun, afternoon sun, neither, or both, as long as it doesn't get so much light (actually heat) that it burns the leaves, or so little light that it can't perform photosynthesis. Phals can actually do fine without any direct sun as long as they get a decent amount of light. You don't say where you're located, but sun in Florida or S. CA is much different from sun in Maine or Seattle. If the plant is getting direct sun, just feel the leaf. If it feels very warm or hot, that means there's a danger of sunburn, so get the plant out of the sun and find a spot with more indirect lighting. Since everyone's conditions are different, there's a lot to be said for the trial and error method.

[mayres]

I've had phals in a couple of windows at work for three years come this summer. The window faces north east. From November through April there is NO direct sunshine that comes in the windows. My phals love it here and bloom every year. The first phal I ever puchased I put in this window in June - July time frame. Direct sunshine for just a few hours per day. I put it in the window on a friday when I went home for the weekend. When I came back to work on Monday it was essentially dead - all leaves were turning yellow from excess sunshine. Since this first plant I now move the phals out of the windows during the late sprning to early fall months - totally away from any direct sunshine - and they do fine. Good luck - Mike

[fyd96]

as of now I live In chicago and have freezing temps. I have put my Phalaon my kitghen table which gets Indirect light and no sun fo now. I do have sheers also.so this location will do? I try to keep temps around 75 during the day and 70 at night. will this be ok?

[Ellen]

Your location sounds fine. I am assuming that your phal is blooming right now, but if you want it to rebloom next year, you will probably need a bigger day-night temperature difference starting around November. For now, the 70-75 range should be perfect. Sounds like the weather in Chicago is brutal right now. I can't even imagine how cold it must be.

[fyd96]

thank you for your response. yes my Phala Is In full bloomright now In fact loaded with blooms, two branches worth. I will leave It where It Is. we just got above freezing last night.