The Orchid Garden

Office Orchids?

Question:

I remember bringing my first orchid to the office where I used to work. I had finally moved to one with a window and even though it was a tiny one, it gave the plant enough light to sustain growth and even bloom. Just having an orchid plant in my office did so much to lighten up an otherwise dreary atmosphere. Blooming or not, it gave my co-workers and me something to share and it renewed my awe of orchids as I watched my friends’ eyes light up when they got to see their first orchid flower open. Whether you grow at home and bring in plants ready to burst in bloom or set up shop there at work, there is nothing I can think of to make work a more welcome and enjoyable place to be… Well, almost nothing… Good luck whatever you decide to do. Barbara – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are there any orchid varieties that would do well and bloom in an office environment?  Temperature controlled (though it might get warm over the weekends), some natural light from windows and skylights, but mostly flourescent lighting, less frequent watering (the lunchroom is a few hundred feet away), etc. Thanks for any suggestions, JOhn. — ______ / | "The Pledge of Allegiance says ‘..with liberty and justice for all’.  / __What part of ‘all’ don’t you understand?" –Rep. Pat Schroeder (D) CO__ /

Response:

The alternative is to grow mainly at home, and bring in the plants when they bloom.  Cheating?  Sure!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You can grow under a mini-hid light (get the MH kind as the light is more pleasant for your office) such as those in the 100W-250W category made by Hydrofarm and Sunlight Supply. I’d start by checking a place lice http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/ or http://www.igcusa.com/ and calling them up to check your needs. Also, don’t forget pebble trays to help with humidity. RJ

Response:

I have been growing orchids in my office for a couple of years now, but I am lucky enough to have an East window so that they get some morning sun.  In my old office, I was able to bloom a dendrob, a paph, oncids, etc. We moved to a new building in June, so I am trying to adjust to the new environment.  One problem I have had in the new office is with overly quick drying.  I just put some air deflectors on the supply register so that it does not blow directly on the plants, so hopefully that will help.  They have plenty of light, still decent air movement. The one climate characteristic that I cannot control is temperature, which tends to be controlled within a very narrow band.  I have my orchids close to the window, so hopefully they will heat more during the day and cool more at night than the general inside air temp, which will give them enough diurnal temp difference to support gas exchange and simulate a reasonable outdoor environment. I have my orchids on humidity trays, but not pebbles (which I find to be mold breeders).  I use the tops off plastic storage containers to hold the water and plastic grids (sold as light diffusers for large fluorescent ights) to support the plants above the water.  These hold a gallon of water each and hopefully will provide some decent humidity, even when I travel for a week at a time. At any rate, don’t be scared off.  It can be done if your office is right. Good luck, Buzz

Response:

Are there any orchid varieties that would do well and bloom in an office environment?  Temperature controlled (though it might get warm over the weekends), some natural light from windows and skylights, but mostly flourescent lighting, less frequent watering (the lunchroom is a few hundred feet away), etc.

I grow all my orchids at the office now, except for a few very small ones which live over the kitchen sink. However, mine live on windowsills. We have that energy-saving film on the windows which has the felicitous effect of preventing leaf burns. I water them Mondays and Fridays. Everything grows like a weed. I limit myself to phals and various cattleya alliance hybrids and species. C. Wingate

Response:

You can grow under a mini-hid light (get the MH kind as the light is more pleasant for your office) such as those in the 100W-250W category made by Hydrofarm and Sunlight Supply. I’d start by checking a place lice http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/ or http://www.igcusa.com/ and calling them up to check your needs. Also, don’t forget pebble trays to help with humidity. RJ

Response:

I think you would have better luck growing the plants elsewhere, and then bringing them into the office to display when they’re in bloom. — Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are there any orchid varieties that would do well and bloom in an office environment?  Temperature controlled (though it might get warm over the weekends), some natural light from windows and skylights, but mostly flourescent lighting, less frequent watering (the lunchroom is a few hundred feet away), etc. Thanks for any suggestions, JOhn. — ______ / | "The Pledge of Allegiance says ‘..with liberty and justice for all’.  / __What part of ‘all’ don’t you understand?" –Rep. Pat Schroeder (D) CO__

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Response:

Phalaenopsis are probably the best choice, but you’ll have to realize that standard 40W fluorescents – even 4 or 8 of them – at a distance of 5′-6′ are providing the plant with very little light.  I hope that wind is bright! — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are there any orchid varieties that would do well and bloom in an office environment?  Temperature controlled (though it might get warm over the weekends), some natural light from windows and skylights, but mostly flourescent lighting, less frequent watering (the lunchroom is a few hundred feet away), etc. Thanks for any suggestions, JOhn. — ______ / | "The Pledge of Allegiance says ‘..with liberty and justice for all’.  / __What part of ‘all’ don’t you understand?" –Rep. Pat Schroeder (D) CO__

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Response:

I’ve heard that Phalaenopsis do well in offices, as long as they are out of draughts (drafts?? Isn’t that what the Selective Service does, and the other is what an air current is?? Or am I mixing up my American and my English again??) But I think just about any of the standards would do well in an office, Phals, paphs, and oncids, even a few of the phal type dendrobiums. But since phals stay in bloom for so long I’d go with phals. Come to think of it a friend of mine runs a plant rental business (like placing plants in big office buildings, taking care of them, and taking them away when they start doing poorly) Anyway, he only places Phals. Maybe a cymbidium or two in large beds. And come to think about it I remember seeing only phals and phal type dendrobiums inside some of the bars in Las Vegas (before losing eyesight, that is). Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. K Barrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are there any orchid varieties that would do well and bloom in an office environment?  Temperature controlled (though it might get warm over the weekends), some natural light from windows and skylights, but mostly flourescent lighting, less frequent watering (the lunchroom is a few hundred feet away), etc. Thanks for any suggestions, JOhn. — | "The Pledge of Allegiance says ‘..with liberty and justice for all’.      / __What part of ‘all’ don’t you understand?" –Rep. Pat Schroeder (D) CO__ /

Response:

Are there any orchid varieties that would do well and bloom in an office environment?  Temperature controlled (though it might get warm over the weekends), some natural light from windows and skylights, but mostly flourescent lighting, less frequent watering (the lunchroom is a few hundred feet away), etc. Thanks for any suggestions, JOhn. — | "The Pledge of Allegiance says ‘..with liberty and justice for all’.      / __What part of ‘all’ don’t you understand?" –Rep. Pat Schroeder (D) CO__ /

Response:

Filed under: Cymbidium Orchids

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