wendy628•2d agoProlific Poster

Serious question, the big orchid show in Portland made me stop using grow lights for my phals

I was at the Oregon Orchid Society show in March and talked to a grower named Elena who had the healthiest plants there. She said she never uses artificial light on her phalaenopsis, just a bright north window, and that the lights stress them into blooming at the wrong time. I moved my three orchids away from my setup and their leaves got thicker in about 2 months. Has anyone else had a plant do better after you stopped a common practice like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

faith_thomas2d ago

Oh man, that's hilarious. I spent like two hundred bucks on a fancy light system because some guy on YouTube said it was a must, and my best orchid is the one that fell behind the couch and lives on crumbs of sunlight. Maybe we're all just overcomplicating it for them.

hannah_perry2d ago

Tell me about it, my wallet hurts.

elizabeths512d ago

I used to buy all the special plant food too. But my mom's old peace lily that gets tap water and zero effort is somehow the biggest one I've ever seen. It really made me question everything.