The Orchid Garden

Office Orchids

Question:

Hi- I just was forced to move from a nice shared office into a private cubicle, and I wanted to customize that sterile environment as much as possible. I bought a gro/sho flourescent tube and a small orchid.  I work in a library that is temperature controlled and pretty dry, so that could be a problem. The cube has a west facing opening onto a large window, so there is diffuse sunlight in the day. Have any of you increased humidity in a small area of such a controlled environment?  I was thinking of getting one of those coffee warmers and keeping on with a cup full of water on it all the time.  Do any of you know if orchids have any special photoperiod requirements?  Will the gro lite on all night and diffuse daylight freak it out?  Help! My friends tell me that I have a sense for adventure, so I should enjoy this. thanks -marc Software Engineer                                                        // // Innovative Software Systems Group             phone:  415.476.9541       UCSF Center for Knowledge Management                                     // // 530 Parnassus SF, CA 94134-0840               fax:    415.476.4653       P.S. I am not a regular reader of rec.gardens, so an e-mail response or e-mail telling me of a posting would be appreciated. — // Innovative Software Systems Group             phone:  415.476.9541       UCSF Center for Knowledge Management                                     // // 530 Parnassus SF, CA 94134-0840               fax:    415.476.4653      

Response:

: I just was forced to move from a nice shared office into a private cubicle, : and I wanted to customize that sterile environment as much as possible. I : bought a gro/sho flourescent tube and a small orchid.  I work in a library : that is temperature controlled and pretty dry, so that could be a problem. : Have any of you increased humidity in a small area of such a controlled : environment? This is info from a magazine article from 1984. I have tried to pull the information from it that best speaks to your cubicle.      "Nothing here is an ironclad rule. Techniques with lights are as varied as greenhouse techniques and seldom can you get two growers to agree on anything. Successful orchid culture requires attention to 3 basics – light, air movement and humidity. An orchid dealer is quoted as saying. ‘The only things that kill orchids are excesses of anything and experts advice.’"      LIGHT- use wide-spectrum grow light.        AIRMOVEMENT- try a small computer "Muffin fan" 4-6 in. in size. provides constant air motion that helps prevent rot diseases and stagnation.        HUMIDITY- keep the pot on a saucer of gravel kept constantly wet.   mist once a day.  Maintain average humidity level of 55%. A child’s cold-water humidifier ran 10 hours a day in winter/3-6 hours a day in summer. place humidifier in front of fan to provide plants with moisture-laden breeze.      TEMP.- many orchids require a 10 to 15 degree drop from day to night temps. the day and night temp. differences will determine if you can grow cool, intermediate, or warm growing orchids. so monitor the temp fluctuations with lights going on and off via timers to determine your cubicles temp. The article lists the following as orchids to grow under lights: Paphiopedilum spp. and hybrids Phalaenopsis hybrids Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi Epidendrum spp. and hybrids cattleya luteola Dendrobium jenkinsii GOOD LUCK.  Also try calling your local orchid society. will

Response:

Hi- I just was forced to move from a nice shared office into a private cubicle, and I wanted to customize that sterile environment as much as possible. I bought a gro/sho flourescent tube and a small orchid.  I work in a library that is temperature controlled and pretty dry, so that could be a problem. The cube has a west facing opening onto a large window, so there is diffuse sunlight in the day. Have any of you increased humidity in a small area of such a controlled environment?  I was thinking of getting one of those coffee warmers and keeping on with a cup full of water on it all the time.

The classic solution is the pebble-filled tray: some kind of dish or tray, with a layer of pebbles. You place your plant atop the pebbles, fill the tray with water so that it doesn’t touch the plant pot. The evaporation from the tray raises the humidity in the plant’s immediate air space. Though  the effectiveness of this method might depend on the air movement in your space. I know my warren of cubicles gets gusty sometimes…I decorated the top edges of mine with a variety of brilliant pinwheels, and some hanging Japanese fabric fish "wind socks", and they do occasionally spin and twirl. (Also, we have the novelty "christmas lights" surrounding the entire exterior: carrots, cows, fish, chili peppers, etc.) Do any of you know if orchids have any special photoperiod requirements?  Will the gro lite on all night and diffuse daylight freak it out?  Help!

I recommend a timer. The simplest type will do, you can probably get one for $10 or less. Plug the timer into the wall, the plant light into the timer, set the timer for, oh, 14 hours of light or so. Bet the timer costs less than an orchid. And, also to help raise the humidity, the more the merrier: plants exude water vapor, and if you have several plants in a grouping, they create a little mini-climate.

Response:

Filed under: Dendrobium Orchid

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