Why do more people not enjoy the pleasure of growing orchids? Is it because they feel these plants are delicate and difficult to raise, or do they have a greenhouse?
Orchids are tough plants, so one must only follow a few elementary rules to grow them to his heart’s content in the attic, spare room, or cellar under electric lights.
Setting Up The Orchid Cell
About 3 years ago, when I considered what I could do to while away my time when I had to retire from business, I read an advertisement about growing orchids in the home. This was the start of a hobby.
When my first plant arrived, I placed it in a window in the den and built a Wardian case shortly after that.
This soon became too small, and because of some talk about getting dirt and water on the floor, I decided to move to the cellar, where I would have more room and no trouble making a mess. It has worked perfectly.
My room, known as an orchid cell, converted from an old cold closet, is about 20′ feet long by eight wide and 7 ½” inches high. A small window is used primarily for air since very little light comes from that source.
Lighting Requirements
The usual type of benches was constructed with pans of water over which wire netting was attached on which the flower pots rested.
My setup differs from others regarding the location of the lights. A unit, as I call it, composed of three sets of two 40-watt tubes of 48-inch fluorescent light, with reflectors placed as follows: One at the rear facing out over the bench and the other two overhead.
This means that the light at the back of the bench throws its rays over practically the whole undersection of the plants, and the overhead lights cover the plants from the top.
My plants are placed so they reach almost the overhead lights, getting the maximum foot candles of light.
To complete the lighting, a 75-watt incandescent flood light is placed directly in front of each unit but across a small passageway.
At the end of each unit of fluorescent lights, there is a 25-watt incandescent light. Keeping these lights this far away means burning the plant’s foliage or flowers is not dangerous.
The greatest amount of foot-candles of light is obtained at the center of the fluorescent tube, and as you move away from that point, it decreases. I try to group my plants with this in mind.
Cool white fluorescent lights appear to be the best. They supply the blue side of the spectrum required for foliage and flowers, whereas the incandescent lights, besides giving off heat, supply the red side required for root growth.
A proper combination of these lights is needed; my formula is that for every 100 watts of fluorescent, I use 50 watts of incandescent. Experiments are still being made along this line.
I understand that the following foot candles of light should be used for the orchids given.
Cypripediums and phalaenopsis 600-800 foot candles; mature cattleyas, most oncidium, and epidendrum 1000-1200 foot candles; most strap-leaved verandas, some dendrobium, and cymbidium, 1200-1500 foot candles.
It is my practice to keep the lights on for periods approximating regular daylight but increased from ten to 16 hours to offset as much as possible the lack of foot candles of light compared with actual sunlight.
Watering and Humidity
Relative humidity, an important factor in the growth of orchids, ranges from 40% to 75% percent.
Some plants require water almost daily, but on the whole, I water twice a week. The orchids are sprayed.
During hot summer days, keep the temperature down. However, they should go through the night in a semi-dry condition to avoid fungus problems.
Growing Medium and Fertilizer
All of my plants are now being grown in fir bark. Experience has shown that the coarse grade is better because it doesn’t deteriorate and pack as quickly as the finer grades.
The bark is somewhat deficient in nitrogen, so after every other watering, I use ammonium nitrate.
Flowering Time
From my experience, the flowering time of orchids grown under lights changes. There are no dark days, so flowering may be advanced a month or more.
At present, I have about 100 plants. During the past three years, no month passed without flowers—a steady source of joy.
This hobby doesn’t require too much time, but you can spend unlimited time with it and always find something interesting.
44659 by Rogers D. Clark