Implications of constant 28oC & 80% RH for Phal seedling development

[OzPhal]

Originally Posted by zxyqu

Several of those species are going to require much higher light. I we assume the second bank of lights only add another 125fc, you're still around 3 fold short what will really be needed to grow these well. Given that light intensity falls off at an exponential rate, you're going to have to move those plants closer, and it will surely help. Sounds like a great collection as well.

Thanks for your advice! I appreciate it! I'm a little sceptical about the 125fc calculation that came back from the DSLR method - I'll know more once I get the light meter in... but it's not an issue to move the lights closer..

Thanks for the compliments on the collection too! I'm aiming to get as many species as I can

[zxyqu]

As someone who has more than half of all Phal species myself, I can appreciate the goal. You have a really strong start for sure! Keep us posted on the levels.

[OzPhal]

I've also dialled back the humidity a little to 75%. There are some of them planted in sphagnum moss and I found that it wasn't drying out and was quite moist still after 4 days - I don't want any problems with root rot. I'd sooner have to water them twice/three times a week than run that risk...

[OzPhal]

So for now, at least until I get my light meter, I've switched on the second set of tubes so there's now 4x tubes on. The temperature is a constant 28oC with 75% humidity and they're on a 12hr on/12hr off cycle...

[zxyqu]

Well assuming this isn't too much light, which I don't see as an issue, that setup should be ok. Again, since it's an enclosed space, you want want to consider some sort of fan for increased air movement.

[OzPhal]

Originally Posted by zxyqu

Well assuming this isn't too much light, which I don't see as an issue, that setup should be ok. Again, since it's an enclosed space, you want want to consider some sort of fan for increased air movement.

I must admit, being the weekend, I'll be a little nervous! As my baby's are all on their own haha! The light meter should arrive mid next week... I deliberately haven't put the lights too close so they're getting more light but I can fine tune it once I have the meter.

Being an environmental growth chamber (are you familiar with Binder?) they also have air circulation so I've got the fans running at 100% - only thing to balance out after getting the lighting sorted is the fan speed

[Island Girl]

Wow! I have to admit that I am really jealous of all the Phal species! I am just now starting to collect them as I have just recently fell in love with them (who knew they were so diff. from the hybrids?) and have an order of a few species (a couple from ur list) that will come sometime this week... Longest wknd EVER! agghh

But, anyways, ur set up is really cool... i will have to keep up with this b/c i'd love to c how all of ur babies do! Good Luck!!

I hope these do better than the P. lobbii! but i guess these r a little older?

[OzPhal]

Hey Island Girl

I've got a goal of trying to get as many of the species as I can! preferably all of them! after that I want to make all of the primary hybrids and maybe some new ones - I'm a microbiologist by trade so have access to a full laboratory where I can do flasking - I also have the environmental chambers that control lighting, heat, humidity and air movement - they're pretty awesome!

Make sure you post pics when you get your babies! oh and be warned! it's very addictive

All of my seedlings are a lot older than the P. lobbii thankfully! although it's still a nervous wait as they adapt to the continous temperature/humidity - ideally the P. lobbii should have stayed a lot longer in the flask but because they arrived so messed up it wasn't feasible