Temperature

Wither you are planning to grow orchids inside or outside you will need to determine what the temperature range is from the coldest nighttime to the hottest daytime. If you are going to grow outside you can find several online websites that give what the temperatures range in your area. You can also buy your own min max thermometer and gather the data yourself. Many garden enthusiasts have their own mini weather stations.

For growing indoors you should already know the temperatures you set your thermometer at, however if the plant will be at a height level that is different from the thermometer you will need to determine the temperature. An example would be how much warmer it would be on the second story of your home when it is 78 degrees at the thermometer on the first floor.

Orchids have a variety of temperature preferences depending on the genus of the plant. The orchid temperature preferences are determined by the coolest nighttime temperature. Cool growing is from 45F to 55F, intermediate growing is from 55F to 60F, and warm growing is from 65F and warmer. Phalaenopsis orchid types are popular as an indoor plant because they fall into the warm growing temperature range.

Light

How much light your orchid needs is just as important as temperature. Some orchids need several hours a day of direct light. Others need only shady or less intensity light for longer hours. You can also grow orchids under artificial lights. Most medium and low light orchids can be illuminated by using florescent lamps. Orchids can be divided by the amount of light they need into three groups, bright light, medium light, and low light.

Orchids needing bright light require a very bright south facing window if grown inside or a bright greenhouse. You can use artificial lights with high output florescent lights which are special order and more expensive than normal fluorescents.

For medium light needs you can use an east facing window if grown inside or a shaded greenhouse. For artificial light you can use a normal four tube florescent light fixture.

Low light orchids can be grown in an east facing window or artificially with a two tube florescent light fixture. This is another reason Phalaenopsis orchids are popular they are low light and can be grown under normal indoor florescent lighting.

Humidity

Your orchid will require at least 50% humidity. If growing indoors you will need to be observant of the humidity. Air conditioners and heaters that on often when really hot or really cold will suck the humidity out of your house. In the conditions you may need to put your orchid in a room with a humidifier. I know some friends who move their orchids to the bathroom in the cold of winter because during hot showers the humidity rises and the plant gets the moisture it needs. There are many way to humidify a green house. I am assuming that if you have one you already know about humidity.

Space

Some orchids when full sized and in bloom require a lot of head space. So if you are planning to grow orchids on a window sill it will be important to measure how much space you have above the pot to the top of the window.

Air Circulation

Indoors most houses have enough air circulation, but you need to consider the placement of the orchid in your home to make sure the air will circulate around the plant. Many types of orchids gather most of what they need from the air. Sometimes just a small fan or turning on a ceiling fan can have a dramatic affect on your orchid.

When you go to purchase your orchid be sure to ask the grower or resident gardener about the temperature, light, humidity, and size of the plant you are considering and you will be happier with your results if you match your plant to your growing environment.

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About the Author:
Ellen Reader – your online orchid expert
 
Need more Information about Orchids please visit The Online Orchid Center.  There you will find more articles pertaining to orchids.
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It’s that time of year when gardeners are looking ahead to spring and beginning to plan their summer gardens.  Those of us who like to start our plants early from seed are probably preparing our indoor greenhouses to do so.  If you are new to gardening or are hoping to start a garden this year, now is the time to purchase an indoor greenhouse kit.  In this article, we’ll explain how to get it set up and prepared for growing your seedlings.

First you’ll need to choose an appropriate location for your indoor greenhouse.  The best possible place would be in front of a sunny, south facing window or patio door.  You’ll also need to consider the ambient room temperature and humidity.  The ideal levels will vary depending on the types of seeds you’re growing, but generally speaking, most seeds will germinate best at temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent.

If you don’t have the perfect place in your home that meets all these conditions, don’t worry.  Most of us don’t!  With a few pieces of equipment, it’s easy to artificially create the right conditions.  To make up for a lack of sunlight, you’ll need grow lights.  Grow lights are a special type of full spectrum light bulb that replicate natural sunlight.  The bulbs can be purchased at most hardware stores and will fit into standard fluorescent tube light fixtures.  To make up for chilly temperatures, you can also add a heat lamp to your indoor greenhouse.  Take care when positioning the heat lamp, making sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  It’s important not to place it near anything that could be flammable.  Lastly, if your home’s air is rather dry, as is common in the winter, a simple humidifier will solve this problem.  Look for a humidifier with a humidity gauge on it, allowing you to set the unit to maintain a specific humidity level of your choosing.  The humidifier will then it will automatically turn on and shut off as needed to maintain that level.  Anytime you’re using electronic devices, always remember to take caution with the cords.  You don’t want to string a cord across a traffic path and inadvertently create a tripping hazard.

