I am a newbie regarding orchids having only started collecting them last summer. My daughter had a dozen or so phals. last fall that were just about dead from lack of watering so I brought them home, said I'd nurse them back to health if I could and return them to her when she had more time to look after them. I did repot them all in a 60-40 mix of bark and sphagnum moss as soon as I got them here and most had to go in larger pots.

All her dozen are under fluorescent lights but the liht tubes are relatively old, I think one tube is meant just for general lighting, the plants are about 12" away from the light source and get about 12 hours of light per day. Humidity ranges around 55-60%. However, to save on heating costs in the home, temps are around 65 degrees during the day and about 56 degrees at night.

All except 2-3 of my daughter's really far-gone orchids are showing signs of activity. Most look like they're sprouting roots but there are 2-3 plants with spikes.

She thinks the lights have caused all this growth activity while I disagree, maintaining that either the temperatures or just plain care and attention, and water too, have caused this.

Or could it be just the time of year? I've never had orchids in February yet so have no idea. Or am I doing something else right? Which factor do you think has caused this growth?

Dee