My low budget grow tent...

[Tetra73]

Is more like a vivarium/grow tent. The idea is to carryout from my 40g terrarium since the little fish tank was no longer large enough to grow my ferns. However, the mini Phals managed to grow and to rebloom for 2 years inside the fish tank. I could have put a short legged plastic table inside and using pots to host my plants. These plants at the lower bottom were not in pots and so I have to use one 30g and one 15g tote plastic storage bucket. You are looking at 12" deep of soil. I have to be careful with over watering. I did drill tons of holes at the bottom however.

The entire enclosure cost me about $40 total to build. 1/2" PVC pipes total of 60ft. A roll of 25ft clear vinyl sheeting. I later have to get another $14 shop light and an additional 4" big computer case fan.

mygrowtent_0002 by vracing, on Flickr

My lucky find from 2 days ago at Lowes. A rare sighting, maybe once in a year...

Gold Club Spikemoss.

mygrowtent_0003 by vracing, on Flickr


One of my mini Phals with a 1" long flower spike. I have another one too with a growing flower spike. Expecting them to bloom around maybe Dec??

mygrowtent_0007 by vracing, on Flickr


Some of the plants from the right size bottom of my grow tent.

mygrowtent_0008 by vracing, on Flickr


My orchid area by the left. You don't see it but an additional 3000 lumens LED bulbs are shinning from the front of the section. It boosts the over all foot per candle light from sub 1000 to 2000+.

Dendrobium Frosty Dawn by the front. Oncidium Sharry baby next to it. And a Cattleya at the back.

mygrowtent_0011 by vracing, on Flickr

mygrowtent_0013 by vracing, on Flickr


And the fire red Bromeliad at the center. I supposed the lighting is strong enough for them to turn red...

mygrowtent_0014 by vracing, on Flickr

[Jeff214]

looks great!

I like the 'low budget' mounted phal. I've been thinking of doing a mount but the drift wood prices seem prohibitive to me. I may try your method!

[Tetra73]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

looks great!

I like the 'low budget' mounted phal. I've been thinking of doing a mount but the drift wood prices seem prohibitive to me. I may try your method!

Wood is more natural but not required. A heavier wood can balance the orchid better in a mount if the orchid is top heavy.

[flowerpower]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

looks great!

I like the 'low budget' mounted phal. I've been thinking of doing a mount but the drift wood prices seem prohibitive to me. I may try your method!

Have you ever heard of Kokedama? Several youtubers demonstrate the technique of using a moss ball mount for orchids. It's a technique that came from Japan. Imagine a round ball of moss and a little phal mounted in it. I was considering giving it a try on a small hybrid phal and water it with my vanda.

[Jeff214]

Originally Posted by flowerpower

Have you ever heard of Kokedama? Several youtubers demonstrate the technique of using a moss ball mount for orchids. It's a technique that came from Japan. Imagine a round ball of moss and a little phal mounted in it. I was considering giving it a try on a small hybrid phal and water it with my vanda.

Hi Flowerpower,

No I had not heard of it but I want to do it after all the amazing images on google! Since Phals go on sale very soon, maybe I'll give it a try with one. Thanks for the info!

---------- Post added at 07:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 AM ----------

very nice light fixture!

Are the light fixtures on top of your grow tent not providing enough light for your orchids? I would think that you would get better spread and coverage from above.

This is making me remember an architectural lighting science class I took some time ago... candelas, lumens, lux...

[Tetra73]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

Hi Flowerpower,

No I had not heard of it but I want to do it after all the amazing images on google! Since Phals go on sale very soon, maybe I'll give it a try with one. Thanks for the info!

---------- Post added at 07:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 AM ----------

very nice light fixture!

Are the light fixtures on top of your grow tent not providing enough light for your orchids? I would think that you would get better spread and coverage from above.

This is making me remember an architectural lighting science class I took some time ago... candelas, lumens, lux...

Is not. The tent is 4ft tall. I have 6 t8 bulbs there. Even under 6" near the bulbs, I am getting less than 2000 fc. They are enough for Phals and my other plants. Barely sufficient for dendrobium and oncidium. That's why I need additional LED bulb fixture by the front to bump my light to 2000 to 3000 fc near the front. In the middle, I am getting an average about 1500 fc to 2000 fc. The cattleya leaves have a bit of red tints by the edge. The dendrobium leaves are somewhat more yellow than green now. The leaves on the oncidium has a bit of yellowing at the edge too.

The thing with the fluorescent bulb fixture is that their light do not reach far down below, either T5 or T5HO. I don't believe tall orchids would do well in these lighting setup. Too much light by the top and not enough light by the bottom. My dendrobium cane is about 18" tall. I am expecting it to grow to 3 ft, maybe.

[bil]

Originally Posted by flowerpower

Have you ever heard of Kokedama? Several youtubers demonstrate the technique of using a moss ball mount for orchids. It's a technique that came from Japan. Imagine a round ball of moss and a little phal mounted in it. I was considering giving it a try on a small hybrid phal and water it with my vanda.

I would far rather see a phal mounted on a forked btanch with a pad of moss. I have seen some koedama mounts, and I feel they have way too much moss to dry out quickly.

[Tindomul]

Very pretty setup! I like your Selaginella. It's growing great. I have one that has a bluish tint, ever seen that before?

[Tetra73]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Very pretty setup! I like your Selaginella. It's growing great. I have one that has a bluish tint, ever seen that before?

I think they are called the peacock moss or peacock fern or rainbow moss. They have this light blue tint under shades and low light. They grow slower but not much of a ground cover.

Peacock Fern For House and*Garden - Deb's Garden - Deb's Garden Blog

[Tindomul]

Yea that's the one. Yea it does grow more sparse. But I love the colour!