I have looked at several posts regarding lighting, and I still
haven't been able to come up with a satisfactory answer to my
problem.

I have one phalaenopsis and the best window I have is north-facing. The
window receives a little light but not nearly enough, so I need to
provide supplemental lighting. I have read varying opinions about
florescent and "plant lights" that Phillips, and the like, makes
and cannot decide what I need to get for my situation. I have limited
space. I was thinking about buying a compact florescent desk lamp. Will
this do the job? Or, will the bulb-style plant light be better. I would
assume that the plant light would get fairly warm since it is a bulb.
Any help is appreciated.

--Pete

Pete wrote:
I have looked at several posts regarding lighting, and I still
haven't been able to come up with a satisfactory answer to my
problem.

I have one phalaenopsis and the best window I have is north-facing. The
window receives a little light but not nearly enough, so I need to
provide supplemental lighting. I have read varying opinions about
florescent and "plant lights" that Phillips, and the like, makes
and cannot decide what I need to get for my situation. I have limited
space. I was thinking about buying a compact florescent desk lamp. Will
this do the job? Or, will the bulb-style plant light be better. I would
assume that the plant light would get fairly warm since it is a bulb.
Any help is appreciated.

--Pete

If you are planning to leave the Phal at the north window, the answer is
easy. The north window light is good light, there's just not enough of
it. All you need to do is add some more. I think the fluorescent desk
lamp would be enough as long as you can have it quite close to your plant.
The thing I really don't understand is planning on just one orchid. Are
you sure you shouldn't just go ahead and plan light for as many as the
window will hold. ... and then one more... ?

Steve

Steve,

Thanks for the reply.

I am a student and my space is limited. I cannot put anything in the
window. Actually, the plant is on a desk that is butted against the
window. Between the light I am planning to buy and the tray that I am
using to create some humidity, I simply don't have the room. As soon as
I have some room, I'll go the full measure. I already have my eye on
many, many things.

--Pete

Pete wrote:
Steve,

Thanks for the reply.

I am a student and my space is limited. I cannot put anything in the
window. Actually, the plant is on a desk that is butted against the
window. Between the light I am planning to buy and the tray that I am
using to create some humidity, I simply don't have the room. As soon as
I have some room, I'll go the full measure. I already have my eye on
many, many things.

--Pete


I got my first orchid when I was in college. Then my second, then 3
more... then I graduated, got a job and my own place. That's when things
started getting out of hand. :-)

One last bit of advice. Don't compromise the light just so you can fit
in a humidity tray. Humidity trays are not very effective at all but
more light can work wonders. It sounds like what you plan to do will
work just fine though.

Steve

Just to throw a spanner into the works, I have a white phalanopsis that I have had for the last two years, it has always been kept on a north facing window sill without any additional lighting! It has flowered repeatedly, to the point of stupidity, having in excess of 35 blooms at a time that last for about 6 months!

So perhaps you should just leave yours on the window sill and see how it does for a bit without worrying about additonal lighting. I don't think there is anythign special about the window where I have put mine, it faces due north and is in the kitchen. I havn't even repotted it since I bought it and its roots are growing wild, I dare not touch it in case it causes it to become upset!

Good luck!