Amazing stuff, sunlight !! I'm a 5 year collector and just started putting some outside this year. My Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Lynette' has been growing nothing but roots for 2 years inside in my SE window under lights until I put it out in May where it gets morning sun until 11am and BOOM !!! It did 4 spikes one after another and now I'm hooked on sunlight !! Got 20 outside right now that I'm trying to figure where to put them for the winter !!!

After you see the sheath it will start filling up (or sometimes not), and next phase is where it breaks out of the sheath to do more growing and expanding the bud/s. It's like looking through an opaque shower curtain at someone, well, NOT quite but you get the idea ! You can tell if someone's showering !

Great thing you're doing for your FIL !!! Continue enjoying your new addiction !!!

Chryss

While we're on the subject of light, my husband surprised me yesterday and hung the shop light fixtures in my plant alcove! I'm so happy! Now, more of my plants will enjoy the supplemental lighting over winter!

...with ever-living glory. How fortunate you are and what great results!
Nothing like the stuff. I have no choice but to be a windowsill grower, as I have no balconies in the apartment. My growing area gets 3 hours of morning sun at present. It seems a pity to supplement this with artificial light when the whole apartment is so bright. So, I move the high- light plants to the west window for an extra 3 hours of afternoon sun whenever I can (which is most days - as long as we don't have guests). I know this situation is not ideal, but this is the best I can do. The catts look healthy enough. All have sheaths but nothing in them as far as I can see. I'll give them a couple of seasons and if nothing happens, will have to consider supplementary lighting, or give them away. Oh for a real garden!
Judy

Thank you, Chryss, for your assistance and support. The sheaths are growing so slowly I thought they were stalled. This morning I changed the CFL bulb shining on them and perhaps that will make a difference. They haven't really grown since they came inside. Perhaps I'm just impatient! Your Neostylis is a real success story and another tribute to the power of the sun!

I'm envious of your shop light fixture, Jodik. That should give them a powerful blast of light. You'll have to post a photo of your plant alcove sometime, so we can all drool.

Judy, there must be a G&S line for every occasion...I've just been fantasizing about singing "Poor Wandering One" to some of my errant roots! Your window light sounds more than adequate. I now have some of my plants on shelving with wheels so they can be moved more easily on hard floors. I was moving mine around onto various windowsills too, but since we got all our windows replaced recently we have lost all our windowsills. Now I'm moving bookcases into strategic positions!

Hi, venividi. Congratulations on your terrific results, and thanks for telling others about it.

I couldn't agree more about sunshine. I've been doing summers outside for about 5 years, and there's absolutely nothing like real sunshine, IMO. My cats think so, too :)

My brother bred birds, and he claimed that ailing birds perked up noticeably when their cages were moved into sunshine.

This spring, I had my phals out (days only) on carts from April, where I could give them nearly all day sun (with shade cloth). I got an orgy of growth and also of spiking from April thru June. I have artificial lighting, too, and it's necessary in winter, but the plants know the difference! Even HIDs can't replace real sun.

PS, I'm into the "on carts" thing, too. I love being able to move a lot of plants at once.

Your FIL must be thrilled with his spikes. Wonderful for you to share your hobby with him.

Thank you, Mehitabel. I've been following everyone's sunshine progress reports since I began here, but the results exceeded my expectations.

My cat would agree with yours. He gets quite depressed in winter.

You probably influenced my decision to use the carts. They would probably be useful for my FIL too, as carting them back and forth for watering will soon be more difficult. Gardening was his main hobby but didn't transfer well to the apartment. He has taken an active interest in my orchids since the beginning and wanted to see if he could get spikes. It's a challenge and in many ways more practicable than pet therapy. We swap orchid progress notes and inspect each other's plants!

congrats
yes, most people forget or dont realize that full sun inside is equivalent to shade outdoors as far as light intensity
Growing most of my plants here in Florida if full sun, phals excluded though they get a few hours of it in the morning, I couldnt even imagine growing underlights anymore
keep up the good work

Thank you for your encouragement, Orchidguy. I still can't believe the results! Unfortunately lights are a winter necessity here, but I'll have the plants outside as soon as possible next year. I suspect our new windows will allow less sunlight through than our old ones, as well.

Winter is my sunny time, almost too sunny! I have a wall of south/east facing windows and I get 4 hours of direct sunlight from fall to spring. I have to grow my high light plants on the windowsill so they can help provide shade for the low light plants on the table in front of them. Also, have to keep the desk fan on to help cool them down..

