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(Very) low light plants?

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Boytjie, Sep 5, 2013.

  1. Boytjie

    Boytjie Out hiking Supporting Member

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    My growing case is up and running, but the area at the bottom back underneath the shelf, approximately a foot high, gets pretty low light. Humidity is a fairly consistent 70% or higher, and a fan mounted under the shelf ensures that air circulation is not an issue. Any suggestions for minis I might be able to grow back there to utilize the space? Thanks!
    -Stephen
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2013
  2. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Stephen, I don't grow in a case but it sounds like a good spot for Lepanthes species such as L. calodictyon and some of the shadier growing Trisetella. Please let us know what you end up putting there.
     
  3. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    You might look into some of the lower elevation kefersteinias (lindneri, mystacina, deflexipetala). As long as the water quality is good, they are very forgiving about light and even air movement.
     
  4. Boytjie

    Boytjie Out hiking Supporting Member

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    Thanks, Marni. Looking at your Kefersteinia photos on here, I'm now inspired to try this genus. Now, where to find them is the challenge. Andy has a few. Will call to see if he has any of the ones you mentioned. -Stephen
     
  5. ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    Lot of good bulbo's will fit under there :)
     
  6. Boytjie

    Boytjie Out hiking Supporting Member

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    Hm, I was wondering about Bulbos, but assumed it would be too dark for most of them. Any particular species you might recommend for quite low light?
     
  7. Boytjie

    Boytjie Out hiking Supporting Member

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    Great lecture last night at our local orchid society by Andrea Niessen of Orquideas de Valle, who of course brought lots of plants with her to sell. I got three tiny Lepanthes species: calodycton, felis, and elegantula, and also Kefersteinia parvilabris. Looking forward to seeing how they do in the new case. Thanks all for the input!
     
  8. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Stephen, any follow-up report for the low-light plants?
     
  9. Boytjie

    Boytjie Out hiking Supporting Member

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    Mixed results. Lepanthes elegantula produces lots of leaves but doesn't bloom; Lepanthes calodycton never has more than two leaves at a time, but it has actually bloomed for me. Lepanthes felix didn't survive a month. Both Kefersteinia species (lojae and parvilabris) are doing well with healthy new growths, and the parvilabris produced a single bloom this week. Two Bulbo species I got from Zach don't seem to be doing much of anything. They don't grow, but they don't die - so I'm satisfied with that for now.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2013
  10. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Stephen, don't give up on the L elegantula. Once the start blooming they can go on for quite awhile. Then nothing for some time. L felix likes rather cool temperatures, so that might have been a problem. Even in the best of circumstances felix can be difficult.
     
  11. ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    What's the temp of your tank? Those Bulbo's are a little slow growing when the temps are on the cooler side. I hope everything else is doing well!
     
  12. Boytjie

    Boytjie Out hiking Supporting Member

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    Winter temps are low 70s during the day, ten degree drop at night. Humidity is a fairly constant 70%, up to 90% when the humidifier cycles on. You're probably right and the Bulbos are maybe just slow because it's winter.
     
  13. ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    The sarawakense should like those temps especially the drop at night. The other will do better a bit warmer!