Can morning sunlight scorch Paphiopedilum blossoms?
 

I recently had a Phalaenopsis (that someone had given me), scorch in morning sunlight, so I just got a Paphiopedilum Maudiae "Napa Valley" from Trader Joe's and I'm wondering if the morning sunlight will scorch the blossom. I have it by an east window.

You must be fairly far south, if morning sun this time of year can burn a plant, but if that was the case, I'd keep all blossoms protected.


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

Direct sunlight can sunburn almost any flowers or leaves under the right circumstances. It would be a bit unusual in an east window in the US this time of year, but not impossible especially for a plant that has been in a shadier environment. Higher room temperature and total lack of air circulation can make it more likely - also dehydrated plants in low humidity. And sometimes it can occur at this time of year because the sun is lower in the sky and rising at a different spot on the horizon, letting it penetrate the room more deeply or at a different angle, hitting surfaces on leaves and flowers that don't get the direct light at other times.

Will it happen to your new Paph? I really can't say.