Orchid greenhouse in a basement - any advice?
 

Hello fellow orchid lovers. I (as many of us) ran out of a room on a windowsill so I'm thinking about setting up a grow area in a basement. It's somewhat colder than the house, around 17 C / 62 F year round. I want to grow out phal seedlings in the area so I need some sort of enclosure to keep temperature and humidity in control. Has anyone tried those mini greenhouse that look like shelves enclosed in green plastic? Any advice?

There are a number of people here using this kind of greenhouse. But did you consider something? Those temperatures are great for Masdevallias and Draculas. You wouldn't need to fuss with heating. Not many people can grow these plants due to too-high temperature.

Many people who like Phals like Masdevallias and Draculas. For example, look what Shannon grew in her cool basement:
Blooming Masde and Dracuvallia
Ignea bud watch

Before moving, but after selling my greenhouse, I did something similar, but probably cheaper.

I started with a "bakers rack" shelving from Home Depot, and purchased a "humidity tent". I used LED strip lights to give myself two illuminated growing layers, about 30" apart.

That was my initial thought too...it's an appealing idea to me 'cause I can't grow them.

Thank you for the advice. I like weird flowers like Encyclia Cochleata but Masdevallia is a bit too creepy. Reminds me of that big-mouthed monster from the Star Wars :biggrin:

And what about Draculas? They look like little monkeys.

I had an even less expensive setup than that, Ray. Heavy duty plastic storage rack (about $39), the heavy duty plastic bag that came on our chest freezer (free with freezer and almost a perfect fit) and a few sets of strip lamps. A seed starting heat cable and the heat from the lamps gave me enough heat and a good differential when the lamps were off. I used an inexpensive programmable lamp timer for the lights, too.

The nice thing about the humidity tent is that it has a zippered "door" that allowed easy access for watering and inspecting the plants.

I didn't bother with heat mats, but the LED light strips added enough heat to keep the plants happy. I had phrags down low, and phals up top. Also on a timer.

When winter came and I didn't have any more windows to fill I inclosed a space in basement with plastic, humidifier, fans for air movement and LED full spectrum lights,great results achieved, everyone growing, new growth earlier bloom time on some, opened a new spectrum of plants, resurrected my Masdevillia

Yep that's the one I have. Then I put a humidifier in it and a fan, it works pretty good.