Phalaenopsis orchids are the most common types of orchids kept at home. Fortunately, they require relatively little light compared to other types of orchids. But the amount of light they receive makes a big difference. How well they thrive. This article will tell you exactly how much light phalaenopsis orchids need and how to identify and fix problems.
How Much Light Do Phalaenopsis Orchids Need? Phalaenopsis orchids need bright but indirect light and are best placed in an east or west facing window. Do not expose your orchid to more than 1-2 hours of direct sunlight per day. Pale leaves with brown spots indicate excessive light. Dark green leaves indicate insufficient lighting.
Phalaenopsis orchids typically grow below the forest canopy and are not accustomed to receiving much or no direct sunlight, as very little of it passes through the forest canopy. As a result, they have adapted to low-light conditions, which is fortunate for us since our homes often have lighting conditions similar to a forest floor.
Phalaenopsis Orchid Positioning
To get the perfect amount of light for your phalaenopsis orchid, place it in an east or west facing window. If you place your orchids in the middle of a room away from a window or in a north-facing window, you usually won’t get enough light for them to thrive.
Excessive direct sunlight in a south-facing window or placing your orchid where it receives more than 1-2 hours of direct sunlight per day usually leads to excessive sunlight issues.
Phalaenopsis orchids are quite adaptable, and while ideal light conditions help the plant thrive, they can often survive quite well for short periods of time in less than ideal light conditions.
Interestingly, excessive lighting can help phalaenopsis orchids initially, as the extra light gives them the energy to produce more flowers, more often. However, damage from excessive lighting will take its toll over time, eventually leading to damage to the plant.
Lighting conditions often vary greatly depending on the distance between your orchid and a window. A south-facing window sill can receive almost 10 times more light than a position a few meters from the window. Moving your orchid from the right side of a window to a nearby table may be enough to adjust the lighting.
How to check how much light my orchid is getting
There are several ways to check how much light your orchid is getting. To assess if your orchid is in the right place, check the light levels on a clear, sunny day. These are the two best ways to check light levels.
- The easiest way to measure light levels is to measure the amount of shadow cast on the orchid’s leaves. Hold your hand a foot away from the orchid and try to cast a shadow on the leaves. Ideally, you should only see a faint uneven shadow on the leaves. If you see a well-defined black shadow, it indicates bright lighting conditions and is overkill for your phalaenopsis orchid. This should prompt you to move your orchid to a better location.
- You can also use a light meter, which can give you a very accurate measurement of the light your plants are receiving. Light meters are quite affordable, so if you have quite a few plants or are having trouble caring for your orchids, it’s worth buying one.
Phalaenopsis Orchid Lux Requirements
Lux is the scientific measure of the intensity of light falling on a surface, measured in lumens per square meter. Ideally, phalaenopsis orchids should receive around 10,700 to 16,000 lux for at least 8 hours a day for optimal growth.
They will tolerate much less light for a long time, but may not thrive. Prolonged higher light levels cause foliage damage that can be easily identified and treated. Phalaenopsis orchids are ideal for growing indoors, where light conditions are usually much lower than outdoors.
Orchid Light Problems
The beauty of phalaenopsis orchids is that you can control lighting conditions by looking at the leaves. I’ll discuss how to accurately assess your orchid’s lighting, identify problems, and fix them quickly.
Phalaenopsis Orchid Excess Light Problems
If your phalaenopsis orchid is getting too much light, look at the leaves first. They will become paler and may take on a yellow appearance in prolonged excessive light. They may also develop pale reddish spots around the leaf edges which are easily identified upon inspection.
In intense and prolonged direct sunlight, the leaves of your phalaenopsis orchid will also develop brown tips or edges. They can also wrinkle due to the very low humidity this creates.
Of course, excessive light isn’t the only reason a phalaenopsis orchid has yellow leaves. Then read more about other causes why orchids have yellow leaves here.
Interestingly, I tried placing phalaenopsis orchids in full sun during the summer. Although this ultimately caused significant damage to the plant, it initially helped it to thrive. In particular, the rate of reflowering of the same flower stem increased.
Don’t be tempted to do this, as the damage to your phalaenopsis orchid will be quite extensive. Excessive direct sunlight will often cause irreparable damage to leaves.
So if you see direct sunlight on your orchid for more than 1-2 hours a day, move the orchid to another location. They will usually be able to tolerate direct morning sunlight from an east-facing window or direct afternoon sunlight from a west-facing window. But direct sunlight from a south-facing window in the middle of the day is just too intense and will harm your orchid.
If you really want to keep your orchid in a south-facing window, sheer curtains can reduce the intensity of sunlight, or you can place another barrier in front of your orchid to shield it from direct sunlight.
Very Low Light Problems for Phalaenopsis Orchids
Low light conditions can be more difficult to identify as the leaves often look extremely healthy and vibrant. They will turn a darker, richer green as the leaves try to produce more chlorophyll to make the most of what little light is available.
However, it is a sign that your phalaenopsis orchid is in trouble. An orchid kept in low light conditions is unlikely to produce new flowers. If you’re having trouble getting your phalaenopsis orchid to bloom again, be sure to consider the lighting as the source of the problem.
You need to be careful when moving an orchid from low light conditions to brighter light conditions. It will take them some time to get used to higher light levels. Suddenly moving a phalaenopsis from a dark room to a south-facing window can cause sunburn. It is best to move it to a place with moderate light for a few days first. You can then move it to the location you identified with perfect lighting conditions.
Cultivation of orchids with LED lighting
It is possible to grow orchids under grow lights, but it is generally not necessary unless lighting conditions are limited. If you are trying to grow a phalaenopsis orchid in a dark room, LED or fluorescent grow lights are best due to their low heat output and high efficiency. You should set them to provide 11,000 to 16,000 lux for 8 to 12 hours a day.
Do orchids need light at their roots?
Phalaenopsis orchids have green roots, an unusual characteristic for most other plants. The reason for this is that phalaenopsis orchids are epiphytic plants. They grow on trees rather than on the ground.
Because the roots are exposed to light, the orchids have adapted to it and produce chlorophyll in the roots. This can aid in photosynthesis and energy production for the plant. Although it is generally recommended to expose the roots of phalaenopsis orchids to light, it is not entirely necessary. Your orchid will thrive as long as the leaves receive enough sunlight.
In general though, I would recommend placing your orchid in a light pot with very loose soil. This will give the roots exposure to light to help the plant increase its ability to thrive and flower. Read my article on how to repot orchids for more information.