Phrag - Scarlet OHara

[ladyslipper]

Hello all, I have had my scarlet for a week now and have started to wonder if I am going to get a spike from it this year. Paramount Orchid sold it has a blooming size, but I am unsure if I have it in too little light (about 7 inches from an east /north/east window or maybe my living room is too warm (so tonight I opened the window slightly. the orchids shouldn't get a nasty cold blast. Other than that, I will have to break down & get a grow light set up. Question is, the growing area will be in my living room so do the lights emit a noise or a hum? (I was thinking of flouresent sounds. I don't know alot about lighting; I have just started to seriously read up on this. Does anyone grow in their living room or where they spend alot of time? Can you think of a real drawback to having a grow area in their living room? I had always intended to keep a pretty small collection.

thanks - m

[markr]

I'm no Phrag expert but it's often claimed that they won't produce flowers unless they are exposed to a slight drop in night temperature during the winter, much like Phals. That is true for most of my phrags. It can be difficult when they are grown indoors. Also, most need more light than Paphs or Phals.

As for the lights in your living room, some are equipped with small fans to keep them from overheating which make a little noise (never bothered me much). The lights themselves don't emit a hum unless they are close to burning out. Also, fluorescent lights might interfere with radios.

[littlefrog]

When I was a grad student I grew orchids in my one room studio apartment. Some fluorescent lights make noise, most are quiet. I guess if mine ever made noise I was used to it, it never bothered me. Main drawback is watering, you will probably get water on your floor.

Patience is a virtue with phrags. I'd give it some more light and see what happens.

[smartie2000]

...you've heard from me before on the other forum, about my bedroom collection and the four shop lights I still can't think of a drawback

ok I lied about no humming, I put my ear at my shop light and there is a buzz... I didn't even notice it

I believe phrags are supposed to be easier to set buds than paphs.

Beware...you indend to keep a small collection but you will eventually end up with more. I indended to get only five paphs...now I have more than I expected

[ladyslipper]

Hi guys, thanks for the feedback. I have been doing a little reading about the different lighting possibilities. Evidently I could use halogen (this would be good because I could get a halogen lamp that hopefully would be fairly inconspicuous), or HID lights evidently you can get bulbs that screw into lamps so maybe this might work. anyone tried either of these? I really need to try to make the set up as clean & attractive as possible because it will be in my livingroom.

Regards - Mary

ps in an apartment, how do you make the night temp drop a bit? I have been leaving the living room window open a little hoping this might work.

[littlefrog]

I use the compact flourescents for lighting my frog tanks. Seem to do just fine for the plants in there.

You do have a bit of a problem with diurnal temperature changes in an apartment. If you have a programmable thermostat, then it is easy. Otherwise, you can count on the lights to raise the temperature a few degrees during the day, that might be the best you can do. usually sufficient for slippers.

[Barbara]

I would be very careful about leaving the window open, drafts and all....good way to fry flowers, especially phrags with long petals. I have noticed too, that on cold winter nights my large phrag will shrivel it's petals sooner if I don't move it to a warmer location for the night. My kitchen window can go down to 50degrees and up to 75degrees. Humidity seems important for these guys too, when I grew mine in a hot, dry bedroom the flowers wouldn't last for more than a week at a time, now that it's humid location, those flowers last nearly 3 weeks. I find that they flower more faithfully if under lights (4ft grow lights) and growth is probably more uniform and consistant.

Have fun growing.

[ladyslipper]

Hi guys, I have been doing a little reading about lighting and was intrigued by halogen. Do you think I could go to home depot & pick up two lamps with bulbs and the orchids would grow the same as under the flouresent lights?

How bout those HID lights? The article I was reading in "The Orchid House" mentioned bulbs that screwed into a lamp (not sure if I got this right).

Regarding humidity, could I spray the plants down in my sink while they are being watered?

Regards m

[Ironwood]

HID lights would be out, they require special bulbs, ballast and socket to screw bulb in. As mentioned previously I think you are thinking of compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs that screw into normal lamp sockets.

Your best bet would be T5 fluorescent lamps, they come in 2, 3 and 4 ft lengths with 2 and 4 footers being the most common. They produce the most light and give of least amount of heat. The ballasts are electronic and do not generate any noise. The bulbs are only 5/8 inches in diameter. T5 grow lights can be found at your local nursery, usually, if they carry hydroponic equipment.

[Pupka]

Originally Posted by littlefrog

If you have a programmable thermostat, then it is easy.

Hi, littlefrog, would you please tell us more what's a programmable thermostat? (never heard of it)