A case for growing under lights YEAR ROUND . . .

[Ray]

The key to all orchid growing is providing all of the cultural parameters the plant needs. If your plants grow better when you put them outdoors, it says that your indoor conditions are not up to snuff.

There is absolutely no reason that plants cannot be grown excellently indoors under lights. As a matter of fact, doing so offers the opportunity of putting even tighter controls on the environment.

[blackvine]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Also, there is the "apples to apples" factor. For example, are your Catts all the same age? Do they normally bloom at the same time of year? Blooming size does not necessarily mean that they will bloom this year: more of a guideline, saying that they are close to blooming.

Good luck with them wherever you grow them.

Thanks, Orchid Whisperer! Well, you're right - it's not apples to apples, more how many buds, sheaths, spikes, blasted indoors vs. outdoors. There's something to that!

---------- Post added at 09:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------

Originally Posted by ALToronto

I know people who keep their homes at the same temperature year round - the moment the furnace is shut off, the air conditioner comes on, and vice versa. Those people will do well putting their orchids outdoors in the summer.

Those of us who eschew air conditioning and love 70% plus humidity regardless of temperature do just fine keeping them indoors and not giving the squirrels something tasty to eat (orchids are very sweet).

Oh, Lord! Nope, would not do that. They get warm in the winter AND warm in the summer when I turn the vent into the room off, so they don't get A/C, and open the windows!!

---------- Post added at 09:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:24 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

The key to all orchid growing is providing all of the cultural parameters the plant needs. If your plants grow better when you put them outdoors, it says that your indoor conditions are not up to snuff.

There is absolutely no reason that plants cannot be grown excellently indoors under lights. As a matter of fact, doing so offers the opportunity of putting even tighter controls on the environment.

Thanks for the affirmation, Ray!

---------- Post added at 09:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 PM ----------

New incoming data! Two dens I had outside have just started to spike. Here's what I think: outside may create slightly more optimal conditions than my inside environment to bring plants to spike and sheath, BUT . . . several cases of leaving the plants out there to bring the spike/sheath to flower have resulted in blasting or deformed, non-developing buds. So, I just brought my 2 dens inside, to protect those spikes!

[bethmarie]

The couple of outdoor plants that I have are regularly chewed on by slugs--I am too lily-livered to try that with my orchids.

I've grown inside with LEDs and fluorescents and some window light exclusively. With the exception of The Plague of Mites last year, I've had robust, healthy plants and bloomed catts, dens, angs, phals, laelias, aerangis, and bulbos. Not sure I have enough light for most vandas-- don't have the head room for them either.
My plant room is also my home office, where I spend a lot of the day, and I like the feeling of being surrounded by green living things. I'd love to grow in a greenhouse, but I honestly would probably have to move my fridge and my bed out there.
Incidentally, I learned something from the plague of mites. Since I'm watering by hand, not hose, the leaves of plants mostly stayed dry. I started rinsing them off every other watering or so with the sink sprayer, and haven't had any more trouble with mites.

[Bolero]

It always depends on climate. I grow mine far better outside but I live in Australia where the weather is consistent enough but from my memories of Illinois it can be inconsistent. I think whatever works for you in your conditions is terrific and I think consistency of care is the main thing we should all be striving for. It only takes one bad day to ruin all our hard work.

[katrina]

If you have the necessary light and other conditions needed for happy growth for orchids inside the house then that is always going to be best because every parameter can be regulated and controlled. However, if one doesn't have sufficient light for the plants then putting them outside during the warmer months is going to be the next best option.

AlToronto brought up the temp thing and that would be another good reason to move them outside.

My main reason for moving everything outside...I need the break! Watering and fertilizing nearly 400 plants (orchids plus others) indoors is a lot of work. Plus, my electric bill needs the break. The lights put off so much heat that I can't imagine running them 12hrs per day while I'm trying to cool the house w/a/c. Hell, I'd have a $300-400 electric bill. No thanks.

I have excellent conditions inside for growth during the colder months but during the summer months my inside is controlled to be comfortable for me and even though I can offer sufficient light inside...the outside offers more tropical conditions so naturally the orchids are going to do better out there at this time of the year.

Across the board...for me...I prefer to move everything outside as soon as the night time temps are consistently warm enough. But, each person has to do what's best for them and what's to their liking. A perfect example of...to each his own.

[MattWoelfsen]

Exactly my sentiments Katrina.

[digriz]

I move my Catasetums, Epidendrums, Dendrobiums and my one Cattleya outside for the summer, they do so much better out there. But then my house is always dryer and they get much less light. I also put my Neofinetia out there this year and it seems so much happier. I don't grow anything under lights indoors though so they kind of need to go out or they wouldn't grow much at all.

[Leafmite]

I will be trying lights for the cold season this year and I am pretty excited. Concerning year round, it would be rather nice not to have to drag the plants in and out and just keep them in one place but, as I don't just grow orchids, it is rather nice to get everything out of the house and get the leaves and mess all cleaned up. Someday, though, I might just grow indoors year round when those large pots get too heavy to lug in and out.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I will be trying lights for the cold season this year and I am pretty excited. Concerning year round, it would be rather nice not to have to drag the plants in and out and just keep them in one place but, as I don't just grow orchids, it is rather nice to get everything out of the house and get the leaves and mess all cleaned up. Someday, though, I might just grow indoors year round when those large pots get too heavy to lug in and out.

That is a nice development Leafmite! I'm considering doing the same thing. I'm going to get LED lights from First Rays. These are supplemental to what comes naturally into the windows. Are you going to create any special kind of shelving? or set up humidity tent?

Even though I'm asking this information from Leafmite, what are the lights you use and what is your set up Blackvine?

[Leafmite]

I am not going to worry too much about humidity but I will probably need to water like crazy with the clay pellets and the lava rock. I have been looking at shelves and will probably buy something this weekend. I did look at some cheap mini greenhouses on Amazon but I think my orchids will be fine since I will be watering them all the time. The few that need quite a bit of humidity already have little terrariums to keep them happy and I will have 'trays' under the plants to protect the lights.

I have been kicking the idea of lights around for a while. I think it will really help the growth and blooming of the orchids. I am going for the T5's, most likely 4ft, four bulb, both 'warm' and 'cold' bulbs. These will be the main source of light as I am going to have them in a corner between a north and west window.
Good luck! I cannot wait to see your set up when it is done!