OrchidSafari ARCHIVES*

1. PRE-DISCUSSION MAILOUT

2. TRANSCRIPT

PRE-DISCUSSION MAILOUT

Windowsills come in all shapes and sizes. The windows they edge can face in any direction. There can be weak morning sun, hot unrelenting afternoon sun, and even no sun at all if the window faces a building, a wall, or is blocked by thick evergreens or hanging vines. Sometimes there are curtains, louvres, opaque or colored glass. The glass may be thin or thick or be of an insulating thermopane type. Windowsills may be close to or below ground level or at windows high up in a towering building. How can we raise orchids on windowsills and what are some of the factors that can have a positive or negative impact on orchids in such locations?

SPACE
Sills are generally too narrow for anything but a tiny pot and then they can be easily tipped by a billowing curtain, or when dusting or cleaning. Wide sills are a joy that is often the bonus of renovated older homes and apartments. Treasure such sills as they can easily hold trays of pots or support vertical staging. Old windows not only have wider sills but they can be very tall. A stand having several shelves can be stood upon the sill or attached to it. Mesh wire hung vertically in place of blinds can be used to hang mounted orchids. If the window is large enough, vertical supports can be in two parts like shutters to be swung open and closed to shade, provide more light, warm or cool, and to care for and simply admire the flowers.

LIGHT
Windows present a variety of lighting conditions which can vary with the season. Leafy trees might provide adequate shade in summer but bare branches may bot provide enough protection from direct sun in winter. The sun's direction will change with the season and this will present additional challenges. In snowy climes, sun reflection from the snow may be surprisingly strong.

As always, we need to balance the quantity and quality of light being received by our orchids to what they need and can use without being overheated. Shading in the form of sheer or lace curtains, blinds, louvres, and similar devices can be useful to adjust the quantity of light received in any season. Supplemental artificial lighting may be required during winter months when the quantity of light is wanting. One of the joys of windowsill culture is in choosing orchids appropriate to each season.

TEMPERATURE
More than adequate light can mean too much heat, more than the orchids can bear. Much will depend upon the exact situation as to the method chosen to cool the plants or to keep them from becoming too hot. Shading will reduce light reaching the leaves and pots. Covering pots in reflective foil, placing foam insulation between the pots and the window can effectively control excessive heating. Foil alone is ineffective against cold. Thermopanes (glass separated by dead air space) can reduce chilling somewhat. While chilling problems are confined to winter months in temperate climes, overheating can happen as easily in summer as in winter.

VENTILATION
Air movement is an essential element of successful orchid culture and is especially useful in windowsill settings. Moving air can counter overheating and chilling. A small muffin fan may be sufficient for smaller locations while more powerful fans may be needed for large windowsill and consequentially larger collection of plants.

HUMIDITY
High humidity in close proximity to a chilly window surface can lead to moisture buildup on the panes and sill. Under cold conditions, the glass surface acts like a still. Condensate can accumulate, freeze, run onto the floor, or be absorbed by a wooden sill leading to rot. Air movement may reduce the problem somewhat. If the room humidity is generally low, air movement may limit the effectiveness of windowsill humidity measures: certain orchids may suffer. It is challenging to maintain higher humidity in the windowsill region if the air is continually being mixed with that of the rest of the room.

If room humidity is naturally high as in summer, tropical or coastal regions, then air movement will reduce the likelihood of orchids developing injurious rots.

WATER
Since the sill is part of the home, some measures are appropriate to ensure that the sill is not soiled or damaged by water. Set pots in saucers, use decorative glazed pottery outer pots or place pots in individual plastic tubs. Orchids can be removed to a nearby sink for watering and spraying then returned once the dripping is finished. Mist only with deionized water to limit water spotting of windows and drapery.

HAZARDS
Windowsill orchids are subject to the same pests and diseases as are those raised elsewhere. There are a few other hazards particular to the location including theft by four-legged and two-legged sorts where the windowsill is at or near ground level.

Ever had a goat eat your orchids? I have! I came home one day to discover a long goat tongue quite easily managed to pass through screening where burglars had been deterred to wrap around one of my favorite plants and tug it out of its pot. Fortunately the base and roots were not to the goat's liking but the leaves and flowers clearly were delicious!. I was able to recover the discarded plant less foliage and start over again.

Wind can be especially injurious to orchids perching along sills in highrise buildings. Without substantial screening or similar barrier, wind gusts can easily dislodge unsecured pots.

