New to orchids and S/H

[starfish]

I decided to grow orhids because i love flowers and plants and have horrible pollen allergies.

I transferred my orchids to S/H on 10/6 and 10/16 and most of my plants are doing well, growing new roots and there's even a new little leaf on my phal. I'm using s/h because I LOVE to water (killed 4 plants this summer from it!) and here in Oakland I have access to hydroponic stores because of all the pot growers. My hydro store even gives me free hydroton-leftovers that they've swept from the floor!

One almist dead gifted oncidium died because I didn't realize that using s/H wouldn't automatically save sick plants, I read about that after more s/h research....oooops!

One phal is dying because of root rot as I'm a messy waterer, I'm paying closer attention now.

I've turned my T5 lamp off, cut all spikes down, use a litle fan 24/7 and bought a heating mat so they can focus on growing new roots in S/h. (cutting those beautiful flowers was hard, what a lesson in delayed gratification!)

My orchids:
2 phals (1 thriving, one dying)
2 oncidiums (a sharry baby, the other is a ?)
3 cymbidiums (a black star, the other 2 are ?)
1 encyclia cordega
I received most of these through my neighborhood's free plant exchange (you have to give something to take something- it's awesome!) so the orchids with names had labels and they are tiny baby orchid plants.

Here are my questions:
1. When do I turn the grow light back on? (I have only northern sun, so I set up a grow area with a T5 lamp)
2. When, if ever, do I turn the heating mat off?
3. What is an encyclia cordega?
4. I have the heat mat set on about 83 degrees, any thoughts about that temp?
5. I have a plastic bowl of water on the heat mat AND I turn a cold humidifier on sometimes, how do I know when it's enough humidity? (I keep a dry, warm home)
6. That fan makes my home too cold for my thin California blood at night, thoughts about using it during the day only?

Thanks for all the information and thanks Ray for your great site!!!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by starfish

Here are my questions:
1. When do I turn the grow light back on? (I have only northern sun, so I set up a grow area with a T5 lamp)
2. When, if ever, do I turn the heating mat off?
3. What is an encyclia cordega?
4. I have the heat mat set on about 83 degrees, any thoughts about that temp?
5. I have a plastic bowl of water on the heat mat AND I turn a cold humidifier on sometimes, how do I know when it's enough humidity? (I keep a dry, warm home)
6. That fan makes my home too cold for my thin California blood at night, thoughts about using it during the day only?

1. Why would you turn the light off in the first place? The idea is subdued light, not none.
2. Plants usually get sufficient roots within about a month, but it varies from plant to plant. Also, whether you stop using the heat mat depends a lot upon your growing conditions and the type of plant.
3. Encyclia cordega does not exist. Try "Encyclia cordigera" in your Google search.
4. Nope. No thoughts.
5. Buy a humidity gauge. Dry is not great for your plants.
6. If fans make you cold, your humidity is too low.

[starfish]

Thanks Ray!

[berkeleysgr8]

Starfish, in Oakland you should be able to grow your Cymbidiums outside- Bay Area weather is almost perfect for them. Up where I'm at it gets just a little too cold in the winter and too darned hot in the summer. I had good luck with growing Cym back bulbs in S/H (I also used Hydroton, since it is readily available at grow shops)... note that I said "had", unfortunately I've discovered the winters up here are just a wee bit too cold for what most Cyms can take! Growing them outside will also provide the cool temps that are needed for spiking.