Hey everyone!
I have recently obtained some high-light orchids (something I never said I would do, but- well- you know what happens when the orchid bug bites you!!). I have mostly phals, oncidiums, and paphs up until this point, but the new additions include:
1 NOID Den Nobile
1 NOID Mini Cattleya
1 Brassavola Nodosa x Grandiflora
1 Den Kingianum
I live in a climate that is cloudy all winter, and will have intermittent REALLY bright days all of a sudden. With this weather pattern, I really fear that the plants will get a sudden shock of sun, burn, and die a horrible and painful death, and I would cry and cry.
However, I know these guys don't like to bloom unless you give them lots of sun, and in summertime, we basically have nonstop cloudless skies and full sun is plentiful.
But between summer and winter, I am worried. Lately I am trying to keep them on a windowsill while I am home and able to frequently check if the leaves are too hot. I have a window that is very lightly screened, and when I leave home I place them adjacent to the window. At the moment, they are getting a nice breeze and full direct sunshine with the window open.
Should I treat this like tanning? Should I give them 30 minutes full sun for a week, then an hour for another couple weeks, and then 1.5 hours, and so on?
What do you do? I know that brassavolas get red when they are getting the sun they want, but I am scared of burning and killing them in the process!
Below are pictures of my 3 locations. 1 is with open window, 1 is closed, and 1 is the corner I move them to next to the window to give them bright but indirect sun.
PS My window faces SOUTH!
How do I acclimate orchids to full and direct sunlight without killing them?
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