Check out my brand new light set up!!! I'm so excited and happy to share!

[Singingirl96]

I have about 35 orchids. I used to have them by my windows (one east, one west) and although most of them have re-bloomed some simply will not. The ones that refuse to bloom are some of my catleyas, two dens and one cym.
So I decided to buy lights. I purchased these from htcsupply.com. They are 2 bulb 4' HO T5 with mixed bulbs (one blue, one red). They were $50 each... so I spend a pretty penny.
As you can see from my picture, I have 3 of them set up and today is the first day I had them on. They seem to be working very well. Only time will tell.
I do need to buy a couple of fans though, but the temp was only registering about 74 degrees with the lights on... so I'm not sure if I need the fans, but I'll probably buy them anyway.

So what do you think? Did I do good? Is there something I should do differently?

Any comment is much appreciated.

[Connie Star]

Nice!
I'm curious about a couple of things- how is the top light suspended? From the ceiling, or on posts that don't show in the photo? Also, how do you keep water from the plants on the upper shelf from dripping onto the lower lights? Do you use the spring water in the photo for the plants?

[Singingirl96]

Thanks! The top light is suspended from the ceiling with two hooks and chains. Each plant is sitting on a plate and I take them to the sink to water. I use individual pails and soak each of them for about 15-30 mins once a week, but now with the lights I may have to water more often. The spring water is for me... not the plants. They get it from the tap.

[mojomick]

I would strongly urge you to have fans running. The need for fans does not depend on the temp. Orchids need air movement no matter what.
I also saw some seed trays at Home Depot that might work well under your plants with some pebbles. YOu might increase the humidity that way. The trays were plastic and only 99cents.