Lighting

[amybudorchids]

Hi,
This is my first post-so hopefully put it in the right spot! I have about 20 orchids so far: phals, Catt. & Dens. Right now they are growing in my South side greenhouse window. I had a 50% shade cloth on the top of the window during the hot summer. Anyway, I am running out of room. I would like to grow them (or at least one specie) under lights. I have 2 Flora Carts I used years ago when I grew African Violets. What I need to know is what kind of lighting would be the best for them & effecient to run moneywise? Would a 4 light T5 flourescent type be enought lighting ? I also would grow them in the spare room - which unfortunately houses my 3 grown cats at night! So, I wouldn't want any thing dangerouse or that could overheat and cause a fire. Please any coments would help.
Thanks so much!! (Sorry I can't spell)!!

[1joyceh]

Welcome to the forum amybudorchids!
The 4 bulb T5 set up is what I use, and have had good luck with the 'catts', and all my other orchids...and my 'cat' doesn't have any problems with it...(sorry...couldn't resist the pun!)
they don't throw off a lot of heat, and they are generally around 50 watts each bulb, so it would not be costly to run. You would most likely run the light during the day (16-18 hrs for grow, 12 hrs for bloom) so at night, they would be off when your cats are in the room, just have to hope they don't take a nibble or 2 from the plants!! YIKES!!
Again, welcome and enjoy

[Ray]

Joyce gave some good advice, but if it's OK, I'd like to add a couple of comments/questions:

What are the dimensions of your carts and the clearances between the fixtures and the trays? If they are one-standard nursery tray per level, then a 2', 4-bulb fixture is fine, but if you don't have sufficient space between the plants and the lights, it might be too much intensity, suggesting that fewer bulbs might be better. If they are the classic "A-Frame" style, with a single tray at the top, and two trays on a lower level, then maybe you'd do better with a 2-bulb fixture above the upper tray and a 4-bulb one below.

That also suggests that you might link about specifically which plants you'd prefer to grow under the lights. Being less demanding of light intensity than the others in your collection, the phals would be great candidates, and would potentially allow you to go with lower light intensity fixtures.

If you went that way, you could either purchase fixtures with fewer bulbs, go go with more bulbs, but elevated farther from the plants, thereby covering a larger growing area.

[amybudorchids]

Thanks so much!! I was hoping I could get a way with flourescent instead of those Metal or Sodium High Intensity lighting. I have a Flora Cart: it is a tubular frame which holds 3 fiberglass trays 19" wide by 48" long. It came with 3- 48" ,2 tube Floursecent fixtures (where I want to buy a T5 Fixture-either 2 or 4 blulbs 48" long) They shelves are adjustable. I would be growing Cattelaya and Phalanophisis, and a couble of Denrobiums for now. I could keep the light closer for the Catttelaya shelf & use the other shelf for the Phals.

[Fishmom]

Welcome, amybudorchids, you will enjoy being here on the website. There are many helpful and generous people here. As soon as you have 5 posts, you will be able to put pictures in your posts, so comment away!

I googled the Flora Cart--it looks like a really nice setup. Does it feel sturdy?

[orchids4me]

Just popping in to say....
Welcome to the forum !!

[amybudorchids]

Thanks-the Flora Cart is very sturdy. I've had mine for over 20 years. I sold two of them & kept two-thank God!! They are expensive $600-800 for the cart & regular 2 bulb florsecent fixtures! I'm planning on getting for now 1 T5 fixture & lights probably from Hydrofarm. There's a nursery very close so me that carries them. The only bad thing is they will have to be in the spare bedroom the cats go in at night !! I hope Bootie - the little devil- will leave them alone. Maybe I could put the Flora Cart Humidity tent on the whole shelf to cover it.

If I forget to answer anyone please excuse me-I'm still trying to navigate the site!!

[amybudorchids]

Thanks, Joyce--I'm already learning so much!!

[amybudorchids]

Thanks, Orchids4me!

[amybudorchids]

Well, I'm almost ready to grow my orchids under lights! I just ordered 1 - 4' X 4 tube T5 daisy chain fixture & 1, 2' X 2 bulb T5 fixture. I got this really neat, sturdy 62" high, 19" deep 4 tray plant stand at Logees Greenhouse.com - was on sale to for $55 & of course shipping. What I plant on doing for now, is use the top shelf for my mini phals the one with the 2' long fixture. Then I will put the 4' fixture on the Flora Cart stand and use that for my Cats. Hope that will work for now. I ordered the 4' fixture with 2 blue & 2 red bulbs. I also have tents for them to keep in the humidity & keep my kitties off! I just hope I don't get mold ! I'm also going to get a 6" clip on fan for the top shelf -- Can someone let me know if this set up sounds ok? Thanks!!

Also, I need some good, cheaper sources for my orchid mixes -- I've been using repotme.com but they are expensive!

Also, any good orchid sites to buy mini cats, & phals ????

Thanks so much !!

[1joyceh]

was that Logee's in CT you ordered from? It is about 40 mins from me, if it is, LOL..I was just there a few weeks ago. Their orchid selection is very limited...sigh...but have wonderful dwarf citrus and other tropicals...
It sounds like your catts will be safe from your kitties and will get the light they need, good choice on the type of lighting
Hausermann's and Oakhill gardens have nice plants, they ship them very well, and they have a good selection of mini orchids...check out some of their mounted, very nice

[amybudorchids]

Thanks so much! Yes that's the same Logee's !!

[Orchidchick]

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

The light stand you are setting up sounds good. Leaving the plastic cover on will increase humidity and protect your plants from your cats but will also reduce air flow which may lead to fungal problems. I love the orchid mixes from repotme but they are expensive. To stretch my dollar I will mix it with a cheaper store brand. I applaud your efforts to protect your feline friends this is a very dangerous time of year for our pets. Cats and dogs love to play with lights and dangly wires and can be burned or strangled by them. A lot of pets end up at the vet because they have eaten a christmas ornament. Good luck with your orchids and your furry companions

[amybudorchids]

Thanks!!! I'm still having a hard time navigating around this site & posting pics. I think my pics are too large-I'll have to re-size them! I thought the plastic tents will keep the kitties out-but I know they have to have circulation so I don
t get any mildew!! I purchased 2 6" clip on fans to stay on. I plan on opening the tents during the day -- seeing how the orchids do: what kind of humidity & temperature I get. Thanks for replying!!!

[amybudorchids]

Just found out my 4' T5 4 bulb fixture won't be mixed lighting - it will have 4 of the 5800 bulbs. Would that be okay for my Cats or should I get 2 of the 3400? (can't remember the number now) for the flowering. Thanks!!

[1joyceh]

You can pick up an inexpensive temp/humidity monitor at Home Depot, Lowes, any garden store, it will help in keeping your orchids at the temp and humidity you want, with monitoring...open tent or closed tent... It sounds like you got some good fans, and should have some nice air movement.
We all have to learn to navigate around, any difficulties, just ask, so many people here are always around to help

[amybudorchids]

Thanks, Joyce
What other kinds of orchids could I grow with my Phals & Cats - with the same needs in mini form or compact form??
Thanks again!!