Dumb Newbie Questions about Watering Mounts

[GreggC]

Much of how you water depends on how often you are available to water, what kind of growing area you have, etc. I too have an eastern window that I put some plants in--usually the ones that like more light (of the ones I have inside) I also have a west exposure that I put the plants that like less light in. I would think that once the season gets later that you could put your hanging plants that like low light in the eastern exposure, but be careful in the meantime that if you put them there, that they don't show signs of getting burnt.

[chopster01]

Hey Gregg,

I'm a little confused. I have a couple of western windows that I've left unexploited because I thought the light would like be even more intense, not less--all that afternoon light. What am I not understanding?

[GreggC]

This would depend on the angle of the sun and the length of time the orchids are in the sun. Also, the window that I have on the east side of the house is a 'garden window.' The western exposure is a standard window. I keep these orchids back way from the window somewhat. They don't get near the light that the eastern exposure does. At this time of the year and starting in late spring, you will get more sun in an eastern exposure, especially if the window juts out from the side of the house. I put catts and stuff like that in those windows and things like paphs in the other window. Does it make sense?

[Ross]

Once again, the best way to determine amount of light (intensity) is with a good light meter.

[chopster01]

Hopefully the light meter arrives tomorrow. Should've been here on Friday.

I guess I thought there was some caution about intense light for extended afternoon hours in western windows. Maybe not. Which would be great, because I only have eastern and western windows and now maybe I can grow orchids in my western windows, too! I'd love to bloom a Tolumnia, but though I can get high estimated readings with my camera meter at my eastern windows, those high readings are only sustained for 3 hours or so, probably not enough for Tolumnia. Maybe I could look westward.