New Orchid

[Dollythehun]

That would be perfect, I just wish I could find something cheaper.

You can, probably at Costco. Just keep your eyes open.

[Cballen87]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

Wow. That all sounds so confusing and intense. I have six simple inexpensive track heads and I bought LED natural white lights from Orchid web years ago, and every single one of my orchids under these lights have bloomed reliably. I think if you go to Growing under lights, you might find my pictures saying my setup. I don't have a big house either. I struggle with humidity in space as well. I also struggle with the intellect to figure out all the stuff about grow lights Etc. And I'm so glad I found these simple light bulbs to use in my track lighting and my orchids are happy.🙂

I saw on Amazon a bulb that mimics natural light, I wonder if I could grow the orchids under that?I'll check out the Growing under lights forum to see your setup.

Originally Posted by Roberta

I fixed up the diagram so it makes more sense... PVC pipe and the fittings are super-cheap. There's probably about $10 worth of materials, or less, for this setup for a 6' shop light. The cutter is probably about $10, timers don't cost much either. Oh, also if you don't glue the parts, it is very easy to take apart if you move

$10 is definitely my type of price range.

Originally Posted by Lynn in Michigan

you could check out growing under lights in the forums also. people have pictures of their set ups.

I'll check out the growing under lights to see other people's set ups.

Originally Posted by Roberta

A similar frame could be built with conduit (and would be somewhat stronger) The difficulty is in finding the fittings... Home-improvement stores tend to have a nice selection of PVC fittings... if they're out of season they can still be ordered from Home Depot or Lowes. The fittings to construct things with conduit I have found at the local swap meet (the vendor sells to other vendors for their "shelters") but if such a place isn't local, harder to find on line and cost a lot more to ship because of the weight.

I think the Lowe's nearby keeps a good supply of PVC pipe throughout the year. I wouldn't mind a stronger frame but I may just stick with the PVC since it's cheap and I just have a few orchids.

[reptilegrrl]

Originally Posted by estación seca

They do need a lot of water. LECA from a hydroponics store is also a decent material and wicks water better than lava rock. Look up the Semi-Hydroponics forum.

I have both side by side and it seems to me that the lava rock wicks water much more quickly and thoroughly than LECA.

But I have another clone of the same cross, mine is Wils. Firecat 'King Snake.' It's very small so I keep it in a 3" pot with Monto Clay. It has small roots and I don't have small lava rock.

[Cballen87]

Originally Posted by reptilegrrl

I have both side by side and it seems to me that the lava rock wicks water much more quickly and thoroughly than LECA.

But I have another clone of the same cross, mine is Wils. Firecat 'King Snake.' It's very small so I keep it in a 3" pot with Monto Clay. It has small roots and I don't have small lava rock.

I've never heard of Monto clay, I need to Google that. I noticed a couple of leaves are turning yellow so hopefully it's just adjusting to its new environment.

---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

That would be perfect, I just wish I could find something cheaper.

You can, probably at Costco. Just keep your eyes open.

Ok I'll ask my mom's friend of she can look out for rolling racks at Costco since she has a membership there.

[Leafmite]

One of the cheapest ways to hang lights is to buy a clothing rack like this:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Whitmor-A...Black/15104314

and hang the lights from it. I bought a two foot, two light Sunblaster and hung it from one of these for some of my plants. If you get a four foot, four light lamp, I would recommend heavy-duty shelves to prevent the possibility of it tipping over.

[Cballen87]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

One of the cheapest ways to hang lights is to buy a clothing rack like this:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Whitmor-A...Black/15104314

and hang the lights from it. I bought a two foot, two light Sunblaster and hung it from one of these for some of my plants. If you get a four foot, four light lamp, I would recommend heavy-duty shelves to prevent the possibility of it tipping over.

Thanks Leafmite, I bookmarked the page and I'll see if the local Wal-Mart sells one. I think all I would need is a 2 ft one since I don't have many orchids.

[Leafmite]

Walmart usually has them. Good luck!

[Cballen87]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Walmart usually has them. Good luck!

Thanks again Leafmite! I really hope I'm successful with these because I've always been intimidated by orchids because I always thought they were very finicky, so I would avoid growing them. Now that I'm starting to see more varieties at some of the big box stores, I gained a lot of interest in them.

[Cballen87]

Hi again everyone. Since my last post, I've acquired 4 new orchids. I got a Latouria dendrobium( Green Mist X Andree Millar) a Lc. Sagarik Wax Silk, dendrobium kingianum, and Bc. Yellow Bird.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Congrat's on the new orchids, now for blooms.