Indoor Orchidarium Build

[Orchidking]

you've got a few interesting looking plants in your collection but they are too small to see properly. Is there a vanda in there?

[sesh]

Yes. that’s right. There are three Vanda’s in there. That’s me being optimistic:-). Here are a few pictures.
Some tolumnias, a few phals(they’re not doing so well), some cattleyas and intergenerics, a couple of oncidiums, a few species orchids from NE India, and some dendrobiums.
I also have recently added some companions, a bunch of ferns, and 3 strands of spanish moss. The ferns and the tillandsias, are to serve as indicators. They are all below the orchids, and I believe they will show the signs of deteriorating conditions faster than the orchids will. Only time will tell. Also they will help raise the humidity.

[sesh]

Originally Posted by Paphluvr

Regarding Ray's question, I'd sure like to see the design of the pcb the LEDs are mounted on. Are you sure that they are in series and not parallel? Series would be unusual. If one fails they all go out.

Here’s a close up of the circuit board. Please ignore the text on it, I have soldered 5w beads on there.

[sesh]

Hi. I have a question regarding the day night temperature differrential.
Right now the temperatures in my growing area range from 28 to 31 degrees centigrade during the day, and 28to 24 degrees in the night. What do I take as the effective differrential? Max of day to min of night? Or is it an average? And, is the existing differrential enough?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by sesh

Hi. I have a question regarding the day night temperature differrential.
Right now the temperatures in my growing area range from 28 to 31 degrees centigrade during the day, and 28to 24 degrees in the night. What do I take as the effective differrential? Max of day to min of night? Or is it an average? And, is the existing differrential enough?

It depends on what kinds or orchids you are growing. Those from very tropical areas (which have rather even temperatures in nature) will grow and bloom well. Those from areas that experience more of a range may grow fine but not bloom as well. You'll just have to experiment. The more that you can learn about the needs of the different types of orchids (and their natural habitats for species, or for the ancestors of hybrids), and select your orchids accordingly, the more successful you will be. Those Vandas should be fine.