Hi from New Jersey

[howze01]

Thank rvalkenburg! Cinnaminson is a bit if a drive from here in Bridgewater!

I am waiting, very impatiently, for this nightmare winter to end! My plants are begging for some outside time... Soon though I think. Maybe another couple weeks

[rvalkenburg]

I grew up in North Jersey and have lived all over the state. Just moved here last year but I was in Flemington prior for 8 years, so I know Bridgewater very well. Yes this winter has been hard in NJ. What show did you go to?
We should sit down and chat, would be fun. I have been growing Orchids for a long time and finally have been able to get back to getting back my stock, long story....

[howze01]

Went to the DCOS show in February. Think I have gone the past 4 years. My buddy (GluttonousSolarWrasse, who also just joined) dragged me into the whole thing and now I'm stuck. He is the expert of the 2 of us. He always takes the scientific approach and I go the "Eh, that looks pretty good" route. Seems to be working out so far though!

Are you a member of DCOS? I had someone on a different forum (ThePlantedTank, I am working on a planted aquarium also) tell me I should go to a meeting. We shall see....

[rvalkenburg]

I have looked into DCOS but its over an hour away from me. I keep thinking about going but never have the time especially on a Tuesday. We have about 30 Phalaenopsis right now, many are in bad shape as I get them from Big Box stores for $1-2 each but I have about 11 in bloom right now and 3 that are budding.

[howze01]

Wow! 30 is a lot.... I am happy with my 8 for now. The ones I have now are pretty happy, want to keep them that way for a bit before buying more. But we all know how that goes....

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[rvalkenburg]

I just repotted all of mine in PrimeAgra and ditched the bark/charcoal & perlite forever. I also have mine in a 6'x6'x4' greenhouse with about 85% humidity and around 62*-72* (cool it down at night). Have been seeing some new root growth on many and 2-3 have new leaves coming in. My plants in bloom I have all on humidity trays (55% humidity 70*). Also I have blue LED grow lights in my mini greenhouse and red/blue LED grow panel hanging over my blooms. Blue light is for root growth and red is for blooming. LEDs work just as well as regular lights if you have enough and spacing.

[howze01]

I am actually looking in to some LEDs for next winter. I am going to keep them all in a 4' aquarium over the winter this time instead of sitting in front of my sliding door. Think they will be much happier that way. Just need to figure out which LEDs to do.... looking at the company I got the one on my aquarium from, BuildmyLED.com

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[rvalkenburg]

Well I got a few of the bigger panels off of eBay
Grow Light Panel Hydroponic Plant Pro 225 LED 14 Watt Hydro 14W Red Blue USA | eBay

And in my greenhouse I use the strip lighting from Cyron Lighting - Solid State Lighting Experts

There is alot of debate regarding LED for grow lights. I have done some of my own research in the color waves and frequencies. A blue LED is not much different from a Blue incandescent except the LED does not produce heat, costs less to run, small form factor and actually can produce a "True" blue wave where the "Grow Bulbs" don't.

[Sharry]

Originally Posted by howze01

Thank you for the welcomes all!

Sharry, this year at the show I picked up a Tubercentron Nui Girl, Zygonisia "snow bird" & a Tolumnia "Pink Panther." The pink panther is my avatar picture

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Sounds like you have been growing for awhile with the unusual species that your just purchased.

What tribe of orchids does Tubercentron belong to?

[rvalkenburg]

Tubercentron is a hybrid between the Ceratocentron and Tuberolabium.