Hmmm, only other reason is that the grow area must have a lot of reflected light from all directions to confuse the bud orientation?No, I'm careful about that.
It seems reasonable to me that reflected light from many directions might help them orient more correctly (as along as they aren't being continually moved around), being less subject to single light phototropism. In a greenhouse they are surrounded by light more so than on a shelf against a wall in a home with overhead spotlights.Hmmm, only other reason is that the grow area must have a lot of reflected light from all directions to confuse the bud orientation?
I've seen hundreds in bloom at different locations and most cascade in shingles. The only ones that did what is happening to yours is when they were turned around unknowingly.
Thanks for the positive feedback, DrLeslie and sharing your experiences. Nothing replaces experience! My tracklights are placed (only because of the inconvenient placement of a ceiling duct) slightly forward of the shelf of orchids. So yes, a long string of them. As well, the setup includes a white backdrop, which I added for the setup benefit of reflected light. (Aha.) I've also noticed varying levels of phototropism among paphs and other orchids preferring similar lighting. Sometimes developing stems will lean slightly forward (the fairrieanum), sometimes, as in my Paph. volunteanum, they develop quite straight with no special attention (but the bud itself has developed a slight lean). And the miltoniopsis, well, as you see.Indeed they are terribly hard to grow indoors due to their needs for cooler temperatures and moist buoyant humidity. Kudos for you to keep them thriving and blooming. Indeed flowering indoors is quite an achievement too.
Yes most of the ones I have seen are in greenhouses in British Colombia, Ecuador and Colombia.
Yet I have seen many grown in homes as well. The ones with the proper positioned flowers all are by the windows (NE usually) with the one main source of light that the buds grow towards, regardless of the reflections around them. The ones with flowers off positioned are usually the ones grown under lights, where usually not one single strong light source could guide the flowers to orient themselves in a row, due to multiple light tubes as well as reflected light off the walls.
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