| When you're caring for orchids, it's important to | | | | of the window and the local climate. Obviously, the light |
| reproduce the light levels they received in their natural | | | | that comes through a south-facing window during a |
| habitats. Because orchids have a great diversity of | | | | Southern California summer is very different from the |
| habitats, their need for light is also diverse. In their | | | | light that enters through a north-facing window during a |
| natural environments, some orchids grow in the shade | | | | Saskatchewan winter. You should make an estimate |
| and others grow in the sunshine. | | | | of available light before you decide where to place |
| Orchidists work hard to provide each species with its | | | | your orchids. |
| preferred light. Hobbyists don't usually want to spend a | | | | To give better advice about caring for orchids, orchid |
| fortune on banks of grow lights or a greenhouse. | | | | growers often talk about light using the standard |
| That sounds like a problem, but it really isn't a big one. | | | | measure of foot-candles. Most orchids grown |
| You only need to check the light levels you can | | | | commercially like between 1,500 and 5,000 |
| provide at home and choose orchids that grow well | | | | foot-candles of light. Of course, each individual orchid |
| with that amount of light. The windowsills in your home | | | | species has its own ideal light level. |
| can be a really good place to care for orchids. The | | | | A bright, sunny day usually gives about 10,000 |
| amount of daylight that comes through the average | | | | foot-candles. A cloudy day may only give 1,000 |
| window will be enough for many types of orchids. | | | | foot-candles. You can use a light meter to measure |
| Cattleya and Cymbidium, like many other genera, do | | | | the foot-candles at each window. There are also |
| well on the windowsill, as long as they have the | | | | informal methods that will give a good estimate of the |
| correct levels of water, humidity, and temperature. It's | | | | available light levels. |
| easy to start growing orchids at home! | | | | Both methods of estimating light levels will help you be |
| Of course, the light available depends on the position | | | | successful in the care of orchids. |