Ask Me Anything | How I Grow Orchids Indoors in New York City - Blooming Cattleyas Under Grow Lights

[@nicoleallen3079]

Thank you so much for the info!!! It’s nice to see someone with an indoor setup. I have all my orchids inside for late fall, winter, and early spring. I just took them outside. But indoor growing is definitely a challenge when it comes to humidity!!!

[@NicoleDeanna]

Humidity is the biggest challenge indoors. We can get the light right, get a fan going, but it's so tough in the winter to keep consistent humidity coming! Sometimes it helps when I run the humidifier but close the door to the room, but I always struggle in winter too. Thanks so much for watching 💖

[@bettapalfish9057]

Thank you for this very enjoyable video. Sorry your neo is not doing well. I repotted my Neos in the plastic neofinetia pot in 5A grade Sphagnum Moss. I rapped the roots down lower enough to fit the pot leaving the axis not sitting on the moss. I water from the bottom. They dry a little faster but they are happier. I like the Neofinetia pot as the roots do not stick to the pot. Have a great Sunday.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you so much for watching! I'm going to monitor the neo closely and will move it if the leca doesn't work out long term. Thanks for sharing your setup ❤️

[@slowemd123]

Ive been following your channel and tried Hausermann based on your recommendation. Its hard to find orchids on Long Island. I love all seven that i got. Healthy and great prices. Thank you so much.

[@NicoleDeanna]

@@slowemd123 I'm so glad you liked them. It's very hard to find good nurseries here for orchids, so ordering is the way to go. I love sunset valley orchids as well as Carmela orchidsn🩷 happy growing!

[@shirleyholt898]

Very good video. Thanks for doing it. I guess the best way to grow orchids is to understand their growing needs. My orchids are grown indoors also. 🤗👏💕

[@NicoleDeanna]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! I completely agree with you ❤️

[@jamesgibbs7933]

Thanks for the info sharing. I live in the Sonoran Desert, and I grow my plants under regular LED shop lights rated at mid-day 5000 Lumen 45 Watt (4ft length with double light strips). Have bloomed vanda, cattleya, dendrobiums, as well as the less intensity requiring plants.

[@NicoleDeanna]

awesome! We can do so much indoors :)

[@fernandohernandezjr5696]

Found your channel through Dorian develops. I deal with Orchids at work. 💪🏾 if your into resale, order from China you will get the best retail prices. They take a while to ship but it’s worth it. 🙏🏾

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you so much for watching :)) I've seen some good Chinese vendors at the orchid shows, they have great prices for bulk orders and good variety!

[@hithanks1]

Great video! I loved it, and it was super informative! 🙌

[@NicoleDeanna]

I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks for watching Nick :))

[@wandashaw3551]

Hi Nicole, thank you for answering my question!!! I think viewer's asked some great questions. I hope you do another one of these types of As Me Anything in the future!!

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thanks so much Wanda! Im glad you liked the video and I'll look to do another one:))

[@aminasemeikina9737]

Thank so much for answers!!!🌸😊 it helps a lot 👍🌸

[@NicoleDeanna]

So glad! Thanks for watching :))

[@nattiesgarden]

Fun video, and I love the Q&A style! I sure hope your Neofinetia does well.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you so much ❣️ appreciate you watching Natalie!

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

As a general rule, blooming from a sheath is the norm with hybrids. Some species will bloom without a sheath (those from the Sophronitis group, most notably) and that trait may be passed on. Also plants with walkeriana and nobilior as a parent or grandparent may exhibit this trait. Two in my collection that bloom sheathless are C. Vickie Andrews and Rlc Elegant Walker, both as a result of walkeriana, but this makes them much more susceptible to bud blast. (side note, Vickie Andrews smells _amazing_ and is worth the trouble)

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you Michael! I have some hybrids that bloom without a sheath, but that's more rare, happens about 1 every 4 /5 times, and it does tend to be mini ones. Good point on Sophronitis tenancies being passed down. I never thought of that!

