Proud New Orchid Owner

[TiaMia]

A new story entry has been added:

Proud New Orchid Owner

Hi, I just had given to me a Phalaenopsis Everspring King for my birthday... I have always admired orchids and am scared to death to kill it
I was reading that placing your orchid in East facing light is preferable, however, in my apartment there are no East facing windows.
Is there a next best?

[zxyqu]

Cograts TiaMia on your new Phal! I dont know any specifics on this phal in particular, but a North facing window that gets good light should be just fine. A west facing wing may do as well if it doesn't get too hot. I'll point you to a new thread that may help
Where to put my new Phal. orchid

Welcome to OB! I'm pretty new as well, and this place has been great

[Bird Song Farm]

Hi,
Although an East facing window is said to be best for Phals. they will do fine in any window that doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight. An East window is suggested because it only receives the "cool" sunlight of early morning.
You could even use a South facing window if you put up sheer curtains and set the plant back away from the window a couple of feet.
One way to test for to much sun is to feel the plants leaves. If they are warm to the touch, they need to be moved to a bit shadier location.
Hope this helps.
Al

[mimigirl]

good luck on all of them! As i stated in reply to winter sub tropical zone, I have about given up do to different peices of advice on same plant every time I seek info.

[sucuz]

Originally Posted by mimigirl

good luck on all of them! As i stated in reply to winter sub tropical zone, I have about given up do to different peices of advice on same plant every time I seek info.

Don't give up yet, Mimi. There is a lot of conflicting information when it comes to keeping orchids happy. What works like a charm for one person just doesn't seem to work at all for someone else. Can't explain it, but we still encounter it over and over.

There is also a lot of mis-information about orchids. Most of it seems to be hearsay passed on as fact from person to person and nobody really knows anything, they just "heard".

Hang around OB for awhile. There are a lot of really knowledgable people here. They know from experience and never stop learning. They are glad to pass on that experience and trade stories of what did and did not work for them and under what circumstances. Shop around, but you aren't likely to find a group of more friendly, more knowledgable people who will be glad to point you in the right direction and answer questions in a way that is clear and understandable. (And for me, that's a good thing!)

[EDDIE]

Welcome to orchid board TiaMia...I agree with Bird Song Farm...keep it out of direct strong sunlight such as what you would get from a south or west window (unless of course, it is filtered). These require about as much light as what is required to bloom an African Violet.

Happy growing and best regards,
Eddie

[stever_sl]

Originally Posted by mimigirl

good luck on all of them! As i stated in reply to winter sub tropical zone, I have about given up do to different peices of advice on same plant every time I seek info.

I'm new here myself, but I hear you! I'm pretty sure that I could take every "do this" statement in every book I have, and find an exact opposite "do this" in one of the other books. The folks on this forum seem very helpful though, and I've already learned a lot from reading in the Beginners' area. So I have hope!

[Ben Gunther]

I know how you feel

[Florida_guy_26]

look, here is what you can do mimi- if you have an east, west or southern exposure, just make sure you cover the window with curtains that let in about 25% up to 50% of the sun that normally comes through. DO NOT give phals direct sun. I give mine direct sun and they do well, but most will do well in much darker conditions- any kind of light that a room gets from a normal 60 watt bulb is supposedly enough for most phals and paphiopedilum in case you wonder. Now that being said obviously what works for you, may not work for others and what works for me others will protest. Try using just a normal incandescent bulb (60 watt) and if the phal starts darkening then bump up the light. move up to 100 watts and see if that helps- the light must be within a few feet of the plant also, if you cant do that, use a curtain to cover the window so it gets half or less light than what comes through and set the plant near the window. i hope this helps

[johnblagg]

I grow mine in a picture window facing west but lots of trees on that side of the house so no full sun in summer and brighter in winter,They love it nice healty leaves and bloom several times each year starting early in january and then agian in summer right outside under a big cypress tree on a table in front of the same window.I have one that has held its blooms now for over three months.I grow them in pure rice hulls so they have perfect drainage and repot every spring,