Growing, not blooming. Light? Fertilizer? Water? Humidity?

[maelstrom mike]

I thought I posted it, but I guess I didn't... the Angraecum and the the Sedirea are only say 3 to 5 inches from the lights, the others are a matter of a foot or so. The thing is the Ang. and Sed. are mounted and the others are in baskets, so I can't get them any closer. That's why I'd like to get them all in S/H pots. I could move the lights closer to all the orchids and they'd have a constantly available water and fertilizer source. Seems like all my problems would be solved. I think the bulbs are under a year old and just four on the top shelf, but I'm still going to check on alternative lighting methods. I'm going to see about that visit to Ross.

I do not know what this means "full spectrum cfl. " The clf. part. I'll ask Ross about it though.
Thanks for the help and suggestions so far everyone.

[Ross]

Mike, I wouldn't recommend S/H for either of those. I would recommend stronger light, but keep in mind I may not be the best source of info since I haven't bloomed either regularly. The Sederia that does best is potted but has never (in my care) bloomed - there are old bloom spikes from two old blooms near the bottom of the plant). I do know both like pretty bright light. Come on up and let's compare notes. PM me.

[cirillonb]

I want to butt in here. I have a growing table (commercially available) that has 2 T4 24" bulbs in the bottom section. This is just enough to keep low light plants growing,and well, but I have had 1 Paph spike and fail and another may be doing the same in spite of moving to more light on the upper shelf. I have been investigating changing to 3 or 4 T5 bulbs probably with a reflector. the maximum distance from plant to bulb will be about 18 inches.
question 1: will I ruin my low light situation
question 2: might this give enough light to help low light plants go to blooming?
Nick

[Ross]

Originally Posted by cirillonb

I want to butt in here. I have a growing table (commercially available) that has 2 T4 24" bulbs in the bottom section. This is just enough to keep low light plants growing,and well, but I have had 1 Paph spike and fail and another may be doing the same in spite of moving to more light on the upper shelf. I have been investigating changing to 3 or 4 T5 bulbs probably with a reflector. the maximum distance from plant to bulb will be about 18 inches.
question 1: will I ruin my low light situation
question 2: might this give enough light to help low light plants go to blooming?
Nick

Nick, I have no clue what a t4 is, but a t5 high output (HO) bulb will put out extreme light for the length of the tube. Approx 5000 lumens for 48" and half that for 24" (keeping in mind the 48" is really 46" (or so) and thusly for the 24". I would not hesitate to pump up all the light you can get for Paphs and Phals. I grow mine under full sun. But watch if you do this right away, 'cause you can burn them, at first. My "full sun" is in south-facing windows with solar glazing (bronze glass) and screens. So not the same as full sun at equator or even Florida.

[cirillonb]

Ross,
I figured if I made the change to do it gradually. Thanks
Nick