am I doing it right to get these guys to bloom?
 

these are all from trader joes but two a of them one is a sherry baby and one is a baby cakes. can't remember whats what anymore. they have been in s/h for 6 months or more weekly water flush about 1/4 teaspoon fertilizer and various supplements. they get the same light the phals bloom with. they all have at least one new growth or more. my wife loves to shop by smell when we go to trader joes but we only have so much room.

They need much more light than phals! In fact, yours look pretty dark green and small. This is a robust plant, normally. I'd up the light considerably to almost Catt level.

I agree. More light.

What is the formula of the fertilizer you're using? 1/4 tsp/gal is not a universal recommendation; it depends upon the %N.

of course more light make it hard on me (G) here is a pic of my setup. trying to figure out how to add more light. if I strap another fixture alongside the one above them now will that do it or should I get them closer?
I am using Grow More 7516 Premium Orchid Bloom 6-30-30 Fertilizer and it is the typical 1tablespoon type. they get 1/4 to 1/3 teaspoon approx. I can raise the tray they are in up or add a light. I cant really lower them as the ones on the wall love the light they are getting. the lights are off for this pic but you get the idea.

Ray has been suggesting spot lights. If you look at the sauna post, he explains it well. I have a few plants off to the side w spots trained on them.

ya that may be the way to go. I used to use hue floods till I needed more and changed over to the fixtures. I would not use them now but it is a easy way to add more lights. cheaper too.

1/4 teaspoon/gallon of a 6-30-30 is applying only about 20 ppm N weekly. That is the amount I would recommend for feeding every 2-3 days. I'd recommend about 3/4 tsp/gal

they are in s/h so they have food 24/7

Ah HAH! A "minor" detail we didn't know.

I still think you're a bit light...

it was in the first post so there (G) though usually I leave out details. maybe 1/2 teaspoon per gallon?

at least it was a easy fix though I have some different bulbs coming

I'm sure Ray will chime in but, those lights may still be a tad too far away. You might want to raise the plants themselves.

Yes, I think 1/2 tsp of a 6%N fertilizer is appropriate.

What are the wattages of the strips and floods?

strips are 18 bulbs are 7 each. maybe get something like this? Amazon.com : SANSI 40W Daylight LED Plant Light Bulb, Full Spectrum Ceramic LED Grow Light Blub, 63 LED Chips, E26 Socket, Indoor Gardening for the Home, Indoor Farming, Residential, Office Plants, Grow Walls : Garden & Outdoor

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or these I can get today gives me 30 watts so crippling the light https://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-...7944/301154656

I know that text to talk is very convenient, however, sometimes it's difficult for me to figure out what you are actually saying. Did you mean tripling the light?

no it is my horrible communication skills. using the lights at home depot they are 15 watts each so with the strip thats 45 watts. or the bigger guys are 45 watts each that seems excessive.

ok bought two of these cree 23 watt 5000k bulbs 1750 lumens each. i think this may be enough light :biggrin:

I could be wrong, but I think the strips are too far from the plants, and spots too close.

I agree the strips needed to be up so my blind wife would miss them when she mists the plants. it works for the phals and houseplants and the mounted orchids. but I agree I lifted the bulbs up so they covered more area they are floods. I was at home depot and I sure wanted to buy one of these https://www.homedepot.com/p/Feit-Ele...-LED/302218291 but it would be a bit much. but I found a refurbished one on amazon for 53 so will get it for the cymbidiums dendrobiums that need a lot of light and the coconut orchids.

well the new lights are working two plants each have spikes.