My first orchid show. I've been bad. Vaawee, bad. Now need help.
 

Went to my first show (at Atlanta Botanical Gardens). Said I was going to buy no more than two new babies. :crackup: Had to get some supplies -- pots, medium, pot hangers. I needed to talk to some knowledgeable people about a rescued :scratchhead: , stressed oncidium (Sharry Baby) and a soggy Den. Phal. (unknown). That was all!:muahaha:

Two and a half hours later (and poorer), I have the following:

• Brassavola Little Stars
• C. Blc. Toshie Aokie X Lc. Hawaiian Flare
• Oncidium Twinkle (white and peach)
• C. Sc Tokyo Magic '6-1' X Rsc. Toshie Aokie 'Pizazz'
• Ph. equestris alba X violacea
  
  
  
  
  

I explained to all that I spoke with that I had a flourescent-lit plant stand, water-filled pebble trays (and little experience or sense :lol: )

Now, I am concerned (after more reading) that my Cattleyas will not like my lamp that I leave on for security at night. I've read that some require total darkness. Can anyone tell me if the Cats above can tolerate a lamp about 20 feet away? :pray:

Congratulate to your new plants.
I do not think that the lamp will be any problem. I doubt that it is very strong and 20 feet is quit a distans when we talk light. Though IF it is a 500 W lamp with a good reflector your Catteya could have some problems.

/Magnus

You are as bad as I am! Just can't help myself. Always room for more.

Magnus, thank you for your input. I turned the lamp down to the lowest setting and it has a shade. I hope you are right.

Gary, these "things" are addictive! They're like some strange candy invented by a mad man who is trying to trap little children. Kinda' Wonka-esque.

HAHAHA!!! So true!

Jill, if your security light is in a table or wall lamp with shade it won't affect the orchids at all.

I grow all my Catts outside and there are several street lights around that keep the area fairly well lit up at night. I have no problems with any of them growing or blooming. A little light shouldnt be a problem at night. And I totally agree with the Willie Wonka statement!! Wait till your little plant stand somehow morphs into a greenhouse!! Dont kid yourself, it'll happen!!

haha i agree with that. there was once a phal on my tv. then it turned into 3, then 8, then 11. haha. now i think i need to invest in some kind of multilayered stand b/c i've run outta room, haha. and ya the nite lights dun hurt too much as long it aint that strong. mines are right beside my workstation and i work quite late into most night and the seem to be fine.

Wow, i'd love to find a show near me! Congrats on your new plants. I'd do the same if i were there!

Thanks, Ross and aloha, Steve.

I know you noticed how much time has passed since I posted this. Great news! Everybody is putting out new growth. Phals, Oncidiums, Den., and 2 out of 3 Cats. are adding new roots and/or leaves. The Brass. is adding 3 of those fabulously pointy leaves. (Flowers, next???? I hope.) Rising from the dead are the Dendrobium and Onc. Sharry Baby. So, the security light reassurances are on target.

Steve, re: the plant stand/greenhouse morph.? Uh, do you think the addition of the humidifier pushes me into that category? :-p

:goodluck: Man! You should be in Atl. right now. From now until the end of March, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is hosting an event they call Orchid Daze. During this time, they offer guided tours of the orchidarium, orchid care clinics, orchid markets (you know where THAT will lead.:evil: :evil: :rofl: ), and evening hour access. And I JUST bought a new dig. camera. Yes!!! I can't wait!

Absolutely!! It starts small and then grows until a significant portion of your house looks like a rainforest!! Pretty soon you'll have monkeys and parrots!! jk :)

Word.

Nick - check out some of these stands ;)
Plant Light Stands for Orchids: Orchids By Hausermann
Gotta love that first one :nod:

Wonder what type of lights are being supplied (they don't say, other than I would need to buy the bulbs.)

They say they 'Use flourescent bulbs OS-1145E or OS-1145GE' when you click on each stand individually but they aren't included. For the first 2 plant stand set-ups
and also
They sell VITEK 93 PLUS FOR LIGHTSTAND II & NEW TABLETOP LIGHTSTANDS and GE Sunshine F32 FOR LIGHTSTAND II & NEW TABLETOP LIGHTSTANDS and
Vi-Tek 93+ FLOURESCENTS FOR LIGHTSTANDS PURCHASED BEFORE JULY 2007 - These are offer below the 2 plant stands, above the Sodium Light Fixture on that page :)

Nice, but that doesn't help. They look like t12's to me (standard florescents). I was wondering about t5's which are sooooo much better :biggrin: By the way, most bulbs sold at Petsmart (or is it Pet Smart ;)) are t12.

How can anyone buy just two?
 

