Orchidariums

Experience the joy of growing orchids in your home or office.
Light, temperature, humidity, air movement - together with water: these are the environmental elements that grow orchids in the wild...and in the Orchidarium, a wardian case for your home or office.

Given that each plant group has its own preferred, fluctuating environment, the Orchidarium allows you to monitor and regulate each of these elements easily.

Light
When growing under fluorescent light you will learn that experience, not what you find in books, is your best guide to appropriate brightness for a particular plant. Keep in mind that most recommended foot candle numbers in publications refer to peak sunlight periods, i.e., the max of varying natural light in a day, and are really recommendations for greenhouse growing. Because the foot candles of artificial lighting are constant, the amount needed from dawn to dusk is much less than the peak sunlight figures indicate. It can mean as much as 2,000 foot candles less. You will burn your plants if you use the foot candles recommended for greenhouses, guaranteed. The plant will tell you if it has too much light: stunted growth, lots of pigmentation in leaves, and stiff, hard leaves are all warning signs. Lighting in the Orchidarium is controlled by the lamp fixture you choose, by where you place the individual plant in relation to the lamp, and by the addition of strategically placed pieces of shading material (See Accessories)under the fixture.

Among the Orchidarium models are options for single-, double-, or triple-lamp fixtures that offer varying ranges of light within the units. Measured in foot candles this fluorescent lighting may provide low, medium or high overall light.

Foot candle output readings correspond to (left to right): Maui and Bimini.

The low light of 350 foot candles is a good starting point for most seedlings, most masdevallias, phalaenopses and paphiopedilums, pleurothallids, and aerangis. Medium light (600-800 f.c.) will serve most cattleyas, some laelias and dendrobiums, ascocentrums equitant oncidiums and sophronities. The high light of 900-plus f.c. is appropriate for rupicolous laelias, some ecyclias, some dendrobiums and vandas.

In general, any range of fluorescent lighting calls for the following seasonal adaptations in length of daylight: Spring, 13-14 hours; Summer, 16 hours; Fall, 13 hours; and Winter, 11.5 hours. Because many orchids are photo-periodic, they need increased or decreased light to send out flower spikes (Some species flower in response to changing temperature).

The lamps themselves each have a life expectancy of about two years. Each fixture is UL-registered. The efficiency of the reflector, rated at 95% reflectivity, ensures maximum effectiveness . Its angles are computer-calculated to augment the light down the side walls of the shell. Plants that love high light do very well on slabs and drip-shelves placed close to the light fixture.

Temperature
The temperature in the Orchidarium derives from the ambient temperature of the room in which it is placed and the heat generated by both the lamp and the ballast of its light fixture. A warm ballast offers a minimum of 5 degrees and a maximum of 15 degrees over ambient temperature (with triple lamp). Appropriate for warm growers, it is needed in cool homes in winter. A cool ballast, 0-4 degrees over ambient temperature (with double lamp), is appropriate for cool growers. We recommend a maximum summer temperature for warm to intermediate plants of 85 degrees. For cool to intermediate plants a summer high of 75 degrees. You may need an air-conditioned room or a cool basement to maintain these maximum guidelines.

When the lights are off at night, the temperature slowly drops to the ambient temperature. By adjusting the vent slots, you regulate the diurnal temperature range for your selected plants' best performance. In addition, roof, ceiling and door venting can capture or release the heat from the light fixtures as needed. The digital temperature/hygrometer sensor allows you to monitor day and night temperatures, in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Humidity and Air Movement
Water held in the bottom tray and sponge (See Accessories) maintains humid conditions. Also, the more plants you have and the more you mist and water them, the highter the humidity will go (we open and close our doors at 1/8 inch increments to regulate humidity). You can further regulate humidity by venting the air through the roof and ceiling openings of the case. The temperature/hygrometer sensor reads the humidity. Mounted inside the case, it displays the numbers clearly. Because the sensor records high and low readings, you may remove it and review those highs and lows that have occurred since your last check/reset.

You can expect noticeably increased root growth and vigor within days of placing your plant in the Orchdarium. We maintain between 60% and 80% humidity in most of our units.

