Automated setup. Tips please?
 

I ordered 4 orchid species from Andy's Orchids that I have been interested in acquiring. When ordering I saw they were mounted which at the time was a negative due to my lack of experience. I planned to unmount and repot them into S/H. When they arrived I immediately felt embarrassed about that plan because they just look so beautiful growing on mounts. When I realized a had a misting system from my chameleon keeping days that I could use for automation I went and ordered 6 more mounted orchids from Andy and picked up a few discounted dehydrated vandas from my local nursery that I had my eye on. I plan to expand this to a full shelf and start a rupicolous laelia collection at some point.

Attached are a couple pics of my plants and setup. The 6 additional mounted aren't here yet and these were taken before I installed the misters.

I have a few specific questions... Any additional tips to be successful would be very welcome :D

* How often should I fertilize? I was thinking of using the same water as I use for S/H (MSU 13-3-15 + CalMag, targeting 50 ppm nitrogen) on every misting.

* How often to mist? I was thinking twice a day. The misters really soak everything, it is a powerful system.

* What time to mist? I was thinking to time it with lights on and lights out.

Additional information as I know the advise will depend a lot on my environment:
* Plan to grow year round under lights in my "bedroom greenhouse"
* Light - 2500-3000 FC at top, 800 FC at bottom
* Humidity - right now 50-70%
* Lots of air movement...
* Temp 60 at night, 83 during the day

Orchids:
Holcoglossum / subulifolium
Encyclia / tampense
Dendrobium / unicum
Sedirea (Aerides) / japonica

3 vanda

Neofinetia / falcata
Dendrobium / loddigesii
Encyclia / chacaoensis
Aerangis / articulata
Dendrochilum / species Bronze leaf
Dendrobium / kingianum

First, as you are using the MSU RO formula, you do not need to - and likely should not - be adding a cal-mag supplement.

For that environment, with automated misting, I'd suggest twice a day, the first just before the lights come on (provides a little extra soak time), and the second time several hours before "nightfall", so they'll have time to dry.

For 2x/day misting, assuming they'll be pretty thoroughly wetted each time, I'd cut back the fertilizer concentration to maybe 15-20 ppm N.

Thanks for the excellent guidance Ray, I will take your advice.

Regarding CalMag, my tap water here in Portland has a crazy low 30 TDS right out of the tap. I assume very little calcium as it is from a volcanic mountain reservoir. Would you still skip the CalMag?

---------- Post added at 02:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:14 PM ----------

Nevermind on the fert question, appear MSU RO formula has calcium. For some reason I thought it only had magnesium. Thanks Ray

I got my six additional orchids and here is the final setup.

Added a clear vinyl front flap to contain mist and humidity.

There is some space on the floor of the tray for a couple orchids :shock: Any suggestions? They will get 2000-3000 FC of light and have to like it damp (assuming phals and pahps would get crown rot).

You have air movement going on in there? Can't tell from the photo. That would be my essential add-on if you don't.

Yes, its a wire shelf so the top is not covered and there is a ton of air movement in the room. The hanging roots move a little bit when resting from the breeze.

Great! It's looking good!

Very nice!

Does the humid air from the green house get vented into the bed room? Or vented to outside of your home?

Just asking - to see if humidity can build up in the room outside the green house, where mold could grow on the walls etc, unless the room has nice ventilation.

Nice misting setup!

what did you use for the walls? I have a few that could use more humitidy than what they get. Also do you have any other orchids on the wire shelf above or below and if so, do they benefit from it?