Help with Seasonal Changes - Orchid Board

Becca · #1 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 05:20 PM

Well so far my 'chids just love their new home in the Orchidarium! I can't believe the new growth I have on all of them! It is so exciting! I know that winter is coming around and most of my 'chids are either later winter to spring bloomers.....so...what is the recommendation for the amount or time of lighting? I have gotten mixed opinions...anywhere from 14 to 10 hours of light for the fall. And what about winter? Is the temperature okay to drop as well? Temps are about 5 degree's cooler during the day now...I would say they are around 75 during the day and upper 60's at night. Will this be enough of a temperature drop to help initiate spiking? And what about fertilizing? Do I need to make changes with that as well? I just got a RO system and I am about to change to MSU fertilizer....is that fine to use year round?

So many questions...sorry! This is my first fall and winter with the kids....last year I only had one and didn't pay much attention to it then. TIA!

Ross · #2 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 06:23 PM

Becca, I plan to keep reducing my light times by half hour intervals each two weeks till October. By end of October I plan to have 10 hour days. It's OK to have longer days at out latitude then you experience when you look outside because orchids come from further south (for most part). Important thing is to have a changing day length cycle to create the conditions needed for those that respond to that for blooming. Hope this helps. Glad you'r getting good response, that's what it's all about.

Tindomul · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 12:10 PM

Interesting and fun question. Sometimes I wish we could automate seasonal conditions in our terrariums. Oh well.
I plan on increasing daylight hours during the winter for two reasons.
During the summer, my orchidarium experiences very cold nights due to Air COnditioning, with temps regularly reaching the upper 50's, and day time temps not surpassing 73 or 74
In the winter, due to steam heat, the temps in the tank can get well into the mid 80's and a low of 70 or so at night. Soooooo, my seasons are reverssed. I only go as low as 12 hours of day though, and will go only as high as 14 hours.

Ross · #4 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul1of9

Interesting and fun question. Sometimes I wish we could automate seasonal conditions in our terrariums. Oh well.
I plan on increasing daylight hours during the winter for two reasons.
During the summer, my orchidarium experiences very cold nights due to Air COnditioning, with temps regularly reaching the upper 50's, and day time temps not surpassing 73 or 74
In the winter, due to steam heat, the temps in the tank can get well into the mid 80's and a low of 70 or so at night. Soooooo, my seasons are reverssed. I only go as low as 12 hours of day though, and will go only as high as 14 hours.

That's an awsum idea Tindo. Very smart, taking advantage of your growing situation. And just think - you are probably mimicking the seasons where they occur naturally.

gmdiaz · #5 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 01:39 PM

Here's my plan:

Timer Setting by Season
Nov-Jan 16 hrs/day
Feb-June 18 hrs/day
July-Aug 16 hrs/day
Sept-Oct 12 hrs/day

I also have two light fixtures. . .one is set for the timer setting by season, and the other one comes off and on twice a day, just to mix it up!

I am really surprised that there ISN'T an automated timer that will automatically mimics the seasonal light changes. . .at least in a simplified, general way. Sheesh!

Tindo, that's a great idea! I guess you have to wear a sweater in the office during the summer? lol

Becca · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 02:09 PM

There is a timer that is supposed to mimic seasonal changes. It came with my orchidarium, but I couldn't get it to cooperate for me. It has settings to turn on at night and off in the morning, which is opposite of what I need. I tried calling the place I got it from but I could never get through. Perhaps I will try again. I ended up buying a $6 dollar timer and it has been much less of a head ache. I don't mind manual changing it.

Ross · #7 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 04:28 PM

Was there supposed to be a link?

gmdiaz · #8 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 05:05 PM

RPfieffer, is this the timer you've got? Here's a link. Looks just like one that I have but mine just has little pins that you set the on time and off time.

I've seen a sort of seasonal timer on one of the "intelligent lamps". . .which is clearly to small to do any of us much good. Here's a link.

I don't want one that JUST comes on and off during the day. . .I would like for one to adjust for the seasons, the maximum day length. It's not a big deal to do it manually but I really do love automation, when possible.

I'lll go dig around in home automation and see if I see anything. . .

Becca · #9 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 05:17 PM

That is where I bought my set up from that included the timer.....and now that I looked at that page again....I wonder if the fogger timer is what I was trying to use for the lights and the light timer for the fogger...lol. Anyways....the $16.00 timer on that web page is operating the lights on my plant stand and then I bought another similar timer to operate the lights in my orchidarium. The fogger timer on that web page that is $39.00 is what I was originally trying to use with my lights in the orchidarium. I can't think of the brand name and it has been put away from the last couple of months. But it had a feature where it would recognize day light savings (before Bush changed it) and it had a feature to set for seasonal changes where it would decrease light ours by 15 minute increments. But like I said before...that feature seemed to only want to turn on at night and off during the day. There must be another product similar out on the market. That timer still wouldn't work for the fogger since I would need the fogger on during the day and not at night. Let me know if you find one!

Ross · #10 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

That is where I bought my set up from that included the timer.....and now that I looked at that page again....I wonder if the fogger timer is what I was trying to use for the lights and the light timer for the fogger...lol. Anyways....the $16.00 timer on that web page is operating the lights on my plant stand and then I bought another similar timer to operate the lights in my orchidarium. The fogger timer on that web page that is $39.00 is what I was originally trying to use with my lights in the orchidarium. I can't think of the brand name and it has been put away from the last couple of months. But it had a feature where it would recognize day light savings (before Bush changed it) and it had a feature to set for seasonal changes where it would decrease light ours by 15 minute increments. But like I said before...that feature seemed to only want to turn on at night and off during the day. There must be another product similar out on the market. That timer still wouldn't work for the fogger since I would need the fogger on during the day and not at night. Let me know if you find one!

Wow! what a post! Do you think it might be reversed

Lights are really pretty simple - they come on - they go off. So if yours isn't that simple, somethings wrong. Foggers (or misters) are a different matter. Mine are on an interval timer that comes on for approx 5 seconds every 4 hours.