I have bought 14 in the last week. Shhh! Be vewy qwiet, we'we hunting owchids!:scratchhead:

I was bad today too (ordered 4 more)....I think you've beat me though, Gregg...I may need to slow down or I won't have the $$ to pay the light bill to RUN THE LIGHTS to GROW THE ORCHIDS....:scratchhead: :dumb: :faint:

GE Sunshine F32 Fluorescent Grow Lights - 2800 lumen output, 20,000 average life, 32 Watt T-8
and
Vi-Tek 93+ Super High Intensity Flourescent Grow Light Bulbs,T-8, 3200 Lumens (average wide spectrum bulbs are 1700-2100 lumens) 40,000 hrs life expectancy
and
Vi-Tek 93+ Super (PURCHASED BEFORE JULY 2007) High Intensity Flourescent Grow Light Bulbs,T-12, 3200 Lumens(average wide spectrum bulbs are 1700-2100 lumens) 3 year life expectancy (standard wide spectrum bulbs are 11 months)
I hope this clears up any confusion as to their 't' designation :)

hello Jill,
The addition of the humidifier is a definite sign you are about to be comepletely consumed, It's amazing, the hoops we addict will jump through, just to make them happy. My small table with a shoplight has spread into 3 rooms. AND I WANT MORE!!!

You seem to be doing well! I have my 1st show in 3 weeks! I shall go do lally! And I don't give a sh*t! I haven't been able to afford to go to any shows, or pay the grossley over the top postage charges for the orchid nurseries over here. So I can go 1 mile up the road and spend spend spend! Judi x

Hope you have a great time:goodluck:

Judi - buy a few for me .. minis :nod:

Next Sat.! :nod: Next Sat.! :pray: :pray: :drool:

Enjoy yourself!

Nick

I have some of the OLD Housermann's light stands with the T12 lights. I love them but it became very expensive to buy the bulbs and have them shipped so I called and asked about using regular T 12 bulbs. I was told they would work. WRONG, the first one I put in went pop, and blew a hole in it. I was given the wrong info, they will not take the reg, not high intensity, bulbs.

A local hydroponic dealer did some searching for me and found T10, which I didn't know were made. (I had given him an old burned out bulb and was told they were not T12 but T10 size.) The new T10 have the same high output and cost about 1/2 and no shipping. I just replaced 16 bulbs and they work as equally as well as the Vi-Tek 93.....with the same output.

I do like my units very much, they are nice looking, and I can adjust the shelves. I even cheated and added an extra tray and light. The top one is now T5. I drain all the hoses into a large container and use a small sump pump to pump it out. I water with a wand and it is so simple.

Why, oh Whydid you post the address to this site? I thought I was content with my light stand. :bua: :love: You know what comes next, don't 'cha?

:hmm :scratchhead: :hmm :evil:

Nope. I still am buying orchids at every
 

orchid show, greenhouse, etc.

:coverlaugh:

Justjill -
:oops_sign

I look forward to the photos of your 'new' lightstand :nod:
:coverlaugh:

Thanks!

Dorothy

:rofl:

:coverlaugh:

:rofl: Oh dear you've been infected with the orchid virus! And the good news ? There is no cure :crackup: :crackup:

I'm baaaa-aaak! And boy,oh, boy!
 

First, the "exhibit" at Atl. Bot. was/is gorious!!!! I felt liked I'd died and gone to Hawaii :cloud9:, I mean heaven. I'll post the pics next weekend. But, but, but...

I did not understand :dunno: how many species of orchis were housed there! I mean, the books talk about the numbers and species, but.....It took a volunteer (also a member of Atl. Orc. Soc.) to get me started. Then, I was spotting them EVERYWHERE! Little itty-bitty guys, and big girls, and stinkly ones, and scary ones, and, and, and, ..... It was AWESOME!!! I saw Dracaenas. :photo: :dance13: Right in front of my eyes, within touching distance! It was amazing.:groupwave:

Now, about the orchid market... 1 Lady Slipper, 1 Zygopedalum, 1 Miltoniopsis (Pansy) (in bud, oops blooming), 1 Slc, 1 Ludisia (Jewel?) and my dtps is in spike (1/4 in.) and that is my first spike. My mini-cat is, too, but it is a more recent resident.(/udb) (/udb) (/udb)

And I have ALL of you to thank, because without your advice, I'd have brown. Can't wait to update Cattleya-Log. I have to regenerate a lot of info., though because I had to restore my system and had to (accidently) sacrifice some of my data.

Well, back to my homework.

Sounds like you had a great time Jill. Can't wait to see :photo: ! Nice haul too! Be sure and list their names so we can all :drool: .

You bet.