Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I'd like to grow phalaenopsis indoor under artificial light as my flat is receiving very less light.

Using 7 watt fluorescent bulb, would it provide enough light for
5 -6 phalaenopsis orchids? How many hours do i need to leave it on 4 or 12 hrs per day?

Thanks,
New lay

ANSWER: The short answer is: probably not.  You might get by using 2- 40 watt florescent bulbs for  seedlings but for bloomimng or near blooming size plants, I recommend 4-40 watt florescent tubes, growing the plants 6-8 inches from the bulbs.  

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QUESTION: Thanks for your reply.

By using 4-40 watt tubes, how many hours per day needed to leave it on?
Is 4 hr per day enough for phalaenopsis?

Thanks in advance,
Nwe Lay

ANSWER: You should attempt to simulate natural daylight durations.  This means varying the duration by season.  During the shortest days, provide about one extra hour of florescent light.  For example, if your shortest days are 11 hours, try to keep the lights on 12 hours.  Use a timer to turn your lights on and off at your preset times. I prefer to use cool white florescent tubes but mixing them so that 1/2 are cool white and the other half are warm white is fine. I have not found that wide spectrum florescents are sufficiently better to justify the much higher cost.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi,

Thanks again for your reply.

I bought a new phalaenopsis last Sunday and it still some buds. These buds bloom in two days times. One of newly opened one has died on Tuesday (two days last). Why is it so fast?

Due to they are moved to new place and not familiar with new environment?
Old flower are still blooming beautifully.

And the flower color compared to old flowers , it is much faded,pale. Why the color is not good looking as compared to old flowers?

There are no more buds left and all are opened now.

What would be the remedy for this?

Thanks in advance,
Nwe Lay

Answer
The most likely answer to your first question is the one you provided.  Plants in bud are exceptionally susceptible to environmental changes.  The other possibility is that the plant was already at its carrying capacity and didn't have the strength to open yet another bud.  As plants grow larger they can support more flowers.

The pigmment in phalaenopsis orchids is water soluble.  This means that it can flow into and out of the flowers.  As flowers mature, the veins carry more and more pigment so the flowers take on a brighter color.  Another factor affecting color is pigment production which can be influenced by light intensity-- the brighter the light the more the pigment production).  If the light gets too bright, this process reverses.  

Some phalaenopsis spikes are capable of reflowering. When the current round of flowering has ceased, cut off the flower spike just above the second or third node (ie joint) in the flower spike.  It may send off a side branch that can develop buds and flowers.  Other than that, phalaenopsis normally flower once a year (usually in the spring).  The key to better flowering in the future is plant growth.  Phalaenospsis should always be repotted after each flowering to ensure that the potting mix is well drained and supports strong root growth.