LIGHT

This is probably the single most crucial factor in determining whether or not your plants will bloom. The appropriate amount of light is necessary for proper plant growth and nutrient storage. Without the right light levels, your plant either cannot produce enough food stores to power a blooming cycle (if it gets too little light) or it may get sunburned and scorched or dessicated due to rapid transpiration (it if gets too much light).

Generally, you can tell how much light an orchid needs by observing the foliage. For most plants, you want the leaves to be a light green color. When exposed to sufficient light, many plants darken their foliage with plum-colored pigments. Essentially, this is the plant's "suntan." It may take the form of spotting or the whole leaf may darken. This shows that the plant has as much light as it can stand and is trying to protect itself from burning. This is the ideal situation for good blooming. See the individual culture sheets for more detail on the light needs of specific genera.

Too much light: If the leaves become very yellow, move the plant to a shadier location. The same goes if you see sudden brown splotches or orange patches, particularly at the apexes of leaves or at folds where long leaves reflex. Light that is too intense can cause sun scalding. This is indicated by the large, bleached spots that eventually turn black, crispy, and dry, looking charred.

Not enough light: If the leaves become dark emerald green, move the plant to more light. This coloration shows that the plant wants more light to grow well. The plant will live indefinitely with light that is lower than ideal, but you probably won't see any flowers. The good news is that a large and otherwise healthy plant that has been grown for a long time without adequate light will often put on a dazzlingly impressive display once given desirable light conditions.

*Photo courtesy of aka fortex