Have now finally gotten around to taking pics and posting to share with everyone. I love seeing how others grow indoors, and perhaps I can share my methods and ideas to help anyone else. I grow under a 400 watt MH with a Sunmaster 'warm deluxe' bulb, and a small 4 bulb T5 set-up in a Hydro-Hut Deluxe. I've been growing under lights now for 5-6 years, slowly tweaking my methods and adapting as i've learned. I now maintain a very productive and enjoyable means of growing orchids in my garage, under HID lighting. The T5's others have reffered to are simply awesome! I have recently added this to my MH and have had great results. The Hydro-Hut Deluxe is an 8' X 4' indoor greenhouse, much like a tent or an orchidarium of sorts. It is super heavy duty and am sure will last for years. It has zippers all the way around and this makes it accesible from any side. This is condusive for watering, staking spikes, etc. I grow on an 8' X 4' ebb&flo table which drains via a plug and tube which runs outside. Top-left, which you can't really see is a port which connects to my exhaust system. I use a 6" Super H.O. Original Can-Fan, which circulates air and exhausts outside the house. The fan is mounted above my grow room, which stands about 9' high. During the spring/summer/fall I use a large swamp/evaporative cooler to serve as my fan, humidifier and cooler(when it's too hot). Here in winter I use a simple oscilating fan and a small, electric heater. The heater does not run much here in Charlotte...as we don't have much of a winter. I currently grow around 120-150 orchids, primarily phals and compact plants. I usually have about 100 in the growroom at a time, others are in the house flowering, at work, neighbors or friends. I like to circulate my plants around while they are blooming. However, several of my phals don't ever leave the growroom! If anyone has any input, questions or suggestions...i'd love to hear it. I'm done rambling now! Cheers!

Excellent set up Mike

Where did you find the 4' x 8' ebb & flo table? That would solve a multitude of problems that I have in one growing area. I practically have to stand on my head to make sure I have all my phals throughly watered in one small room in my orchid house .

_________________
Jim Clever
"When one tugs at a single thing in nature,
he finds it attached to the rest of the world."
-----John Muir

I hear you! Thanks Stoneledge. When I saw the table, I thought...holy cow that is exactly what i've been trying to create. Had to have it! You should be able to find them at a good hydroponics shop or online. I purchased mine at Asheville Agriculture, which is now called Fifth Season Gardening. Try http://www.ashevilleag.com. Guess one could be shipped, but I brought mine home myself. They make them in many sizes, 4' X 4' as well. Cheers.

Oh my goodness..that is a sweet setup. I saw Hydro-Hut Deluxe is an 8' X 4' - it seemed to be great in the sense that it hides bright light when growing indoor. However, I would have to unzip to see the plants. But that should work well, considering that I wont have to worry about water drip on carpet. I did put a tent over a flower cart, but water condensation from high humidity was a concern over carpet.

How does ebb& flo work? It sounds like hydroponic. Are you just using it as a table to drain the water?

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Peter Lin, Admin
Big Leaf Orchids

Thank you Peter. I love how I grow and it works very well for me. It's been fun learning over the past few years how to grow well, and clean indoors under lights. Hopefully before too long, I will have a nice greenhouse...but for now indoors is for me. The ebb&flo is primarily my bench and drains for me with misting, watering, etc. The far end is raised slightly which drains down through a plug and tubing. I have at times "flooded" my table to see how well that could water for me...but not overall well. Too many small pots want to float up. It works great for a quick hosedown and to add humidity if needed, or to get bottom and wandering roots wet. Also serves as a great means of air circulation under pots. The Hut is very water proof, very durable. The bottom has about an 8" lip for example, much like a baby pool or something. The way the Hut is put together, it is condusive for hanging baskets. I could have more, but it's easy to over clutter with orchids. Cheers.

WOAH!

Mike - I was browing website of Fifth Season Gardening and I see their hydro-hut 4 x 4, but not 8 x 4. Is it special order? I like that you can use it as a big table and water in place.
Again, thanks for posting pictures.

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Peter Lin, Admin
Big Leaf Orchids

Peter, do a google search and see if you can find the Hydro-Hut Deluxe. My Hut actually came from a similar shop in San Fransisco. They had the best price I could find and offered free shipping. I have found them on Ebay and other stores online. Cannot remember what I payed though. The 4' X 4' is easier to find. But it is 'Deluxe' model. Perhaps I can post some close-ups this week of plants. Some others before have questioned my lights as being too much for phals. Funny, as I have never burned one and have great vegetative growth and spikes galore right now. Few novelty seem to be spiking a bit early, but our weather temps have been all over the place...up and down. Cheers...

Peter, maybe you were asking about the ebb&flo tray/table...not the hut. They should have an 8' X 4' ebb&flo tray...I know I saw it there last night. You can call them, they are super nice and helpful staff. Ask for Joey if you do, he grows orchids under lights as well and is very good. They are Very fond of the single T5 strips you have reffered to.

Yes, I would appreciate more detail pictures. It never occur to be to look into this because most hydroponic setup is fairly complex. All I need is a large tray with drainage. I do not need the add'l container (under the table) that is used to grow plants hydroponically.

It seems like you have this setup in your garage ? I am going to do some measurement to see if I can fit one of this indoor. If I use this in a garage setup, I am going to have a problem in the summer time. When a car is parked in the garage, it gets too hot.

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Peter Lin, Admin
Big Leaf Orchids

Yes, I cannot park a car in my garage. It's a single garage. I have a brand new home in the suburbs of Charlotte, but this was my only good means of continuing my hobby. I refuse to give it up...we came here so that my wife could get her PhD....I had to make some adjustments...but I told her from the get go that my orchid hobby will only get stronger. In the house would have taken up one of our guest bedrooms. She did not want this. The garage still gets quite hot in the peak of summer, my #1 problem is beating the heat. But, it has pushed plants to grow at a high level though with high temps, humidity and air circulation.

Peter,
I just found this seller of the ebb & flo tables who is located in New Orleans, closer to you. It appears that they just sell the 4' x 8' trays but, they do not have a photo of them, just a price list. You might want to check them out.

http://www.urbanorganics.biz/hydro/tables.htm

Mike,
More photos please .
I have been using the 2' x 4' fiberglass, Floracart trays as a sort of "ebb & flo" tray but they are not deep enough . I never thought to look at hydroponic websites to find larger trays. Thanks .

_________________
Jim Clever
"When one tugs at a single thing in nature,
he finds it attached to the rest of the world."
-----John Muir

Mike, that is a very nice and unusual indoor setup. Looks like your plants are all healthy and growing great!

Hey Mike,

Love the set up. I would like visit you and see that one.

I live in Garner.

Rob

I am amazed how many plants you can get in there. It is nice to have a larger space that you can get to both sides from. Good going. Does it ever get cold while leaving that end open? Is it easily accessed from all sides?