Question
hi Jim,

I've been running across your excellent replies in a couple of places on line and I need help with a question.

I am keeping my orchids under T5 lights.  I water once or twice a week using DynaGrow and a bit of superthrive.  

I am trying to set up a species schedule of which fertilizer to use when.  I am keeping paphs, catts, dendrobium, chinese cyms, oncidiums, and a brass. or two.

Also, how far above the leaf surface of each variety should I keep the lights?   I have 3 lights so I can adjust according to variety/need.

thanks so much for your help!

marcella

Answer
Hi Marcella,

You have quite a varied collection of orchids with some requiring bright shade and others needing almost full sunlight.  I would suggest the following: place the lights about 12 inches above the cyms, catts, oncidiums, brassia and dendrobium; place the paphs about 18 inches below.  By the way, the distance is from the tops of the leafs to the light tubes.  

Hope this helps.  

I apologize for taking so long to respond to your question but my 91-year old mother had been in the hospital, thankfully she is slowly getting better.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.