On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 07:09:47 -0600, Susan Erickson
wrote:

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 06:49:10 -0500, "Bob Walsh"
wrote:

Vic,

I know -more conflicting info. There are some catts that take a little less
light that might work in a north window. Gold Country Orchids has them. They
are smaller too.

Ah conflicting information. g I've come to expect nothing else in
the world of orchids.
Another group you might look at for low light, easy to grow, is the Phrags.
There are some that also stay small if you want that. (they grow on you.)

Bob

I can't say that I can recall seeing any phrags that have caught my
attention, but I'll try to keep my eyes open. As for what I want, I'd
prefer large and spectacular over small and petit, especially if they
are going to require effort on my part.

Ok - Start with the words windowsill Catt. Expect something the
right size to grow in a tea cup or just a touch larger. Always
buy in bloom - then you know you like the bloom and that the
plant is large enough to bloom. Expect that some orchids will
re-bloom easier than others. Expect that some plants will take a
year off to adjust to your care and your lighting conditions.

No Gold Country, Alan has a breeding plan to breed just for
windowsill growers. That is why he has 'tea cup size' plants.
They are small enough to be balanced on the windowsill.


Then they must be microscopically tiny. g My windowsill is about
3/4" wide. My phal is perched on a table about a foot away from the
window. It's the only spot I've got for it.

Phrags really like more light. Paphs are the lower light of the
two slippers. And phrags go from something that looks very
grassy to something that has a 4' leaf span. So, I will say
here, you have to know what you are picking. If you are buying
in bloom or at least in spike with a fair amount of development
you know what size the plant will be when it blooms. I always
figure a small or young plant can grow another 30%. Some will,
others not.

Where you live makes a difference for that north window. We all
start assuming your in North America. We have members here in
many areas of the world. North light in OZ is South in North Am.

Sorry, I thought the .canada in my e-mail address gave it away. I'm in
southern Ontario, the Toronto area more specifically.

On fertilizer - best advice is weakly -weekly. So that you
respect the species in these hybrids. They developed in the
tropics of the world, not in a waterfall of food. Lower light,
lower food needs.

Humidity is always nice to have. Several plants together help
each other here. An open bowl of water or a splash tray of rocks
that catches the overflow when you water all increase it
marginally and only as a micro climate. In a circle of plants
the centered one will get the most benefit. Any containment will
help increase that. My ML grew in a north greenhouse window. It
was open to the room completely but because the window itself was
a bump out it was contained on the other sides. The open bowls
of water helped keep her plants happy.

I run a humidifier for my own comfort, but whether it's enough for the
phal is up for debate. I don't test for humidity levels.

As to day and night temp differences... most of us that pay heat
bills allow the house to cool a bit at night. We also say we
sleep better. So unless you set your thermostat to hold 70, the
normal house drops close to the 10-15 degrees at night.

I try for the standard 70 degrees, give or take a bit. The temperature
drops a bit at night, but not enough to make a difference for the
plant. Given the touchy nature of the heater units in this place, it
is best to find a comfortable temperature and try to maintain it. They
don't offer a lot of fine control. Hot and cold are easy. A
comfortable living temperature is much tougher.

Then there is always. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You
enjoy one. Two would be more fun.

It's tempting. We'll have to see.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php