How Much Light Do Orchids Need?

Foot-candles

• Similar to lumens, a foot-candle is a measurement of light, and most orchids require more than 1,000 foot-candles. A foot-candle is exactly as the name implies, the amount of light a candle offers from 1 foot away. Because foot-candles are difficult to visualize, a light meter is necessary to tell you how many exact foot-candles your area has, or you can move your orchid slowly over a period of a few weeks until your orchid shows signs that it is receiving the proper amount of light.

Too Much Light

• An orchid receiving too much light has yellowish-green leaves or red leaves that feel warm to the touch. When your orchid shows these symptoms, move it away from the window or artificial light source. Do not move it more than 1 foot at one time, and wait one to two weeks before moving it again to allow the orchid to slowly grow accustomed to the lower light levels. Stop moving the orchid when the leaves recover and the new growth is a bright, true green.

Too Little Light

• An orchid's leaves are dark green and the orchid will not bloom when it receives too little light. Move the orchid to a new room, or closer to the light source slowly over the course of several weeks to avoid burning the leaves with the warmer, brighter light. Protect the orchid from direct, natural light with sheer curtains or window blinds. If the orchid's leaves show signs of burning, such as black spots on the leaves, or are warm to the touch, move it back slightly, away from the light.

Artificial Light

• Since the amount of light inside your home is often finite based on the types of windows and the orientation of these windows to the sun, you may have difficulty finding a location in your home with the appropriate amount of light. Artificial light can correct this problem, allowing you to position your orchid anywhere in the room instead of being limited to a location near a window. Use a two-bulb lamp with one cool-light bulb and one warm-light bulb to achieve the proper light spectrum with a combination of both red and blue light, or use a specialty plant-growing fluorescent bulb.