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  #1  
Old 10-10-2015, 07:28 PM
vlhart vlhart is offline
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What are your low-light favorites? Female
Default What are your low-light favorites?

Hello---

I'm wondering-- what are your favorite low-light orchids? I've got a western-facing room that doesn't get a lot of direct light. Just about 1 hr of direct light at 4pm-ish. Temps around 75-80, humidity around 50%.

Any ideas for something that might thrive in that enviornment? I need inspiration.
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  #2  
Old 10-10-2015, 11:25 PM
MrHappyRotter MrHappyRotter is offline
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It's hard to beat species Phalaenopsis, many of which like warm temps and do well in shadier conditions. If you're a total beginner, you might look into Phalaenopsis primary hybrids, many of which still retain a lot of the wild characteristics of their parent species, while also benefiting from hybrid vigor, making them easier to grow and more forgiving of mistakes. Of course if modern complex hybrids are your thing, these can be very easy to acquire as long as you're not looking for any particular one, you can generally pick these up at hardware stores, garden centers, and these days, even the grocery store.

Lately, I've been perusing the Angraecoid options. These can be really rewarding, especially if you're like me, and enjoy fragrant orchids. Many of the commonly available species and hybrids prefer lower light conditions, and they come in a variety of sizes from miniature Aerangis species, to enormous, as in some Angraecums. The flowers tend to mostly be white or green, so there's not tons of color variety and patterns. Fragrance is common, since they use scent instead of fancy colors and patterns to attract moth pollinators. And those that are fragrant are usually the most powerful at night.

Some Paphiopedilums perform well in low light. The most commonly available "group" are the Maudiae-types. These almost uniformly grow and bloom under low light conditions. It can be hit or miss with the other "groups", but even some of the parvisepalum group, which are well-known for their large flowers and bright colors will do okay in these conditions. I also think the sequential multifloral group, or cochlopetalums, will tolerate shade.

The Dendrobiums generally aren't great candidates, but apparently there's a group of them, called Latouria, that like warm, wet, and shady conditions. An example hybrid, which I grow in Phalaenopsis conditions, is Dendrobium Microchip. There are plenty of other species and hybrids in this group, that often feature peculiar shapes, dramatic patterns of spots, blotches and stripes, and colors mostly in neutral cream or white to green tones, accented with dark reddish or purplish black. Some of them, like D. Microchip are also nicely fragrant.
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  #3  
Old 10-11-2015, 12:14 PM
vlhart vlhart is offline
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Thanks Happy Rotter! These are some extremely helpful ideas. I have quite a few noid Phals and a microchip in an eastern facing room that gets higher indirect light.

I'm going to look into the angraecums and the paph. maudiaes. This is the last room in the apartment without orchids--time to change that
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Old 10-11-2015, 01:10 PM
theloyalplum theloyalplum is offline
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@MrHappyRotter

I was always under the impression that latourias love being drenched in sunlight. I have all of mine in full sun, but the ones further back seem to do fine too... weirddddddddd. Maybe formosae groups ones would do better?
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  #5  
Old 10-11-2015, 02:09 PM
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Orchid Whisperer Orchid Whisperer is offline
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Phalaenopsis of any kind tops the list.

I recently obtained some Ludisia discolor cuttings from a friend. It is a jewel orchid grown mostly for foliage, but also blooms well. I can tell it will become a favorite!
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Old 10-11-2015, 02:12 PM
Jade Jade is offline
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Default What are your low-light favorites?

Macropodanthus alatus is amazing in low light. I've burn its leaves just placing it under a catt light(a t4 lamp)! A lot of stanopheas as well, and acanthepippium genera thrive in low light.


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  #7  
Old 10-13-2015, 02:26 PM
vlhart vlhart is offline
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Macropodanthus alatus -- That's a new one to me. Looked it up and it's definitely going on my list. Thanks Jade!

All these responses are giving me much-needed inspiration.
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