My Grow Space - Orchid Board

Monkey · #1 10-24-2012, 10:47 PM

Well, I'm pretty new to most orchids (I've got a phal to rebloom once) and decided to try my hand at the hobby. Humidity is a big factor for me as well as trying to get access to a good window. This is my solution to the problems I face. I would welcome and appreciate any critiquing or improvements you may have

Wrebbitrocks · #2 10-25-2012, 03:28 AM

i LOVE your setup. whered you get those lamps and what bulbs do you use? you seem to have the hang of things other than being able to find a window. do you have air movement available?

ginnibug · #3 10-25-2012, 07:38 AM

I use those brooder lamps, get them at Lowe's. Then I use cfl that are honkin huge,like a 65 w,puts out over 4000 lumens. I get the bulbs at Home Depot. ginnibug

The Orchid Boy · #4 10-25-2012, 01:40 PM

I like your growing area. I have a similar setup with T5 lights and sometimes I have a humidifier going. I've finally managed to bump my humdity up to 60%!

Monkey · #5 10-25-2012, 05:13 PM

I'm trying to find some more powerful lights I can either use in the clip lights I have or affordably and easily install over what I've got. Maybe a 2 bulb t8? Also the humidifier to the left provides air movement for the plants. Also I'm using two 23 watt 6500K CFLs.

The Orchid Boy · #6 10-26-2012, 12:41 PM

I'm not sure if T8 lights are as strong as cfl's. There was a website, something like Orchid Lights, Humidity Trays, Orchid Grow Lights, Watering Globes, Orchid Supplies, Orchid Fertilizer that has some nice looking bulbs.

naoki · #7 10-26-2012, 02:02 PM

T8 has a higher total lumen/W than CFL. But it is spread over a larger area. So you CAN get more intense light with CFL, if you put it 5" from the plant. But you can grow only a few plant. So CFL is ok if you have only a few plants. But once you get more than a couple plants, linear florescent lights become more economical. T8 works well for many low-light orchids.

ginnibug · #8 10-29-2012, 09:56 AM

Yes I agree Naoki. I only use the brooding lamps w/ the huge cfls for my catts and other high light plants on one shelf. The rest of my shelves have T12s that are slowly wearing out. I will have to replace at some point but I'm not there YET. But I did discover that those brooding lamps gave me enough of a boost to maintain good growth over the winter until I could throw all the catts outside for summer. This year FINALLY, I got a good amount of sheaths. Hope it amounts to something for me!ginnibug

jen.kirsten · #9 10-30-2012, 12:19 AM

Ok I have a dumb question, I'm completely new to orchids so this really is an honest question: when you mention CFL bulbs, are they the same as what you can buy for regular light in your home? Obviously yours here in your set up are much larger but can you really get good growth with CFL bulbs? Very curious about this!

Gazpacho · #10 10-30-2012, 02:16 AM

I'd be concerned with humidity. Does the tray of water actually work or should you be using a fish-tank or something? I'm also new to this... I've put a bit of sphagnum moss in the tray, with the orchard pots in the moss... with no ponding water. Truth is... I don't know if that actually helps either. Perhaps someone might know if I have it wrong?? Obviously you do not have your pots in the water... and that looks like a proprietary humidity tray... are you measuring humidity with that guage? I'd be interested to hear what levels you get.

I also wonder what impact central heating has on the humidity?