Hello from Canada! (long-time lurker)

[greenpassion]

Welcome ! Check out My set up in growing under lights. I grow both under lights in my living area, as well as window sill culture. I have been mostly successful using these LED bulbs in my track light set up. They are on a timer, on 16 hours a day, with tiny fans for circulation, and a warming mat under the glass they sit on. Of course it has to look nice, as it's on an island that divides my kitchen / living room. Glad your feeling bold enough to join! You won't regret it

[MangiaPolenta]

Thank you everyone for the reassurance and for welcoming me!

greenpassion, I took a look at your set up and your plants look very happy! Thank you for pointing me to it, I like that it's creating such a lush space in the middle of your living room. You mentioned using tiny fans for air flow, I'm curious about how you set those up- are they computer fans, and if so how have you wired them to a power source?

camille1585, it's definitely nice to hear about other orchid fanatics having had to juggle their hobby with their hectic university life! I'm also glad those times are behind me and that I have some extra time to devote to my plants now!

[greenpassion]

Hello M.P., I just got home from work, and I will absolutely be happy to tell you all the specifics about this particular grow area that I have in my home. It is so doable. Happy to hear from you.

[marcmaubert]

Originally Posted by MangiaPolenta

Thank you everyone! It's feeling a little less daunting now [COLOR="Silver"]

I'm originally from the north of italy so my love for it knows no bounds!

Welcome! Wow, from Italy to Canada? How's the change been so far? My brother moved to Canada with his wife last year, and he's loving it, but complains about the cold half of the year!

[greenpassion]

[QUOTE=MangiaPolenta;855104]Thank you everyone for the reassurance and for welcoming me!

greenpassion, I took a look at your set up and your plants look very happy! Thank you for pointing me to it, I like that it's creating such a lush space in the middle of your living room. You mentioned using tiny fans for air flow, I'm curious about how you set those up- are they computer fans, and if so how have you wired them to a power source?

MP, I don't have any complicated wiring at all. I have a 4ft by 15" heavy glass 'plank' which is raised up from the counter surface using 3 lenghts of 3x4's sections of wood. On that I have a 4ft heat mat, which is plugged into an outlet under this counter. The fans are usb/ac and they are also plugged into an outlet on the end of the counter. The 5" one is blowing softly over the plants, and it's actually stuck in the wine rack on the end-in a slot where a bottle of wine would sit. The other fans, aslo small (and cheap!)are situated around the room and give air movement to the ones under the lights as well as the groups I have in the east picture window. (I'll send pics of that soon.) The track lights are just run of the mill track light heads, and I have LED bulbs from Orchids Limited (Orchid Web) in them. These are not cheap, but they are doing a wonderful job, and last forever. I have six heads. They are on a timer, on for 16 hrs a day. The bulbs are 7 watt, 20 degree beam angle, and the plants are roughly 4ft away. I hope this isn't too much information, and also that it's not confusing. I worked to have this set up look nice in the room, not like (no offense to anyone!!) a green house set up, with wires and such showing. This set up is aseptically pleasing, as is the one across the room in the window.

[rbarata]

Welcome MangiaPolenta.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

MP, I don't have any complicated wiring at all. I have a 4ft by 15" heavy glass 'plank' which is raised up from the counter surface using 3 lenghts of 3x4's sections of wood. On that I have a 4ft heat mat, which is plugged into an outlet under this counter. The fans are usb/ac and they are also plugged into an outlet on the end of the counter. The 5" one is blowing softly over the plants, and it's actually stuck in the wine rack on the end-in a slot where a bottle of wine would sit. The other fans, aslo small (and cheap!)are situated around the room and give air movement to the ones under the lights as well as the groups I have in the east picture window. (I'll send pics of that soon.) The track lights are just run of the mill track light heads, and I have LED bulbs from Orchids Limited (Orchid Web) in them. These are not cheap, but they are doing a wonderful job, and last forever. I have six heads. They are on a timer, on for 16 hrs a day. The bulbs are 7 watt, 20 degree beam angle, and the plants are roughly 4ft away. I hope this isn't too much information, and also that it's not confusing. I worked to have this set up look nice in the room, not like (no offense to anyone!!) a green house set up, with wires and such showing. This set up is aseptically pleasing, as is the one across the room in the window.

I'd love to see photos of your set up! I would like to have a set up with lights for the winter, but like you, want something pleasing to look at as well.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I'd love to see photos of your set up! I would like to have a set up with lights for the winter, but like you, want something pleasing to look at as well.

There are 2 pics in the growing under lights forum.😊

[Dollythehun]

Agreed, growing in your living space is a far different look than growing in a GH or outside. That's why some advise gets tossed out right away. 🤣😄😉

[greenpassion]

If I ever came into $, I'd have a greenhouse. It's a fantasy of mine for sure. So my in house set up is all I can do. But it's sooo relaxing to come to...