Bob, it has actually helped a lot. It seems that it's much easier for me to gauge when to water with Sphagnum on my Phals and the roots actually stay moist to drink better. Thank you.

I am thinking the reason why many orchids decline after summer is also a lack of the best possible light possible. It seems that I can never keep them looking as nice as orchids I get from like let's say, Andy's Orchids or any greenhouse controlled environment ones that get bright sunlight all day from morning until dusk. So big, full of blooms and very very green with much vigor. Bulbs huge!

It's funny. I have many doubles of orchids same ones that I grow in a greenhouse that only get limited sunlight in winter and under lights in my home all winter for 12 hours.

Which ones do you think perform the best? You guessed it.

Now I keep many in my warm sun room under lights and get better results even though the others are grown in a greenhouse with much less intense light. The lack of sunlight due to most cloudy days meaning, lower in the horizon and much shorter days calls for failure on many. It seems most days this time of the year are dark and gloomy.

No matter what mix I use, watering and fertilizer, they seem to due poorly as compared to my friends who gets all day muted bright sunlight or mine under lights .

That is why I think that many would have much better success if they used artificial lighting even if they have theirs in sunny windows all winter. Just not enough sunlight.

I am thinking most orchids that grow naturally outside get a heck of a lot more light than those we keep under a top or in a home.

Glad I finally figured this part out)

Thanks for your help. I think your orchids look fantastic and any I received from you due to extra lightning.

Wait until you see the pic I'll post of a orchid I just received from a place that I know gets a heck of a lot more light than I due. Of course from California.

I'm a believer that most phals can take much more light than usually recommended (east window), they just need to be eased into the light for a few weeks.

My phals get the same light indoors as my catts/nadosas/mini-vandas and they all bloom.

Unless you have massive super lights, I don't think you can give too much artificial light indoors to most orchids.

An unprotected south window is a whole other story, I save that for my very high light loving cereuses.

Bob

Bob, agreed!!

I was looking over orchids today since the lights have been left on for 12 hours and I am seeing budding going on for the first time on many plants. What do you know? Loving it. Thank god for good lights and someone here suggested a bulb that I am so grateful for. What a HUGE difference in growth to all my plants and orchids and others))

What bulb Mike? I'm always interested in artificial lights.

Bob

Bob, do remember Howard... (Howard's light)?

Howard always preached that most problems with orchids was due to light...not enough light.

I learned so much from Howard and increased my light while growing in NY. I moved, what i thought as low light orchids to higher light. I increased light levels on higher light orchids and discovered many low-light orchids (Phals) grew and bloomed incredibly under the higher light.

I was blessed with SW exposure in my living room which took time for many plants to adjust to, but they did and bloomed like crazy.

I have always followed Howard's lessons which is when growing indoors, pump up the light, either from windows with good exposure or artificial lights.

Living in Florida now, my Phals and other lower light orchids get blasted with sun. i grow them outside in a screened enclosure which does act as shade cloth. They bloom so well that I feel the advice about low- light and Phals is really hurting growers success.

Light is the magic in growing orchids.

Jane

Jane,

I remember Howard well and he absolutely preached more light. I'm a believer as far as growing indoors. I think Howard popped back in here a couple years ago, as I recall he had moved to the northwest.

Bob

Light is making a HUGE difference. Thank you everyone)) Hope you are alls afe.

Bob, I am sorry I forget to get back to this about the bulb I use. If you would still like to know let me know and I will take a pic for you) Best lights I ever had)

Still interested Mike.

Great, when I get home I will snap a couple of pics for you))

You know me. I am always looking for a better bulb that does a lot more area and makes intense growth for a savings cost.