You are lucky with your windows, smwboxer. This year I am trying out my large east-facing window for some of my orchids. So far they seem to be enjoying it and I haven't had to supplement it yet. Hibiscus and bougainvillea thrive there in winter, so why shouldn't orchids? I'm not sure if the quality of light will be as good this year, due to the new windows, but I'll find out.

i am happy for you all who are getting such great results. i used to be afraid of putting the orchids in direct sunlight - always worrying that they will get burnt. but as i keep on reading about everyone's successes and the advice of the more-light-advocates, i am a convert. i have all my catts in south facing window and this past summer was also the first that i put most of my orchids outside. and i am very glad that i did too. thanks for sharing your experience.
sue

I'm glad it was a positive experience for you too, Sue. I was apprehensive at first, then I got a bit reckless and had to tone it back a bit.

It can be dangerous indoors, too: the worst burn my plants have had was when a cattleya leaf was in full contact with a CFL bulb. It left a large mark which reproaches me regularly! Compared to that, sunburn is insignificant.

Did you have trouble with squirrels or pests? I had my plants in a sheltered spot by the front door because I didn't trust the animals and insects.

June

The best G&S reference for my eclectic, overcrowded collection (although I'm down to about 200 now from a high several years ago of over 300) is "When everybody's somebody, then no one's anybody!" Fun to encounter other gardening Savoyards :o).

As far as squirrels and birds, I created a sheltered space for my orchids outside as follows:

Took the top off an old coffee table. Covered the legs and frame with nylon mesh netting. Put the orchids under that. Worked great!

I'm planning to use the setup next spring for hardening off my seedlings for the garden. Using plastic will keep the plantlets from freezing!

Florrie

hi, much to my surprise - i did not have much problem with pests - I had some on my patio table and a shadecloth over the gazebo instead of the canvas one which is came with.and i had some on a garden cart. some big ones i had on the ground but on a plant stand. the one problem i had was too much rain and one of the mini-catts subcoombed to rot no matter what i did, it could not be saved.. sad, because it was one of the first seedlings i got and was looking forward to its first bloom: it had 2 spikes. now it is to orchid heaven. but all the others: the colour of the leaves are a wonderful vibrant green.
sue

Bubba, I've been trying to think of a good quote to fire back at you, but I can't surpass yours! It probably sums up the feelings of most orchid-growers as they realise their little hobby has grown...

I did wonder about starting a G&S/orchid thread, or even a general quote and orchid thread, but this forum doesn't go "off-topic" much. Perhaps we could try something in the depths of winter.

Your orchid shelter sounds very effective, Florrie. It would certainly keep the squirrels away, which would be my main aim. Our local ones are very aggressive.

Sue, what we need is a set-up like a wine rack, so the orchids could be on their sides. My husband grows his tomatoes upside down, in a Lee Valley container, and they stay pest free and drain well.
The other day I accidentally found this site. Apparently Jerry Bolce is the webmaster for the COOS and the Canadian Orchid Congress.

Here is a link that might be useful: Orchid House

The only real pest damage (that I've noticed so far) was a sneaky caterpillar--I found it on the very tip of my Sharry Baby's spike, and yep, it had nibbled it right off!

The spike bloomed anyway, but was only 2 feet long, rather than the expected three or so.
Nick

hello, venividi, thanks for the link: that is a good site. I saw those upsidedown growers at lee valley too and i was thinking that they may be good for orchids, especially vandas. if i had a greenhouse and can grow them hanging, i think i would try that. we have had a tiny bit of snow in our area today and it is really windy and cold.
sue

Hi, June,
Thanks for the link. I LOVED the two orchid stories, especially the one by H.G.Wells. The collector, boring and unadventurous in all but his passion for orchids, reminds me of someone I know.... Gave me a good laugh.
Judy

Just as well you found that caterpillar, Nick, before it did more damage. Do you enjoy your Sharry Baby? I have heard mixed reviews here, although most people seem to like them. I was tempted by one at the Orchid Auction this year, and there will undoubtedly be some at the next one.

It was cold and windy here too, Sue, but no snow, thank goodness. The upside down hangers are wonderful for tomatoes, and we have bought more for next year. What we need for orchids is something with a tilt on it, to tip out any excess water. We could patent it!

Judy, I wonder just how many orchid stories there are out there, waiting to be made into a collection. Those stories could give you nightmares if you had any orchids with long tendrils... I liked the idea of music to view orchids by, but I think I'd choose something a bit more classical.
June

Hi June!
I love my Sharry Baby! I am very big on fragrance--and so is she! I think the problem can be that it is a large plant, some people consider it a weed! I have heard it can bloom up to 4 times a year, though...this is my first rebloom, and I have had it 10 months...
Nick

Thanks for the helpful description, Nick. I feel it is something I should at least try, although I would have to get rid of one of my hibiscus shrubs first...there's only so much space in this room. You've certainly given me some positive information to consider.