Need a boost - Orchid Board

jmmehler · #1 01-11-2014, 11:24 AM

Here’s my setup. Half of the basement (14 x 10) is enclosed, and has HVAC. Temperature ranges from 63 to 81 degrees (went as low as 58 during the latest cold snap) every day. Humidity ranges from 38 to 47 percent every day. I am working on trying to increase the humidity. There is a room humidifier and an oscillating fan running 24 hours per day. Last week I installed a large plastic 27 gallon storage container, filled with water, with an aquarium heater set at 89 degrees, and two large air stones. The expectation is that this will add to the humidity in the room.

There are 3 sets of 15 x 48 x 72 inch stainless steel shelf units, with a shelf on the bottom, middle and top. The top and bottom shelves are for stability only. Lighting consists of 4 ft 4 lamp High output 54 watt fluorescent fixtures on a pulley system hanging from the top shelf. Each fixture has 2 grow (6000k), and 2 bloom (3500k) lamps and is set on timers for about 12 hours per day. I measure about 12,000 foot candles at the level of the plants.

There is also a 15 x 60 inch table with the same type fixture hanging from a light stand, but all the phals are on two of the shelf units.

Here are the theories I am pondering.
1) Some of the phals have developed the fattest most beautiful air/surface roots I’ve ever seen. This may be due to the twice day misting. If I stop misting, this might force the roots into the hydroton. Same goes for the plants that haven’t produced any visible roots.
2) The way I’ve been getting my phals to start blooming, is leaving them out on the porch early in the fall to get some cooler weather (never below 40 – 45 degrees). After a couple of weeks, I bring them in, and within the next couple of weeks, the spikes start to develop. I was thinking of ‘chilling’ the none bloomers for a couple of weeks again to see if that will wake them up.