Guest Bedroom = Greenhouse

[whalloper]

Hey everyone!

I am going to do an experiment this winter and turn my spare bedroom into an indoor greenhouse I have a great humidifier that I can set to maintain a certain humidity level. I also will buy a small electric room heater to maintain temperature. What temp and humidity do you all recommend?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by whalloper

What temp and humidity do you all recommend?

It depends on what your orchids are. Their cultural needs will tell you what temps you will need. Are they warm, intermediate, or cool growers?

[whalloper]

theyre mostly all phals...but both summer and winter bloomers

[kid a]

Good Idea! Makes me wish I had a spare room for the winter too lol.

[mehitabel]

Humidity levels in the 70% range are too high for an in-house area-- they will cause all sorts of problems. 50% is a safe level, I believe. But I'd advise you to research it, make sure what safe levels are.

[mayres]

I've semi-successfully turned a bedroom into an acceptable orchid room with phals being the biggest subgroup. I'm sure a humidifier wouldn't hurt, but I've done fine without one - just use pebble trays underneath everything. All plants are either under fluorescent cheapie shop lights if low light needs plants and higher light needs are under T5. I also used a small electric heater to supplement heat for the room, but once I got a T5 fixture it hardly ever comes on! Have fun!

[lmartiny]

We have such short cold snaps I don't have to think that far. But I know I'd never be allowed to do that. We have a back room (bonus room) I plan to use. It is in limbo and disarray right now anyway. But here the hauling in and out is a huge hassle. Hubby said he's looking at a greenhouse option. We've been chock full of chores lately and haven't had time to look into that. But winter is coming. We just had a cold snap and it dipped into the 60's.

[whalloper]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

Humidity levels in the 70% range are too high for an in-house area-- they will cause all sorts of problems. 50% is a safe level, I believe. But I'd advise you to research it, make sure what safe levels are.

Thanks for the heads up! Im assuming youre talking about problems for the house, not the plants, which I didnt think of haha!! I read somewhere that keeping the temp toward the high range is good for growth...would you agree?

[mayres]

If you are talking phals - definately.
Trying to save on energy in the winter by keeping the thermostat down in the 50-60's will result in your phals acting like artificial plants - at least this is what I found out the first year I grew them - they didn't die OR grow - just sat in their pots like they were made of plastic. The more you can afford to keep them into the 70's the more you will be rewarded with growth. Pretty much impossible in home environments, but commercial growers reportedly grow their phals for market in the 80's to reduce them time to market.

[mehitabel]

I agree with Mayres about the temperature. In my basement plant room, what I found with temps dropping to 60 at night was worse than the plastic plant syndrome -- it was a decline in the plants that started about February, after several months of the low (for phals) night temperatures. There must have been a cumulative effect of the low temps. About 10% showed a serious decline by Feb.

Last year, I upped the minimum night temperature to 65 and got no Feb decline whatever.

Upstairs, even with close-fitting blinds in the windows, the temperatures near the windows are cooler than in the interior of the room in the real-cold period, going a little below 65, but not as low as 60.

So I recommend a min of 65 for phals at night if you can afford it.

[Stelios]

i am not sure humidity above 50-55% is great indoors especially without direct sunlight hitting the walls and kill mold. I would go with 50% just to be on the safe side and have a fan circulating air all the time. Also an ultrasonic humidifier or any kind of humidifier that use mist water, unless softened will create salts on surfaces. A cloth humidifier would be great but i am not sure there are small enough models for use in a room, although that depends on the room dimensions.

Regarding heating, I have a friend keeping tropical plants inside (not orchids though) that uses a kerosene heater, As it releases carbon dioxide and humidity in the room i am sure your plants will love it (at least that's what he told me it leaves i can;t be sure it's been some months we discussed that)

[whalloper]

this is all great to know about the humidity. I think I will try 55%, with the ceiling fan on high, and monitor for any problems. Theres no way I would trust myself with a kerosene heater, Im a clutz. I will just get a small ceramic electric heater and keep the temp around 80. Anyone see a problem with keeping the room this way? My collection is growing and Im not sure the light from the windows will be sufficient. What kind of flourescents (shop lights, wattage, kelvin rating) could I use for phals? How far away do the lamps need to be away from the plants?

[mayres]

If you get cheapie shop lights - as close as you can get them - just a few inches when not spiking. If you go with T5 light fixtures they will run you into some dollars, but you can keep the plants a lot further away from the tubes and light more plants with one fixture. If money was no object I'd probably go with the T5 option. I have both options available, but utilize my only T5 at this time on my higher light needs plants and have all my phals under fixtures that were under $10 from Home Depot. I don't think it is the best option - but it works.

[whalloper]

Wow, a few inches? I think I will go for the T5 option. How far away can these be? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to do this right from the beginning. Thanks so much everyone

[Brooke]

There is a section on the forum for growing under lights that has some really valuable information in it. I think Mayres, Phal Pal and Mehitable all talk about their T5's in there.

Brooke