The Cattleya Collection under lights

[Orchidflowerchild]

With the 15 plants that just came from Carter and Holmes, I now have 42 species, 5 hybrids, and 51 total plants including divisions and keikies.

I think my shelves are full. O.o Unless I want to get an understory of Paphs going lol.

-Ceci

[Orchids4ever]

Nice!
But i see an empty Shelf on the left Side-it needs something-eh i got it-more orchids LOL

[NYCorchidman]

What kind of light do you use on your plants?

[Orchidflowerchild]

well, actually in august I am moving to a new apartment and will be converting that metal shelf to the left into one single stainless stand for my orchids. The plastic shelves will be used for other tropicals at the new apt.

-Ceci

---------- Post added at 11:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:42 PM ----------

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

What kind of light do you use on your plants?

t-8, mix of aquarium, cool, and warm white. 8 tubes over the adult plants, four plus the extra filtered light the shelf from above for seedlings. Part of switching to the new shelf is to allow for as much light as possible to filter to the younger plants from above. Though I am getting pink and red tinges to some of the plants that have been in there a while. The lower shelf has the plants pretty close to the tubes.

-Ceci

[NYCorchidman]

Thanks!

[Orchidflowerchild]

So I thought I'd pop this in here. These are the new leads on C. lawrenceana at left and C. labiata v. rubra at right. It is possible to grow even standard cattleya species under lights! All of my darker pink/rubra cattleyas are getting a tan this summer.

-Ceci

[Leafmite]

That is a really nice orchid collection. I have a soft spot for the cattleyas, too. I try not to think what I will do when my seedlings get larger and take up more space. :0

[Orchidflowerchild]

Expand your growing space, clearly.

Then, refill the seedling area.

It's really a never ending cycle.

-Ceci

[bellini girl]

Eyes are not what they used to be but I swear I saw another shelving unit on the left in your pic. What do you mean your shelves are full???. Lots of room, get to stepping my friend and fill 'em up

[Orchidflowerchild]

Originally Posted by bellini girl

Eyes are not what they used to be but I swear I saw another shelving unit on the left in your pic. What do you mean your shelves are full???. Lots of room, get to stepping my friend and fill 'em up

Nowhere near enough light there for plants. However, that shelf unit will be converted to a new light stand (to allow better transmission of light from the top to the bottom, just to supplement) and those black shelves will be going outside at my new place, for outdoor plants.

The area that is adequately lit to grow and bloom things is full, is all.

-Ceci