Greetings Doctor

[Bradley Smith]

Dear Doctor,
I have been growing orchids in my kitchen for about a year now. I have 3 Lady Slippers, one Zygopetulum, one Miltonia, one oncidium and 8 (!) Phaleonopsis. They all are doing rather well, most of them are rescues (from the garbage and many cast offs from the neighborhood florist) a few store bought and one gift. Some were brought home flowering but none have as of yet begun to blossom. I have a south facing window and get about an hour of direct sun mid day-the plants are all very happy lots of growth but no flowers. I am hopeful that there is enough light for blooms though the plants (to me ) are so beautiful that I won't be crushed in they don't bloom.
Now I want some Vandaceous orchids. Do they do well indoors in San Francisco? If yes, can I hang them and allow the roots to hang and flourish the way you see them in South Florida and Hawaii? (am I insane to even ask?) I do use a floor heater for 2-3 hours a day and I humidify with my kettle (along with fresh coffee in the morning)
So you kind of see I'm quite the enthusiast. I have included some photos to give you a general idea of the layout. The window you see is south facing. Is there hope?  :)
Thanks, Brad Smith

[orchid doctor]

Dear Brad:

A south window is not the best for orchids because the intensity of
light varies so radically throughout the year. Winter time, the low
sun angel allows the sun to shine in for a few hours, but in summer
the high angle of the sun does not allow nearly as much light in
through the window. But a window like this is easily enough light for
Phalaenopsis or Paphiopedilum. It is borderline for Miltoniopsis and
Oncidium, and not likely to be enough for the Zygopetalum, especially
as far from the window as the plants appear to be.

After a year or two has passed you should know, as these plants
should
bloom at the same time every year (but being rescue plants might need
a year to get their strength up). Make sure the plants get good air
movement, and that you understand how to water orchids in a bark
medium, also make sure you examine the roots at least twice a year so
you can know when to repot.


Also make sure these plants experience a definite temperature drop
every night. The Phalaenopsis is the warmest growing of the group so
will have to set the limits. It would like days of at least 72 (but
will make do with 68), and nights should drop between 5-10 degrees,
but seldom go below 60. Orchids need this day/night temperature
variation to thrive in the long term.


I would not try Vandas. They are not often grown in San Francisco
because of their need for warmth and very intense light. But if you
must try soem vandaceous plants, Ascocenda Princess Mikasa is a good
one that might be ok in your conditions, if right in the window.
Neostylis Lou Sneery is a small vandaceous hybrid that will
definitely
flower for you in the window, it can be grown mounted, and the small
indigo and white flowers have a lovely scent.

Sincerely,
Dennis