Rewired

Spent most of Sunday rewiring my plant stand. Wanting to simplify the dangling cords and find a way to reduce the noise of the AC fans, I went to Home Depot and bought an inline dimmer, more electrical cable, connector nuts, crimp tool and stuff I didn't need (scissors and ratchet wrench) & went to Minton's Lumber to get more 6-32 nuts.
The dimmer worked like magic. I can now control the speed of the fans and therefore the amount of noise they make. I managed to reduce the amount of cord down to just 3, from 6. IT wasn't easy but I got it done in one day; I nearly damaged one of the lights when trying to clear a solder filled hole from the circuit board, I applied so much heat that the printed circuit came apart. Oops! Thankfully, it didn't completely damage it and it still works. I ordered a 6 outlet power strip from Amazon.com that I now think I don't need. I expect delivery of a digital timer so I can put my plant stand on a schedule.

Here is the nutty diagram I drew the night before.

Keiki

One of my Phalaenopsis (Sun Tye Diamond) put out two Keikis and I repotted them each into their own 4 inch Rand Aircome pot. I have one by a window and one under LED lights. It would be interesting to see how they fair in a few months.
Update 11/14/07: Interestingly, the one I had by a window died but this one is still okay.
Update 11/15/07: Both Keiki are dead. The small roots weren't well developed so it rotted. Me sad.

LED Grow Lights Plant Stand

Got the AC fans and put the whole thing together Nov 6th.
This is where I bought the LED lights: http://www.homegrownlights.com/14wled.html

Made some screw ups assembling the lights but nothing that more time couldn't fix.

The fuse assembly wasn't a tight fit and the lights would go out if the electrical cord got tugged.
Will have to fix that.

Very Magenta isn't it.

View from the floor. Its cool but not sure if the lights are bright enough?

Orchid stand nearly finished

My home built orchid stand is nearly complete. I'm just waiting for delivery of some AC fans and then I can mount the lights.

More pictures of new phalaenopsis

Whoopie!

New Phalaenopsis from Half-Moon Bay

I placed my new Phals in my bedroom.

This purple Phal's blooms are huge.

This white Phal's blooms are also huge.

Sunday September 9th, I drove to Reposito's in Half-Moon Bay and got three orchids. Two Phalaenopsis and another cute Oncidium. When I got these orchids, I didn't know they only accept cash or checks at the store. Luckily, I had $43 bucks on my and the orchids cost $43.30. Must be an omen. Also, went to another florist and got myself a maidenhair fern.

Planted the new oncidium into the same pot with first oncidium. They're the same species.

Two dying phalanopsis

I put another dead phalanopsis (a white one) that I brought home from work. It's dying alongside the purple on I mentioned before. What a shame.

Rearranged my orchids

reorganized my plants

The window over my kitchen sink is pretty full now.

The phals in my bedroom has been replanted and arrranged.

My Cattleya tree looks like its still alive.

Repotted all my orchids.

Spent Friday and Saturday nights repotting all my orchids with Aussie-Gold and reused my Dyna-Rok.
I bought two bags from a place that I think is in Ohio. cost a lot but I wanted to spoil my orchids. At least I hope my orchids will like the new medium. I was happy to see the Dendrobium Thyrsiflorum had healthy roots. I was generally happy to see the roots doing well for the plants except a couple of my phalaenopsis. I'm sad to say the new plant I got from the grocery store is pretty much dead. it had rotted and the roots look like they're dead too. Don't know why the phalaenopsis aren't doing so well in the semi-hydro medium? The cattleya's, dendrobium, oncidium and even the tolumnia seem to like it. Anyway, the phals are in the new stuff now. I'll keep an eye on it.
I also spent much of the day building more acrylic boxes. got some scrap plastic from Tap Plastics and solvent, glue and more. I think I have a total of 10. they take about 20 minutes each to make.
My window sill looks pretty full.

My Dendrobium flowered

I forgot how dark purple this guy is.

Today's purchase

Today I bought a bunch of orchid supplies, Rand Aircone pots, Aussie gold and three new Cattleyas.

Jim Elmore 'Sweetheart'

Edisto 'Newberry'

Lc. Jalapa x Pot. Carolina Splendor
(This picture is not the flower I will be getting, I realized too late; oh well.)
I'll be getting a cross

Links:
http://www.fendersflora.com
http://www.gardeningwarehousedirect.com
http://www.arcadiaglasshouse.com