Light is one of several critical factors in growing healthy and beautiful orchids. As with many orchid care needs, giving your orchid the correct amount of light can seem difficult, especially to the beginner. But fear not! There are simple solutions to many of your orchid needs. In this brief article I will review what orchids need for light and shade, and how to meet these needs in easy and inexpensive ways. These are general guidelines to get anyone started. I encourage all orchid lovers, particularly beginners, to learn more about their orchid. Not only are you embarking on a wonderful adventure, but the more you tweek these guidelines to meet the particular needs of your orchid, the more beautiful and healthy your orchid will be.

In general orchids need approximately 12 hours of sunlight each day, reflecting the tropical climate where most orchids originate. Orchids that are readily available, such as the Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchid, tend to be somewhat forgiving about many orchid requirements including light. Nonetheless, some care must be given to the correct pattern of light and shade. Phalaenopsis orchids and most orchids in general, thrive on cool morning light and strong but non-burning afternoon sun. This can be easily achieved in most homes by placing your plant in an eastern window.

Another way to provide proper light is by adding what is known as a grow-light. This is a great option for environments where sunlight isn't anywhere near 12 hours, such as northern winter climates. A grow-light can be purchased from any hardware or home supply store, and does not cost much more than a regular light. Grow-lights are actually "full-spectrum light" - a kind of light that makes plants grow - in the form of an incandescent or florescent bulb. Add an inexpensive timer, and your orchids will easily receive the added amount of light they need.

In order to determine how much shade and sun your orchid needs, find out as much information about your particular orchid as you can. There are several ways to do this. My favorites are talking to local orchid retailers, or connecting to orchid lovers online - simply google "orchid forum". You will discover that these people are surprisingly generous with their orchid information - we all seem to remember too well that we were all orchid beginners at one time! You will also learn what kind of orchids you prefer - color, shape, and size. Some orchids thrive on a lot of sun while other species prefer mostly shade. "Soft growing" orchids thrive in shady conditions, and "Hard growing" orchids thrive in sunny conditions. Typically orchids that require soft or shady growing conditions offer their owners a healthy and thriving plant, but the blooms can be small and infrequent. On the other hand, orchids grown in hard or sunny conditions produce many blooms, but are susceptible to stunted growth and yellow leaves.

So if you're new to the orchid world, "Welcome!" Follow these and other simple steps to caring for orchids and you too will have stunningly beautiful orchid blooms.