humidity & light - need advice please!

[mexorchid]

Happy for a bit of advice on my baby cattleyas! Any suggestion is very much appreciated!!!

I got them a bit over a month ago (from Cloudorchids and they all looked very healthy and good size). Under my unexperienced care I felt they are not getting enough humidity but too much water at the roots. So now they are on their usual grid over a water filled basin (the water is warmed a bit with an aquarium heater) but I slid them out of their pot (and really I found some roots turning black already). The moss is so tightly packed around their roots that it's not falling off anyway. And I put the whole basin inside an aquarium. Do you think that will get humidity up a bit? Any tips? Do I need already a fan if the aquarium is open on top?

Also I found a light with an aquarium plant bulb, 15W. It's the black, hanging "bar". The window is north/west and is only having very little direct light in the late afternoon. With the winter coming I feel there is not enough light any more (Quebec City).The orchids are different Cattleyas and 2 mexican orchids (NoID). Do you think the light will burn them? Is it hanging too low (between 40-55cm over the plants)? How long per day should I keep it on?

Thanks in advanced for your input!

[Nexogen]

I grow my orchids in terrariums with T5 HO lamps and humidifiers AOS 7146, only RO water. If you have not greenhouse it’s a problem for humidity in the winter.

40-55cm for Cattleya is hanging too high

And don’t forget, fan is essential.

[mexorchid]

Originally Posted by Nexogen

I grow my orchids in terrariums with T5 HO lamps and humidifiers AOS 7146, only RO water. If you have not greenhouse it’s a problem for humidity in the winter.

And don’t forget, fan is essential.

Thank you so much for your answer !!!
I'll go put the light lower right away. How close can that be to the plants? It's on a timer for 12h a day. Does that seem about right to you?
I'll check for a fan too. I thought because it's open on top, that's ok but everybody seems to have fans, so I'll get one.

[Nexogen]

I grow Cattleya under 8 bulbs T5 HO at 20 cm close to the plants, for 15W bulb from you possession I don’t have idea but is too small. If the bulbs are to closer to the plant is to high temperature!!!

Without fan you are a dead men

Sorry not you

Cattleyas

[isurus79]

You'll definitely need more light than what you currently have. You might want to get a larger tank as well. Aquariums (or enclosures made of other materials) made for reptiles have thinner glass and are cheaper to buy. You can also get cheap enclosures on craigslist, if that exists where you live!