My Basement Greenhouse

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Dorchid

Beauty, CH; Great growing! Nice to know there’s a fellow Coloradan on the board!

I'm in Portland Oregon

You guys were the leaders but I think our product has the slight edge (always willing to test this claim!)

[Dorchid]

[Hubbelista]

Hi there, another Portlander here. Apologies for being a little late to the party, but just want to say this is an amazing setup. I'm setting up something similar in a 5x5 grow tent in my basement. I noticed that you are running PVC, do you have it hooked up to a water source outside of your grow room? also, how do you handle drainage? And where did you get your grow trays? I have been trying to find some with drainage forever. Sorry for all the questions I was just so excited when I saw your post.

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Hubbelista

Hi there, another Portlander here. Apologies for being a little late to the party, but just want to say this is an amazing setup. I'm setting up something similar in a 5x5 grow tent in my basement. I noticed that you are running PVC, do you have it hooked up to a water source outside of your grow room? also, how do you handle drainage? And where did you get your grow trays? I have been trying to find some with drainage forever. Sorry for all the questions I was just so excited when I saw your post.

Hello fellow Portlander! Due to our serious lack of sunlight most of the year, growing with lights is really our only option for moderate-high light orchids (or any plants for that matter).

The PVC is actually the drainage, routed to the basement drain. I use 1/2" pipes connected to my trays, leading into a 3/4" "main drainage pipe". I use Botanicare 4x2 rack trays because they fit perfectly into the 4' wire shelving. You can find them online, or potentially a local grow shop. I drilled the trays and installed a drain bulkhead to connect the 1/2" pvc pipe.

Amazon.com

To water I use a garden hose attached to my slop sink with an adapter, routed through a fertilizer injector for constant, low ppm fertilization.

[Hubbelista]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

Hello fellow Portlander! Due to our serious lack of sunlight most of the year, growing with lights is really our only option for moderate-high light orchids (or any plants for that matter).

The PVC is actually the drainage, routed to the basement drain. I use 1/2" pipes connected to my trays, leading into a 3/4" "main drainage pipe". I use Botanicare 4x2 rack trays because they fit perfectly into the 4' wire shelving. You can find them online, or potentially a local grow shop. I drilled the trays and installed a drain bulkhead to connect the 1/2" pvc pipe.

Amazon.com

To water I use a garden hose attached to my slop sink with an adapter, routed through a fertilizer injector for constant, low ppm fertilization.

yes, so true and to top it off the only decent window I have is facing north. I have been growing under lights in my living room and moved my orchids down stains last month. I have a 5x5 grow then with a Spider Farmer SF-2000 dialed down to 50%. since I opted to have just one light I Purches a couple of clear food trays that I cut to size and glued together. I was going to go with flexible tubing to drain the water but I like your solution much better. Can I ask, do you run PVC from your utility sink, or do just attach it directly to a hose? I was also considering an EZ-flow fertilizer injector. however, I don't think I can fine toon the PPM with that model.

[WaterWitchin]

Hubbelista... There's a ton of schtuff to see here with basement or indoor grow rooms with lights. Don't get too carried away until you've looked around a bit. And welcome to OrchidBoard.

[Pialaaq]

This is amazing... I don't have a room in my basement but I have half convinced my husband to re-locate the plastic 7x8ft greenhouse from outside to the basement for repurposing as an orchid room... I am pretty sure he thinks I'm crazy, I'm also pretty sure it would work with some finessing!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

I was directed here to see your humidifier. I'd like to know the details of how you built this unit. Could you send it either here or to me via PM? Thanks.

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

I was directed here to see your humidifier. I'd like to know the details of how you built this unit. Could you send it either here or to me via PM? Thanks.

I just used a storage tote and cut some holes in the lid.

I got two of these foggers.
Amazon.com
I got two of these floats
Amazon.com
I got this humidistat:
Amazon.com
An I got this fan:
Amazon.com

The fan and the foggers are controlled by the humidistat. I direct the fan to blow into one of the holes in the lid so all the fog blows out the other.

The advantage to this setup is a giant reservoir that I only need to refill rarely and the amount of fog these two foggers put out.

Let me know if you have any other questions

[WaterWitchin]

Also see post #38, and

50 Gallon Humidifier