Displaying phals in bloom

[leslieann79]

I have some phals in bloom and I want them in parts of my home where I can enjoy them. Most of the places in my home where I would display them dont get a lot of natural light.(i.e. tables in the living room etc.) I've read I'm just wondering if this is ok and if so how long they can be displayed? Also should you wait until all buds are open before moving them to where you would like to display them?

[OrchisAmor]

Since Phals are medium-low light orchids they should be okay as long as they get some indirect light. I read somewhere that when they are in bloom you can display them where they don't get as much light for the time they are in bloom and return them back to your growing area after the blooms are spent. Leave your Phal in the same position relative to its light source from the time the bloom spike emerges and only move after the buds are set otherwise you could end up with a twisted bloom spike.

[catttan]

Very sound advice from Annette.

[78Terp]

I also have an understanding that once the blooms are open, the less light they get, the longer the flowers last. Obviously up to a point. They will expire over time no matter how much light the are in.

Personally, my flowering orchids end up rotating to the living room and there is a decent amount of light. Otherwise they live under lights, except for the ones hanging in the living room by the windows. I don't try to extend the flowers life cycle. They will bloom again.......hopefully.

And as an extra point, I am constantly amazed at how quickly some of my orchids that ended their flower cycles start new growth once the expired spike is removed. One of my oncidiums had a new growth started within a week.

[leslieann79]

Yeah mine are grown under lights upstairs. I don't spend a lot of time up there and I miss them! So Im glad I can move them so I can enjoy the blooms. When you refer to buds being set is that when the bud has started growing and is round?