Getgoing, I hear you. I actually feel the same way. I don't like to resort to the lights not just for the cost, but for the feeling that it's not winter just yet. Then I have given in.

I use the same cheap florescents like you but when I turn on as many as 10 at once and a few other grow lights, whoo!

Oh, Mike you bring back some fond memories. How orchid growing has chanced these last 10 yrs. we since moving to Florida. In S. Florida I have all the light I could ever want and not want. It is too strong, humidity too high and I keep moving plants around to try to cool them off.

Since I was born and raised in NYC my orchids were all outside from Spring through early Fall. Around this time they all started coming in but, depending on the night temps, some would come in at night and back outside during the day. I actually used a rolling cart to move them in and out. Crazy, but I'd do anything for those flowers!

When they came in for good, I had tables set up to line them up. The high light orchids closest to the windows (SW) and layered they in rows from the high to lower light orchids.

I set up octopus lamps using just CFL's and put them on timers. They came on before the sun set and ran for about 4 more hours. As the days got shorter, I ran them for about 12 hours.

My living room, which was always cool because the windows were single pane and drafty, I would put the Cattleya's close to the glass and Oncidiums, then Phals in rows going further from the windows. Many warmer orchids were set up in a small room in the house which could be closed off from the drafty house. I had CFL's going for 18 hrs in there as there was only one window which was North.

It worked. Never used LED's but the CFL's worked. I discovered I could use those octopus floor lamps to train the Phal spikes to get perfect placement of the flowers. I bloomed Phals which looked professional.

I'm sure the LED's are probably better lights, but I bloomed Cattleya's, Oncidiums, Phals and even Masdevallias, and other cool orchids.

I liked the octopus lamps because you had 5 bulbs you could point in different directions and they were floor lamps so didn't need to be hung. Plus they were cheap!

I really do miss those days.!

Jane

Jane. I'll bet you miss those days, at least in some way. Ha. I never thought that having to grow them in Florida would have it's own demons. I guess there is no 'perfect ' place to grow them except in their own environment , where they naturally come from.

I like those octopus lamps. I have two, and it never occured to me to even use them thay way. I have the lights you speak of and in fact replaced them with l.e.d.ones. I might give that a shot about one of my tables. I just thought that the CFL's used more electricity.

Thanks for your input as it is always appreciated. It actually helped a lot )

Good to hear you miss home sometimes. I wonder if you ever would like to move back? I know many that have moved there and then moved back home after a few years.

Must be nice to plop orchids in any tree you want and leave it alone. Ha.

Mike. .

Jane, funny you mention the octopus lamps. I have one of those and I use it exclusively for my plants for fall/winter evening lighting. I do have led grow bulbs in them though. The long necks are convenient to focus lights where one needs to direct them. The strip LED mixtures are more suitable for higher shelves the octopus lights can't get to. I do have a timer and the LED strips have timer built in but I only use the timer when I am away for extended time.

Jane, welcome back. You were missed. Good to have another wise and experienced voice back.

Thanks, Bill!

I couldn't resist responding to Mike. It brought back memories of growing orchids in the frigid NE for over 20 yrs.

It wasn't just the shorter daylight hours, but the cloudy, grey skies and trying to flower orchids in NY in the old days when LED's were not around. I had tried regular light bulbs but they gave off too much heat and you couldn't put them close to the plants.

My octopus lamps worked. I had so many. When Target or Home Depot had a sale, I'd run in and buy some more. But, I did have a large house with floor to ceiling windows so it was a bright room when the sun was out.

Mike, I'm really tossing the idea of moving back. I'm so unhappy now with a number of personal issues, I realize I'd like to be closer to family and old friends. But I'm not doing anything in haste. I'll give it a year or so.

Yes, Florida is like a orchid growers dream. So easy to grow them here. Heat, humidity (did I mention I used to run humidifiers blowing steam on my orchids in NY??). Humidity is off the wall here. However, because of such constant humidity, you run into fungal issues. That is something I'm not good with. Also, the water is not good. I've had RO tank installed and put numerous rain barrels on every gutter.

I think no matter where you live and grow, you need to understand what you are growing and try to do the best you can to adapt your environment to meet the challenge. There are certain plants, both dirt plants and orchids which don't do well in your environment. So rather than drive yourself crazy, you find the plants you can work with.

The challenge is fun.

Jane

Mike,

Mine go directly in under lights. Got to 45 here this morning, I moved my Vandaceous types and a phal in yesterday afternoon directly under lights in what will probably be their wintering location. Mid-40's are our lows for next 7 days, so I'll leave most of the other stuff out for another week, fall has finally arrived :)

Bob

Bob, what ever you do, you do it just right. I have seen how clean and bright your are and they relish your care. By the way, I have been meaning to tell you that the Angracium you gave me years ago, finally died((. The greenhouse lost heat last winter and my digital remote temp stick did not notify me. I lost tons of plants that night when temps got below freezing. It was one of my favorite plants that flowered reliably and that had sentimental value.

.

Jane , you are right. NO matter where we live we have to make sure our orchids are happy to thrive. Even in Florida, ha. I am glad I bring back good memories for you my friend. It's good to know you have not forgotten your roots and all the things that mean something to you. I am like that too. I am so sorry you are going though things too. It stinks and you are right, it's always handled better surrounded by those that truly do love you and those you can trust. I wouldn't call it haste if it's family you need in desperate times. We are too old to suffer alone or more than we should. Should I say we are too young?

I am happy there are things that bring you some sense of normalcy and happiness such as plants and nice weather. I pray your health is ok. I'll keep you in my special prayer)

Mike, you are so kind. I'm sorry to be so late to respond to your lovely post. I haven't been online lately.

I miss dealing with winter in NY, yet life is much easier in Florida, at least with plants. I find the regular house plants I grew in NY live so happily in Florida without much care. Heat, sun and humidity seem to be the magic bullet. I brought so many of my 'house plants' with me and find it amazing how happy they are here. The growth is amazing with little care. I put most in the ground here and the growth rate amazes me.

The orchids are happy, happy. As a result I tend to get more and more and find that I have less time to take proper care of them. But, they seem to manage on their own without too much help from me. I'm here 10 yrs and still find it amazing.

But I do miss all those years growing in my past home. I miss the pleasure it brought me during the dark days of winter when I couldn't garden outside. It brought joy to me and I do miss those days.

Thank you again, Mike. I always enjoy reading your posts.

Jane

What kind of orchids? I would put anything other than low light orchids (phals, paphs, cool growers) under lights if your winters are dark and dreary. IF you have bright winters and a bright S facing window you should be fine without lights while overwintering.

Jane, no problem. You have been such a help and wonderful member here for years. You only deserve good ))

Eric, I figured this out I think . They are all doing awesome under lights since then)) I decided to turn them on before the sun comes up at 6 and then timer them off at about 9 when the sun is directly at them and then come back on at 3 out at 6 when the sun starts to leave all south facing windows. Seems to be making all my plants happy)

I used to have a ;bigger orchid collection, Cattleya, Miltonia, Onchidum, Cymbidiums, Phalaenopsis (Moth orchids), Dendrobiums, and Vanda. I think my favorites were the Moth orchids, Vandas and Cymbidiums. These days, I only have a few moth orchids. Years ago, there used to be an annual, international orchid exhibition in NYC with exhibitions, venders, and orchid fanatics from all over the earth. It was terrific and would go home with bags of orchids. The month orchids I currently have are in a basement window with western light. These orchids absolutely HATE direct sun, so they should be great under artificial. I do also use LED light banks in the basement for the more tropical palms.