Once your indoor greenhouse is set up in a good location, it’s time to begin planting your seeds.  You’ll probably want to begin by taking an inventory of supplies, and you may need to make a shopping trip to your local garden center to pick up anything that you don’t have.  A bag of good seed-starting soil mixture is a must-have item, as are some small peat pots or other containers for planting.  One option is to purchase plastic trays from your garden center that feature small individual cells for starting seeds.  These plastic trays are usually economical enough that you can recycle them at the end of the year and buy new ones next year.  An even less expensive option is to wash and save yogurt containers, drill holes in the bottoms, and use those for planting seeds.  Last but not least, you’ll also need to have a spray water bottle for keeping the soil moist.  You won’t want to use a watering can in the beginning, because the flow of water will be strong enough to wash away the seeds and young seedlings.  A spray bottle will allow you to lightly mist the soil, keeping it moist without damaging the fragile young plants.

Growing plants from seed is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby.  Not only does it give you something fun to do inside during the last few months of winter, but it also saves a lot of money as opposed to buying young plants at the nursery in the spring.  If you’ve never tried indoor greenhouse gardening before, go out and buy a few supplies and get started today!

Home Products ‘N’ More offers free shipping on all indoor greenhouses and other home greenhouse kits. Visit us today at http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/Mini_Greenhouses_s/414.htm
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Gardening is often seen as an outdoors activity that is limited to certain weather conditions. When it comes to herbs, a windowsill facing south or west is an excellent area to grow and harvest herbs all year long. It also add beautiful natural beauty to that window and fills the air with the sweet scents. A windowsill herb garden doesn’t need to be very big, a few pots can produce enough herbs to satisfy your needs.

Tools and material needed to start a herb garden:

• various containers with drainage holes
• waterproof saucers to contain excess drainage
• potting soil or a soil-less seed-starting mix
• natural fertilizer
• herb seeds or plants of your choice

Herb growing requirements:For the majority of herbs, a good 5 to 6 hours of sunlight coming through a south or west-facing window is sufficient. Watering should keep the soil slightly moist at all time. Fertilize twice a month using a half-strength solution of an all-purpose fertilizer. Compost is added in a small quantity every few months.

Choice of containers:The pots you plan to use can come from various sources ranging from recycling to buying ”designer” containers.You can group certain herbs together in a pot when they share common needs. Plants that need particular care should be planted individually. The diameter of the pots should be 4 inches for individual plants and 10 inches for grouping plants together.

Choosing herbs you wish to grow:Choice herbs to grow on the windowsill are those that remains dense and compact. Thyme and oregano are always a good choice, you can also grow mint offered in a wide array of flavors. Parsley is a good choice as long as you keep it especially when kept trimmed. These plants all do well in small containers ranging in 4 to 6 inches in diameter.Other choice of herbs popular include basil, cilantro, dill, rosemary and sage.

More Tips:

• Most herbs grows well in a sunny, south-facing window, supplemental fluorescent lights or grow lights will help during the winter season.
• Place the plants so that the foliage are not in contact with cold windows.
• Turn the pots around occasionally so that the plants get sunlight on all sides to grow evenly.
• Be aware of the preferences of each variety of herbs you grow. For example, basil enjoys warmth, while sage and rosemary prefer cooler temperatures.
• Pinch back branching plants such as basil. This will help keeping them shrubby instead of leggy.
• When choosing herbs to grow, go for the compact or dwarf varieties.
• Growing herbs on the kitchen windowsill will keep fresh herbs close at hand when preparing meals.

A windowsill herb garden adds a wonderful, attractive look to your home decor. Creating this project is quite simple and inexpensive and fills the air with a pleasing aroma that can be enjoyed by everyone in your household.

Eustache Davenport is a gardening enthusiast and author. He lives in Montreal and enjoy teaching his gardening secrets to work groups on how to setup, optimize and maintain an amazing herb garden. For more information and great tips to start home garden, visit http://www.herbgardeningonlineguide.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-start-a-healthy-productive-windowsill-herb-garden-1603014.html

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