While one is snug beneath their covers, winter cold can damage plants touching glass or those whose pots are sitting on an uninsulated sill. Air temperature is not the best guide to chilling potential during cold spells. Except for those orchids tolerant of cold, leaves and roots of intolerant specimens will die.

Windowsill culture means orchids are being grown in your living area. All products applied to these plants will permeate your living space and the air you breathe. Likewise, the orchids will be subject to all vapors emanating from your living space including tobacco smoke, solvent, paint and glue vapor. If care is not taken to move the plants first, their leaves and flowers can be damaged by window cleaning and furniture polishing sprays.

CHOOSING WINDOWSILL ORCHIDS

Choose orchids which are tolerant of variable humidity and that respond to the temperature regime that you can provide. It is easier to shade than to increase available light. Seasonally dormant kinds can be grown with orchids that bloom in different seasons. Plants suited to container culture are good choices.

Paphiopedilums and Phragmipediums - Low to medium indirect light; good for sills never receiving direct sun; warm to cool depending upon type; Phragmipediums can be set in individuals saucers of water.

Phalaenopsis - Medium indirect light; warm days - cool nights especially to induce budding; a better windowsill choice in moderate climates. Humidity important.

Dendrobium - High to medium light; warm days - cool nights; a good windowsill choice for temperate climates.

Catasetum - High to medium light; dry and warm to cool when dormant; warm when growing/flowering. Protect plants from chilling at all times. No misting needed.

Disa - High light and water culture; cold nights, cool to warm days; low humidity. No misting needed. Insulate pots to control overheating in the sun.

Go Back to Index

TRANSCRIPT

ORCHIDS ON A WINDOWSILL
by Marilyn Light
PART 25: Topic: Orchids on a Windowsill

Wed, July 14, WBS 8 PM (Central)

Present were 20:

BTague (Barbara, N. CA )
sparkysteve (Boca Raton FL)
kbbarrett (Kathy in N Calif)
peeteilis (Tom in KY)(BRL marylois (northwest Louisiana)
JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Fleur (Lovely Tasmania)
paphiodepaphio (Jason, NY)
jeanne23 (Australia)
poln8r (Robert from Long Beach, MS.)
jim4eq (Miami FL)
Armenian3 (Abrao - Brazil)
AORCHID (art, simpsonville sc)
Jane5536 (Huntington LI NY)
UncleEarl (Earl in Vacaville CA)
Jane DePadro (In Dry but Beautiful Ft. Laud., FL)
Evlyn (northwest Louisiana)
Lanceps (Thamina from Manhattan Beach, CA)
Jade from G R (Grand Rapids MI)
reparata (agnes in rainy new south wales Australia)

marilyninOttawa
Hello everyone! I chose the topic to respond to those hobbyists who must grow on a windowsill. Most of us started this way no matter where we hail from. Whether we are apartment dwellers, condo buffs, or if we simply do not have enough orchids to have a greenhouse, this topic will be of interest. Even though I started growing orchids in the tropics, I began growing on an apartment windowsill. Lots of hobbyists live in confined quarters and so have particular challenges such as no windows, few windows, narrow or non-existent sills and windows that face even more windows or a wall. The conservation aspect of the topic is the same as with raising orchids in any other situation. By understanding the environment we have to work with, we can better choose orchids that will thrive and hence reduce the loss of plants.

sparkysteve
Marilyn--that's my trick! Just growing plants from the same weather conditions I have here

marilyninOttawa
Not a trick but a wise decision, Steve!!

kbbarrett (Kathy in N Calif)
Hi, Marilyn! I had a couple of additional questions about the handout.

marilyninOttawa
Ask away, Kathy.

kbbarrett (Kathy in N Calif)
When I grew on windowsills I used to worry about eating fruit around my orchids, because my computer was next to my light set up, and spending so much time at the keyboard - well I kinda like to eat... Anyway. Do you have any comments about air quality? Do you think ethylene gas from ripening fruit REALLY causes problems with bud drop? And I have a follow up..