[@NicoleDeanna]

Need to check out that Vickie Andrews!

[@journalduneorchidee]

Hi Nicole! Very informative video. Love discovering how you grow your plants in NYC 😊

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you ❤️

[@Aviclex]

Thank you so much for sharing not just your knowledge , but guiding us to other orchid growers with relevant experiences! I have been growing my phals in semi hydro (pumice n leca) and after the initial root growth, they all seem to have stalled or declined. Do you see that in your other orchids in semi hydro? Also, I've changed my setup to moss and pumice after. Would like to do a self watering setup. Will it be too moist consistently due to the moss? Thank you so much once again!

[@NicoleDeanna]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! The only orchid I have that has stalled is one of my Neofinetia orchids, otherwise they generally adjust well once new roots come in. Be sure to flush your orchids regularly and make sure they are getting good light. I don't like to mix inorganic and organic in self watering because organic degrades quickly because of the always moist component. I hope this helps :)

[@Aviclex]

Thank you for your reply! I think we have similar climate with hot humid summer and cold dry winter but I keep my orchids in an ikea cabinet. Just wondering if your moss in self watering pot is constantly moist (except in winter)?

[@ildikokalman1781]

Thanks for the great info! ☺ 🌞

[@Chalito5]

I love the video!! :)

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thanks for watching ❤️🤗

[@Melissa-loves-orchids]

Great video as always!!

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you ♥️

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

Hi Nicole, great information and easy to follow, provided. Thanks for sharing. Have you ever had catasetum that you need to cut more than half of the bulb due to rot, and how did you treated the tiny growing bud? That is what has left from my cycnoches and not sure when to water since it seems it's not growing.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Cycnoches are very prone to rot. I had to cut a bulb once that broke on top and rotted a bit, it did dry up and ask worked out. I've never had that growth spike though, the spike came from the newer growths. I'd water when the roots are 3-4" long.

[@benjamingrino3696]

Hi Nicole, What is the wattage of the "regular" botanical leds (you mentioned that it is lower the the "spike producer" leds which are 38 watts)? How many light fixtures per shelf for your cattleyas? Thanks.

[@NicoleDeanna]

I believe the wattage is 20 or 24 for the less powerful ones. For the cattleyas, I use 3 of the lower wattage ones per shelf, or 2 of the more powerful ones per shelf. Happy growing!

[@rildoalves7716]

What is the PPFD and DLI of the lights os your setup? Do you have different values according to each spices?

[@lotuscanada2497]

Hello, thanks for your very informative videos. I d like to know how long you put your orchids (cattleya, dendrobium) under LED lights on a daily basis ? Thanks in advance.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Thank you for watching! I put them on for 12 hours and then taper up to about 14 hours in the summer time. I hope this helps ❤️

[@lilylimbu505]

Hi Good morning ! I need your advice. I have Catesetum dark magic witchcraft. They are tiny and slow in growth. The bulbs are thin. In our country, we don't have sophisticated fertilizers that you mention in your video. Can I use locally developed fertilizers for variety of orchids. Since we are in the tropical zone, kindly advise how much sun and shade must be given and also on watering. Thank you very much in advance.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Sorry I missed this comment! You don't need a sophisticated fertilizer, you can use any orchid fertilizer and supplement with calmag if it doesn't have it :) I water abundantly in the grow season, and none when it's dormant. I also give it bright led lights. I'd make sure it gets bright indirect lights if your growing outside or by a window ❤️

[@ludokerfluffle6232]

I have an orchid given to me as they moved. Its slowly dying. I've got no idea what to do.

[@NicoleDeanna]

Check out my orchid care playlist to learn more about how to keep them alive. You got this.

[@paulasevan8350]

Nicole do you have an Instagram account or a Facebook account as well?

[@NicoleDeanna]

It's Nicoledeannaorchids on IG. Thanks for watching!