Question
I recently received a phalaenopsis orchid and placed it on my desk at work. How do you suggest I care for the orchid? There is bright, florescent light above my desk, and there are numerous windows surrounding me, but about 40 feet from me. However, I am concerned that the lights don't turn off at night. Do you have suggestions for watering and lighting? Should I put the orchid under my desk over the weekend?

Answer
Hello Lynne,

Where you now have it, it probably is okay to leave it there while it is in bloom but once the flowers wilt and die, it would be better to place it where it will receive a little more light unless the flourescent light is less than 3 feet above your desk.  As for night time lighting, can you check with building maintenance to see if they turn off most or all of the lights during the night?  If they turn them off for at least 6 hours, that would be goodness, but 8 to 10 hours would be better.  As for the weekend, you can try putting it on the floor but I'd leave a note in plain sight to alert the custodians that it is under there so they don't knock it over.  

Speaking of nights and weekends, is the ventilation turned off?  If it is, how cold does it get?  Phalaenopsis do not like temperatures much below 50F.  Depending upon where you live, this may or may not be a problem.  

Hope this helped.  If you have other questions or would like more information about what to do, write back and I'll try to help with them.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.