Grow zone update!

[bballr4567]

Well, I finally upgraded my one shelf to a bakers rack. Took a while to get it setup like I wanted but its pretty close now.

I have a 4ft. T5HO on the top shelf and a 2ft T5 on the bottom. I now have enough space for my small collection to actually grow some stuff! I have a good 2.5 shelves left to cover and I hope I dont fill those too soon!

I have all my Oncs, Pot/Catts and my mounted phals on the top shelf. The lower shelf has all my mini phals along with my smaller paphs.
















And two spikes!!

Dtps. Sogo Vivien. This spike is very, very thick! Its also grown 4 leaves over the summer so I can hope itll be a good blooming! It last finished blooming only 8 months ago so itll be interesting.



Phal. Yaphon Nicegirl (amboinensis x Yaphon Image)

[SlipperGirl]

looks great

[orchidsarefun]

looking good.
I have similar set-ups ( more than 1 rack ! )
A tip - I use egg-crate and stand my pots on the egg-crate.
I also have egg-crate, then paper towel, then heat mat as protection for heat mat and plant roots.

[Orchids4ever]

Looks very good
and don't worry, you WILL fill them up soon

[bballr4567]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

looking good.
I have similar set-ups ( more than 1 rack ! )
A tip - I use egg-crate and stand my pots on the egg-crate.
I also have egg-crate, then paper towel, then heat mat as protection for heat mat and plant roots.

Very good idea with the egg-crate. I have had an issue with the smaller pots tipping over.

And yes, itll get filled up soon. I've added 8 orchids since I knew I was getting the rack but sadly, I've lost 3 in the past few weeks due to last shelf falling down.

[orchidsarefun]

oops - had also meant to say that my heat mat is on the rack itself ( no towel ) and the heat then can dissipate/heat below - that is not "cook" the mat.
Still debating whether to put it on a timer for evening only. I am lucky enough to have my racks all in SF windows so temp goes up to upper 70s in Winter day's, if sunny.

[bballr4567]

I tried the mat just flat on the rack but it was barely heating up the pots so I assumed all the heat was going into the cooler metal rack.

My window faces to the north so it literally gets zero natural light.

[DTEguy]

Nice setup....beautiful orchids!

[camille1585]

Nice set up!! I'd love to have the same, but those racks don't really exist here, and I have yet to find a source for T5 fixtures....

What's that cute little Onc in bloom? And the little variegated Phal?

[bballr4567]

Thanks Yang and Camille.

The onc. is Twinkle "Red Fantasy". Its pretty but it smells awful. Its like rotten baby powder. I recently got an in bloom Onc. Tsiku Marguerite and it has a very light floral scent that is great. Not sure why the twinkle smells so bad.

The variegated is a Phal. Sogo Vivien actually. It is a very, very slow grower with one leaf last summer. Its been beat up and lost a few leaves to rot when I first got it but its now pushing out a new leaf so Im happy. Very hard to find for a decent price.

The shelf is just a baking rack so it shouldnt be too hard to find.