Grow Area Questions

[HHLL38]

Alright, I've cemented Orchid growing as a hobby of mine with my extensive time spent on this website and constantly wishing I had an area of my own to grow my Orchids.

I want to make the first step to establishing this space, but i've run into this problem.

What now?

I don't want to spend a ton of dough on a growcart or something pre-done (well I do, but my budget wont allow it ). I'm thinking I want to get a small table or something for terrestrials, but to specialize in mounted plants. I'm thinking of constructing a large wooden waterproofed structure for hanging the mounts from, but i'm wondering what I should consider for lights, humidity, temperature, ect.

Also, I want to make some sort of terrarium or something in order to successfully grow Ghost Orchids, any experience/recommendations?

Thanks!

[cdayinflorida]

All you need are a couple of T5 or T8 fixtures from the local big box store and a place to hang them. I would start out with a few of the easier to grow type plants.
Terrariums can be made out of just about anything. But you need to consider heat, humidity and air movement.
Good luck and post pictures!

[Kassie]

Here is a great article on building your own orchidarium. He discusses what materials to use, how to properly ventilate, how to keep things lightweight yet adequately durable. If I ever attempt to grow mounts, I plan to try to build something similar. For now, I just use inexpensive open wire pantry shelving with T8 shop lights, kitty litter pans for humidity trays and a humidifier.

Good luck with the ghost orchids. I remember coming across a sale listing for them when I was shopping for flasks. The seller had included a large print warning about how hard they are to grow, how even experienced orchid growers had difficulty with them and that, being flasklings, they were doubly doomed. It made me chuckle. The seller must have been pretty confident that the ghostly allure would overcome his dire marketing efforts.

[HHLL38]

That article is amazing! For now i'm considering some form of mounting station with some clip on grow lights, unless there aren't grow lights made for anything other than florescent fixtures. In which case i'm thinking some form of inexpensive shelving and a grow light fixture above it. Just not sure where to put it!

I wish I were handier, I'd try my hand at building my own orchidarium, it seems a lot more inexpensive and fun!

Yeah, I've read a few articles about ghost orchid set ups, but I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience. Such a beautiful plant. I'm thinking a basic 10 gallon aquarium, humidity tray on one side, mess of sphag on the other, mount it over the sphag, add a light to the top and just try to let it breathe twice a day or so, since i'm unsure about fans. Does the guy with the orchidarium just have the fan running inside? He mentioned something about exhaust, should I find a way to get the old air out without compromising the temperature/humidity?

[Zozzl]

You can get metal stands like you would use in a workshop at any of the box stores/home supply etc. You can the lights as Cathy says and they are pretty cheap. I have grown all sorts of gesneriads and some orchids as well. Take a look at the photo of one of my stands. It was homemade. We could not afford one of those fancy ones that you see in the catalogs

[HHLL38]

I think I've found the light fixture I want, now i've just got to find the physical space!

And i've got to decide if I want a cart or a mounting slab, cart would be easier with most of the light fixtures i've seen thus far.

[cakedaddy]

Those metal racks are great! That's all I will use now as the are relatively inexpensive and the open wire construction makes the great for hanging things...and airflow is obviously a good side effect.
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[Brutal_Dreamer]

Keep us posted on what you do. And take lots of photos!!

cheers,
BD

[HHLL38]

I wish they had wire metal racks from which to hang things instead of from which to place things.

Anyone have any experience with particular brands/types of lighting units?

[cakedaddy]

You could always use wire shelving hung vertically. As far as lighting goes, I have always used standard flourescent shoplights. I have two four foot units...total of four bulbs-alternating warm and cool spectrum. Works for me in a north facing window. I think putting these at the window is the key. The light on the north side is relatively weak, but still enough that the bulbs and the natural light supplement each other
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