Cool growing indoors

[Purpoh]

Originally Posted by snowflake311

I have thought about growing in my Garage for the cool growing plants. you could set up a little grow space in a cool garage.

That sounds like a really good idea. I would certainly try that! Unfortunately, my garage is a little... messy.

[gdupont]

I had this same question over the summer, and have since found my answer! And that is, a 5-gallon hydroponic bucket set-up. I have attached an image.

The concept here is that the roots need to stay cool, not necessarily the leaves as much. The cooling happens by the evaporation of the water, and because the bucket is black, light is not getting in, and there's no source of heat, etc. This system has worked really well for me, growing Disa tripetaloides, in my college dorm. It was only like a $20 set-up, too.

Feel free to ask any questions.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by gdupont

...The concept here is that the roots need to stay cool, not necessarily the leaves as much. The cooling happens by the evaporation of the water, and because the bucket is black, light is not getting in, and there's no source of heat, etc. This system has worked really well for me, growing Disa tripetaloides, in my college dorm. It was only like a $20 set-up, too.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Does the bubbling air stone provide enough water, or do you need to water the plant in the pot, as well? Do you fertilize by pouring fertilizer on the plant in its pot, or do you have a nutrient solution in the bucket?

[gdupont]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Does the bubbling air stone provide enough water, or do you need to water the plant in the pot, as well? Do you fertilize by pouring fertilizer on the plant in its pot, or do you have a nutrient solution in the bucket?

The bubbling air stone helps the evaporation process, so it makes the airspace inside the bucket very humid, and due to the water retention abilities of the sphagnum, that's all it needs to stay constantly moist. The best part is that I struggled with keeping my Disa in standing water because the sphagnum was always way too wet and soggy, but now its just constantly and evenly moist. I only applied water to the sphagnum once, when i originally put the whole system together. Thats all it has needed. I have yet to fertilize (timid to do so as Disas are notorious for being finicky about fertilizer), but if i were to do so i would probably take the potted plant out of the sphagnum, run a fertilizer solution through it, and then put it back in the bucket. I wouldnt want the fertilizer to be constantly in the bucket environemnent, i think it would be better to have more control over it because Disas are so sensitive to it.

---------- Post added at 04:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 PM ----------

Also, when temps are really hot, I put frozen water bottles in the bucket in the water, and that really helps to keep things cool, too. Worth noting, also, that humidity around the leaves isn't all that important. The humidity around mine often drops below 50%. Its the roots that matter.

[Leafmite]

Very nice set up!

[Norberg]

Disas are wonderful plants and not difficult to grow if light, temp and water needs are met!

I have been growing Disas for Little over 3 years im my garage and that works great. Both species and hybrids.

I have them standing on serving trays with maximun 10 mm of standing water, whitch i let dry out a little before i fill them up again. I use live spagnum mixed with styrofoam chips as this doesent get so wet. I use ROI water all time and extremley little fertilizer.

Temperature are keept around 10-12 C (50-54 F) in winter. I also use a large fan as they like air movement and to get the evaporation high in the poots as this cools down the roots during summer. Lots of light is hanging over them (6x80w T5).

[gdupont]

Originally Posted by Norberg

Disas are wonderful plants and not difficult to grow if light, temp and water needs are met!

I have been growing Disas for Little over 3 years im my garage and that works great. Both species and hybrids.

I have them standing on serving trays with maximun 10 mm of standing water, whitch i let dry out a little before i fill them up again. I use live spagnum mixed with styrofoam chips as this doesent get so wet. I use ROI water all time and extremley little fertilizer.

Temperature are keept around 10-12 C (50-54 F) in winter. I also use a large fan as they like air movement and to get the evaporation high in the poots as this cools down the roots during summer. Lots of light is hanging over them (6x80w T5).

Those look great! What do you use for fertilizer? Are any of those Disa Sunset by any chance?

[Norberg]

Thanks!
I use a lokal Swedish fertiliser called Blomstra. I aded the backside of the botle with the listed content. I use this for al my plants.
No i havent got any hybrid called Sunset. Do you have any link to a picture?

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by gdupont

I had this same question over the summer, and have since found my answer! And that is, a 5-gallon hydroponic bucket set-up. I have attached an image.

The concept here is that the roots need to stay cool, not necessarily the leaves as much. The cooling happens by the evaporation of the water, and because the bucket is black, light is not getting in, and there's no source of heat, etc. This system has worked really well for me, growing Disa tripetaloides, in my college dorm. It was only like a $20 set-up, too.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Do the roots need ventilation, how do you keep everything from rotting in such a high humid environment?

---------- Post added at 11:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:51 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Norberg

Disas are wonderful plants and not difficult to grow if light, temp and water needs are met!

I have been growing Disas for Little over 3 years im my garage and that works great. Both species and hybrids.

I have them standing on serving trays with maximun 10 mm of standing water, whitch i let dry out a little before i fill them up again. I use live spagnum mixed with styrofoam chips as this doesent get so wet. I use ROI water all time and extremley little fertilizer.

Temperature are keept around 10-12 C (50-54 F) in winter. I also use a large fan as they like air movement and to get the evaporation high in the poots as this cools down the roots during summer. Lots of light is hanging over them (6x80w T5).

Ok,
I have never looked at Disas before. Amazing! Those are gorgeous.

[gdupont]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Do the roots need ventilation, how do you keep everything from rotting in such a high humid environment?

Rot has not been a problem thus far. I just double checked, opened the bucket system, etc., and there are no signs of rot. There's damp sphagnum, but its not waterlogged. The small water reserve looks very clean besides small bits of sphagnum from top watering. I imagine the lack of rot is due to the air stone and air pump. Wally at AfroDisa has a somewhat similar set up, and he has never mentioned to me that rot has been, or could be a problem. I actually just made another set up for a Disa Sunset 'Serenity Pink' that I just got. See the attached photo.