The fan creates the continuous air movement your plants need. From its position on the ceiling, it circulates 50 CFM in the Fiji, and 75 CFM in the Maui and the Borneo (the grating of the shelves allows for total circulation). The fan is UL-registered and grounded for your protection. With a life expectancy of 6.7 years of continual use, ball-bearing construction and an attached foliage guard, this is a quality cooling fan. Removing the foliage guard will further increase air movement.

NOTES FOR NEW GROWERS
Always use distilled, rain, or reverse-osmosis water. Well water must be analyzed. Softened water will kill your orchids quickly and chlorinated city water may kill some orchids slowly.

Featured here are three different models: The Bimini, The Maui, and The Grand Cayman

The Bimini
The Bimini is ideal for varied collections, accomodating your taller growing orchids with plenty of space for minis, compots and slabs.

Optimum lighting conditions for your plant population. Rear section constructed of twin-walled polypropylene helps reflect light from the 3M silverlux reflector while protecting your plants from direct, harsh sunlight. The Bimini provides a beautiful backdrop for your plants with the perfectly clear acrylic front section to allow an open view of your collection.

Rear section twin-walled polypropylene is lightweight, rugged, scratch resistant; resists water, mildew and algae, and is unaffected by most chemicals. Slots and J-bars on three sides allow for hanging slabs and optional drip guard shelves and slab hanger grids.

Includes: Two large shelves, one large shelf with acrylic drip guard, one small shelf, two shelf stands, muffin fan and temperature/hygrometer sensor with memory. Assembly instructions included.

Dimensions: 24.5 inches wide x 21 inches deep x 37 inches high.

Double-Lamp Unit
Model Bi. 402
Includes lighting hood with two GE 39-watt biaxial fluorescent lamps. $850
Drop Ship by UPS add $70.00

Triple-Lamp Unit
Model Bi. 403
Includes lighting hood with three GE 39-watt biaxial fluorescent lamps. $895
Drop Ship by UPS add $70.00

The Maui
Glass-like acrylic case. Stunning presentation. Great for taller plants, longer rooted slabs and longer stem plants. Designed to show off plants in low humidity environments of home or office. From all four sides it offers a different view of your collection as it thrives. The lighting from the hood draws attention to the case and creates quite a bright focal point in a room...add the color and fragrance of orchids in bloom and it is irresistible. J-bar on the three sides for hanging slabs and optional 3 inch x 24 inch seeding shelf with drip guard.

Includes: Two large shelves, one small shelf, two shelf stands, muffin fan and temperature/hygrometer sensor with memory. Assembly instructions included.

Dimensions: 24.5 inches wide x 21 inches deep x 32.5 inches high.

Double-Lamp Unit
Model Ma. 202
Includes lighting hood with two 39-watt biaxial fluorescent lamps. $750
Drop Ship by UPS add $70.00

Triple-Lamp Unit
Model Ma. 203
Includes lighting hood with three 39-watt biaxial fluorescent lamps. $775
Drop Ship by UPS add $70.00

The Grand Cayman
One of our newest Orchidarium designs, the Grand Cayman is ideal for larger varied collections, accommodating your taller growing orchids with plenty of space for minis, compots, and slabs.

This growing case offers optimum lighting conditions for larger plant populations, by using up to six 21", 4800 lumen, high intensity, biaxial lamps. It is constructed of tempered glass and acrylic panels framed by an attractive brushed stainless steel base and fascia. Heavy gauge plastic liners fit into the bottom tray for easy cleaning. A versatile shelving package comes with the unit, including five white egg-crate reinforced shelves, capable of many different configurations.

The case maintains an excellent high-humidity environment (55-98%) for all tropicals. For slab-mounted plants, a large green hanging screen similar to hardware-cloth is provided. The Grand Cayman will accommodate large Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Encyclias, Epidendrums, tall-spiked Paphs and other species that need high growing spaces. In an air-conditioned room, the case will allow a dazzling array of Pleurothallids and cool growing species. Once the Grand Cayman is yours, the only limitation to great orchid growing is your imagination.

Includes: A large mid-level shelf and two smaller shelves with acrylic drip guard, slab hanging grid for three sides, two quite circulation fans and temperature/hygrometer sensor with memory, timer, power strip, and dust cover. Assembly instructions included.

Dimensions: 48 inches wide x 24 inches deep x 42 inches high.

Four-Lamp Unit
Model GC. 502
Includes lighting hood with four 55-watt biaxial fluorescent lamps. $2395
Drop Ship by UPS add $185.00