Almost all plants have specific needs in order to grow. One of the most critical requirements for your orchids is what sort of light they get. Since orchids grow in the tropics, the kind of lighting must be close to what exists in its home environment. That sort of light is bright, yet diffused. In the wilderness, a lot of the light is stopped by the tops of the trees and passes through the leaves instead of hitting the plants on the ground.Since home gardeners aren't likely to be living in the woods, there are things to do to ensure the lighting doesn't damage the fragile orchids.
Should you use grow lights?
Grow lights are an option for orchids, but sunlight is much better. To make use of sunlight, choose a window that faces east. One that will allow the morning sun to shine in because the morning sunlight is fairly cool and bright. Before the sun gets too hot, the roof of your house will be in the way, providing shade, and the light shining in the window for the orchid's use will be diffused. While the amount of light any orchid needs can vary depending on the species, and for certain kinds of orchids it might be necessary to provide a reduced amount of light. For those types of orchids, a grow light is best. Be sure to position the fluorescent light above the plant and make sure it is about a foot about the blooms.
Before you obtain an orchid, you first need to figure out what type of lighting the kind of orchid you're planning to get will need. This requires some research and you should start with the people who grow orchids Also do a search online and you might find an orchid growing club in your area. People who have been growing orchids for years are your best resource and you'll find that there are a large number of orchid growing related forums you can join for free and post questions in.
If you decide to provide grow lights for your orchid, instead of sun, then first speak with the nursery to make sure you are buying the right kind of grow light. They will also be able to advise you on how long to leave it on and how much darkness the orchid you own will need. Which is important because orchids need darkness.
How much darkness does an orchid need?
The amount of darkness, just like the amount of light, varies with the type of orchid. Remember that in the wild, the sun doesn't shine 24 hours a day except in the far north areas of the Earth, and while there ARE orchids that grow in the Andes mountains, there aren't any that grow that far north. So never leave your grow lights on 24 hours a day.
About this Author
Growing orchids indoors doesn't have to be stressful or frustrating if you know what to do and follow some simple rules. For more information on orchid lights and lighting, please visit http://www.indoororchidgardening.com/orchid-lights/
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