Lighting Conditions in the Northeast

[scy]

I am growing a phal, dendrobium, cymbidium and miltoniopsis in the northeast. I have them in an east facing window behind a sheer curtain. There are fewer sunny days in the winter. I recall someone saying that the orchids are basically in the dark and that I should push the curtains back.

Are my orchids receiving enough light? Should I push back the sheer curtain in the winter or just leave it as is? Thanks for your advice!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Misread (removed post).

[Connie Star]

Do you have a camera that allows you to adjust the speed and f-stop? If so, you can use it as a light meter.
I have an inexpensive light meter that I've used to measure the light.
I live in Massachusetts, and I grow my orchids in a large south facing window area (really fixed sliding doors) and it never seems to be too much light especially in the winter. I'd consider removing the sheer curtain for the winter.

[scy]

I do not have a light meter but I do have a manual camera. However, majority of my deck is covered in snow with the exception of a few slats. Will this throw off the meter reading? What kind of numbers do I need to look for? If it's sunny out, should I put the curtain back on?

[NeoNJ]

Hi -

I live in New Jersey too.....and I grow my Orchids on 3 Windowsills in my bedroom - and I emphasize "GROW". Many have not yet bloomed as yet for me. That is the real test ! Can you grow and BLOOM an orchid indoors. You have EARLY to LATE MORNING Sun, which is good for many types of orchids. I would suggest you invest in a LIGHT METER so you know exactly what the light levels are for your orchids. I don't use any type of curtain or blind and allow the orchids to get full sun in the AM (since I have a Southeast exposure in one window).

[Connie Star]

The Ortho orchid book gives details on how to use your cameras light meter for your orchids. I can't find my copy right now but I'll keep looking; perhaps your local library has a copy.

[bullsie]

I grow in the northeast also, windowsill culture. I go by the color of the leaves to determine proper light - dark leaves not enough, faded leaves too much, etc. While winter seems more gloomy, there are times that the sun angle will hit a point for several days where all my orchids will get burnt leaves. A time to be on guard.

A great help is summering outside. All seem to enjoy a greater amount of light during that time and outside can provide it (like indoor growing, need to watch how much light they get). This seems to help them through our winters.

Keep doing what you are doing, observe how they are, and adjust accordingly. Everyone's home is different. And not all orchids will like your home. Its all a work in progress!

[scy]

Thanks! I opened up the curtain. I noticed that my phal's leaves were dark green one morning, so that's when I suspected it wasn't getting enough light.

Originally Posted by bullsie

I grow in the northeast also, windowsill culture. I go by the color of the leaves to determine proper light - dark leaves not enough, faded leaves too much, etc. While winter seems more gloomy, there are times that the sun angle will hit a point for several days where all my orchids will get burnt leaves. A time to be on guard.

A great help is summering outside. All seem to enjoy a greater amount of light during that time and outside can provide it (like indoor growing, need to watch how much light they get). This seems to help them through our winters.

Keep doing what you are doing, observe how they are, and adjust accordingly. Everyone's home is different. And not all orchids will like your home. Its all a work in progress!

[Orchid126]

I also grow in New Jersey. Many books recommend using a curtain between the plants and the window, but that advice is not for the light starved northeast, more for southern and western parts of the country. The cattleyas are almost up against the glass in an unshaded, curtainless southeast window, and the phals and low-light plants are behind them, from a foot to two feet away from the glass. Oncidium, dendrobium and miltonia are in an unshaded western window.

Increase the light gradually. Feel the leaves. If they're hot, the plant is getting too much sun. Move it back a few inches (not feet! The light drops dramatically for every inch away from the window). If the leaves aren't hot, perhaps move the plant closer to the light a bit. The leaves should be olive green, not dark green, if you want blooms.

The phal needs the least light, dendrobium more, miltoniopsis a bit more more than dens, and cymbidiums need cool temps and as much light as you can give them without burning the leaves.

In the summer outside the plants get about six hours of undiluted sun from early morning til noon, and then bright light the rest of the day. Phals stay on the covered patio.

[NeoNJ]

Hi -
Your post was most welcomed and a breath of fresh air. Wow. Good to hear there are other orchid growers in the Garden State.

I grow my Orchids in 3 Bedroom windowsills - 1 with a SOUTHEAST exposure, and 2 with SOUTHWEST exposure.

In the Southeast exposure are all of my Neofinetia falcata, Neostylis and mounted orchids - Brassavola nodosa, Den. Kingianum, Den. Jenkinsii, Sophronitis cernua.

In the Southwest windowsills are the Potinara, Encyclia, Ondontocidium, and Dendrobium.

It is a real challenge trying to get these orchids what they need to grow well ..... let alone bloom. Some orchids have bloomed without any care at all (A Colmanara, a few Paphiopedilums).

I've added a small cool-mist Humidifier, which has added significant humidity to the Southeast windowsill.

I think I have good light to BLOOM orchids. You're blooming Cattleya in a Southeast exposure, so I should be able to Bloom the orchids I have......

Any thoughts ...?

Thanks,

Patrick