Cattleyas need high light. They do not grow in violet light. You might try a Phal.

Jane

Hi Jane,
I've heard of small cattleyas blooming under fluorescent about 3 inches away, but maybe yo're right.
Thanks for the information!

I do not know but maybe some of the miniatures with a strong Sophronitis influence might do OK.
Apart from the light aspect "miniatures" in the orchid world refers to flower size, you require plants with reduced size as well.

Gesjen, you did not give enough details to really advise you. I have bloomed Catts under lights but the plants also received SW light through large windows in winter. They summered outdoors where they received strong sunlight. When they came inside they were put under lights and received window light.

It works, I did it. But I used multiple octopus lamps with the largest CFL's the lamps would take. The lights were supplements to sunlight.

Catts and Dends need strong light if you want blooms. As Arthur said, it might be possible depending on variety, but you'd need to give more details.

Jane

Winter in New York
{{gwi:168734}}

I live in an apartment with little strong light.
One window faces NW with some indirect light off the parking lot. The other window in back looks out on a forest nearby. Its very shady there.
Jane I don't have a window like yours
I'm in the Pacific NW, BTW.
Maybe I could experiment with one miniature cattleya.

You can grow some of the mini-catts under fluorescent lights. I've done it. Standards, no way.

Sophronitis, as someone else said, or walkeriana hybrids or even B. nodosa hybrids would be your best bet, I think. They usually bloom more than once a year, too, a big plus.

I grow some paphs under lights and they do quite well, and a lot of paphs bloom more than once a year, too. I have a Paph (Makuli-Curtisii - Maudiae x Maudiae 'Nappa Valley' clone that's blooming right now. Yes, that's a complex hybrid, and they're pretty common and easy to find.

"Experiment" That is the key word in orchid growing. Sorry that I'm not much help because the problem here is an excess of light.
Perhaps contact the secretaries of some of the Orchid Societies in the San Francisco area and ask a few questions.
Yes, some of the mini cats are easier than the standards and some of the B. nodosa hybrids are a delight.

Hi all,
Thank you for the information.
I was wondering if B. nodosa would be a good choice.
I think I'll try growing one of those under the two t8 lights!
Plus a min-catt or two and a phal, maybe even a paph.

I'm not an expert, but I have grown African Violets for many years. I would not be able to bloom any of the plants listed under those conditions without supplemental sunlight. Two grow lights might grow the plants, but I highly doubt you will get blooms.

Give it a try, but I wouldn't invest a lot of money unless you add more lights with higher intensity.

Jane

Thank you everyone for the advice.
I think i'll just try one of those tiny cattleyas first.
gesjenn