What about cooking? So many of my orchids would be displayed around the house and with the open floorplans that we have these days... I guess I worried too much about smoke/grease etc fouling the air. BTW, the boyfriend does the cooking - not me!

marilyninOttawa
Ethylene from large quantities of ripening fruit could be a problem in confined areas.

kbbarrett (Kathy in N Calif)
Someone on the rec.gardens.newsgroup had a nice situation where he had a cool air intake with a humidifier inside that 'box' (for truly it was only a wooden box he had crammed in the window opening) and he provided good air quality, humidity and exhaust of bad air through the top of the window. Sounded pretty neat! He had a waterline hooked to the humidifier, can't recall what type In terms of ease of watering I had wished I had gumption enough to buy one of those long hoses from Charley's, with a 60 ft reach, in order to reach all my plants. Of course by then I had about 200 plants under light and it took forever to water them and feed them.

marilyninOttawa
I remove plants from the windowsill for watering. It is the livingroom and I want to minimize water damage. It takes some time but anything worthwhile takes time. The reward is the flower load on Dendrobium kingianum and its hybrids. .. and the fragrance!

AORCHID (art, simpsonville sc)
I bought boat hose and quick coupler for sink to water plants. Too high a pressure, hose blew off, what a mess!

UncleEarl (Earl in VV, - Got anything for OS_TP?)
So what would you recommend for a limited budget in Vacaville? 112F a couple of days ago, no humidity,.... Got some; doing well, sorta. Another condition: It's an apartment with un-insulated walls and a swamp cooler. AC not allowed at present.

JCY8S (John in Arcadi, CA)
Earl, people really do not understand that we here are in a virtual desert and humidity is unknown.

peeteilis (getting very dryinky)
Earl, have you seen those fiberglass furnace filters? Take the cardboard off and hang behind the plants. Spray periodically.

reefdogmik (mike,hollywood,FL,1st O 6mo. ago)
What are some drought tolerant types that would do well in a windowsill? Are there such plants?

peeteilis (getting very dryinky)
Well, reefdog, Pecteilis sagarikii, for one. *G*

UncleEarl (Earl in VV)
Try some of the Brassovola's, reef.

jim4eq (sweatie steamie miamie)
Equitants love dry, just mist them and then they wanna be dry.

marilyninOttawa
I would recommend orchids that are adapted to seasonally dry conditions. Many Mexican species should suit, Catasetums, Mormodes, not in full sun of course. Your nights are not that hot are they Earl?

Many orchids are in fact, succulent plants. They have the ability to resist drought or daytime dry conditions by limiting water loss through transpiration by day. What you need Mike, are orchids that are both drought-tolerant and are able to grow well under modest light conditions. You could try Onc. phymatochilum, Catasetum species/hybrids, for a start.

Earl, is the swamp cooler somehow cut off from the living area?

UncleEarl (Earl in VV, - Got anything for OS_TP?)
No, Marilyn, but it is undersized for the unit. On really hot days, it can be just tolerable, esp considering what's outside!

marilyninOttawa
Earl, have you tried raising Jewel Orchids? These could be raised in a terrarium which could be partially or completely closed to maintain humidity. They like heat too.

UncleEarl (Earl in VV)
At the moment, Marilyn, time and energy is the bottleneck, not desire. *G* I really want to try the Pleurothallids, some of which would do well here, with some help. And really, I'd like to move to Benicia, if I can't get back to HI soon.

kbbarrett (Kathy in N Calif)
So, Marilyn any input on what are your favorite widowsill orchids? Everyone knows Phals and paphs. MiniCatts can be good, I had success with brassias, but mixed results with other oncids. Standard Catts were a no go for me, but one of the ladies in my club can get Rhynch digbyana to flower in her greenhouse window, right up against the glass.

marilyninOttawa
Kathy. I grow Pot Hoku Gem (B. nodosa hybrids do well for me as they tolerate high light, high temp differential and low humidity in winter). Disas do well but need more light than I can give even in my south facing window. They enjoy the temp differential in winter (when they are growing) and produce rafts of blooms in spring). Den. kingianum and hybrids like Den. Yondi like the high light, cool nights and dry conditions during their flower induction period. Catasetums do well but they must be above the bottom sill in winter as it gets too cold for them there. Cattleyas are generally not good bets as they grow only to one side and the plant is not at its best that way. Brassidium Betty N. Shiraki grows well and flowers beautifully but does require lots of attention to watering and misting. Miniature Cymbidiums, especialy those that are good bloomers, do reasonably well but again, bloom and growth is a bit one-sided.

marylois (TOPIC: Windowsill Orchids with Marilyn Light)
The nodosa hybrids are so hale and hearty! Maybe that's what we need to recommend to newcomers.

marilyninOttawa
I have enjoyed this discussion and hope that some of the challenges growing in window areas have been addressed. Thank you for all your comments and suggestions. It has been great. Good night.

- 30 -

Go Back to Index