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I know it's pretty sad, but it's what I've got to work with right now. A few weeks ago I changed the lights from just a plain aquarium setup to some cheap (but better than what I had) grow lights from lowes, and put foil around it. The N. Khasiana's old leaves got alittle discolored and spotty after the move, but I'm hoping that was just it adjusting since the new leaves seem to be doing just fine.
Also I apologize for the terrible picture quality!
Be gentle =)

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N. Khasiana
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N.Ventricosa (I think)
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Another possible N. Ventricosa
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Really old orchid that was terribly neglected for years, until recently. Now it's flowering for me =)
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P. Primuliflora
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wow.. flowers, pitchers, and orchids!?!?! I'm jealous! Keep this thread updated, pretty please..
 
Haha, thanks Mass, I will try.
 
Redid things a bit! I like it, but I really would welcome any advice on how I could improve it. At least as long as it's with the understanding that I'm a broke college student who will be moving soon =D.
The awesome thing about this redo was it was completely with things my parents had around their house, so even though it may not be the best it was very free.

You can't really tell, but the light thing on top of the rack is rolled up plastic that I can cover the opening with. The front access is way easier than the tank I was using!
216368_1829735136047_1020392669_2031194_5319098_n.jpg


My old orchid getting ready to bloom!
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A new orchid I got because it's a lovely green.
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What I believe is a N. Ventricosa (it's from Lowe's). Any opinions?
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Utricularia, could be Sandersonii.
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Drosera Aliciae seedlings.
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Tillandsia Aeranthos.
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I'm using little grow lights that I got at Lowes (the ones that are hanging from the shelf), which I know aren't very good, but before I got them I was using a regular aquarium light. Today I decided to try out this light which has just been collecting dust in my mom's plant area. I'm still learning about lights, so again if anyone has any opinions I'd love to hear it =)
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It has these in it, but only one works currently.
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Last edited:
I have one of those short T8 fixtures (its 15W) to supplement two 32W 48" T8 bulbs (5000K and 6500K). I noticed that removing the cover on it makes it much brighter
 
Neat Cool plants keep up the good growing.
 
As much as 2/3rds of the lighting you are paying for is going to waste w/o some type of reflector on those fiixtures.

Probably the single most effective modification a grower can make
That part of the bulb we see, the plants can't ;-)

(foil on the sides of the tank does nothing compared to proper reflectors)

and if those have a cover over the bulb.... well that is even more inefficiency

sorry, you asked... just my humble opinion
of course ymmv
 
Thanks everyone!
And Av8tor1: Don't worry, I -did- ask. My main problem is I know what I have is pretty sad, but I have limited ability to actually buy new lights right now. I'll definitely try taking the covers off the little ones, but as far as a reflector goes is there a good way to jerry-rig one until I can buy a proper unit?

---------- Post added at 09:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 AM ----------

Gill za: Thanks! I just took off the light covers and it does look brighter in there =)
 
well the ghetto method is just forming some with foil and laying them on top of the fixture... shape them to where the focal point is the surface of the plants

but decent fixtures arent to bad if you look around. Around here i can get some 2' T8 fixtures with reflectors from Myers (sp?) (big box store) for under 15 USD and that is with bulbs included.

The reflector is white, but that is much much better then no reflector or one that is all wrinkled up with incorrect shape (which acts as a diffuser)

back in the day, I use to line walmart fixtures with mylar... that made an amazing difference.
 
  • #10
Haha, okay, so I'm probably better off skipping the foil and looking for a different light then (I'm sure glad this one was free). Out of curiosity did those lights last at all?
 
  • #11
well the ghetto method is just forming some with foil and laying them on top of the fixture... shape them to where the focal point is the surface of the plants

Heh I gotta try this method. My fixture comes with the reflector but it is not too big and i'm suspecting that i am also dispersing too much energy in my setup.

I have one of these per shelf (with two different t8's in each) ($17 + 7 for lights T8s )

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Currently I'm looking for inexpensive wire storage shelves (5 shelves) any advice?
 
  • #12
I have that exact same Nepenthes from Lowe's. I'm calling it N. ventrata, though - doesn't have the hips I'd expect on a N. ventricosa, even if it is young.

And unless I'm horribly mistaken, that definitely isn't U. bisquamata. I am far from a Utricularia expert and I don't know what it is, but I'm quite sure it's not U. bisquamata unless it's some very different variety I've never seen. Just based on the foliage and its popularity, I might guess U. sandersonii, but that's a total guess and, like I said, I don't know my Utrics. Wait for someone else to chime in before making any definitive calls, LOL.

That aside, I've found space blankets to be a relatively effective, super cheap alternative to mylar - good for a student, at least!
 
  • #13
Haha, okay, so I'm probably better off skipping the foil and looking for a different light then (I'm sure glad this one was free). Out of curiosity did those lights last at all?

I picked up a couple and sent one to varun.... his only complaint was the paint flaked off over time. I imagine for 15 bucks they didn't spend a whole lot of time in prepaint prep. But operationally, I think it's still fine after a couple years

oh the store is Meijers, I couldn't think of the spelling at work...

I used the walmart 4' 2 bulb T8's for years.... they were under 20 w/o bulbs.... but with those keep your receipt... it seemed one or two out of 5 would die while still under warranty... with receipt I would take them back for free exchange, no hassles
 
  • #14
FWIW, I use the Lithonia brand 4' T8 fixtures (2 bulbs each) that Home Depot sells. $19 a pop; I have two fixtures per shelf. The reflectors on those are a sort of shiny grey finish. I bought some foil HVAC duct repair tape and put a layer of that on the reflectors... it seems to work very well!
 
  • #15
I also use the Lithonia ones. I prefer the ones Lowe's sells, though, 'cause they're like $5 cheaper per fixture and they are painted white, which is a bit better than the gray reflectors the Lithonia ones have. I suspect the white paint will actually help a little against rust.
 
  • #16
Wow thanks everyone! This will definitely help me when I'm light shopping next =)

And Reaper:
I only call it Ventricosa because after I bought them I contacted the nursery to ask what it was since it was just labeled as a hybrid, and they said they grow both Ventricosa and Sanguinea but have the same packaging for all of them. I thought that it looked more like a Ventricosa than a Sanguinea, BUT since the nursery clearly did not care I would not be surprised if it was something completely different.

As for the Utric, it's possible. I would be thrilled if that were the case because I did at one time have U. Sandersonii, but it was tragically destroyed by a feral rat in our house =(. I used to have my two Utric pots, one was Bisquamata and the other was Sandersonii, right next to each other. They were both pretty messed up by the rat, but the Sandersonii pot was definitely destroyed. What I currently have hasn't flowered since that happened, so I could be wrong about which one survived. I would MUCH rather it be Sandersonii =)
 
  • #17
If they claim they don't even grow N. ventrata, then maybe it is indeed a N. ventricosa. I have much older plants of both N. ventrata and N. ventricosa and it seems to look a lot more like N. ventrata to me. When you're talking about young plants and mass-retail nurseries, anything is possible!

Here's an older shot of my U. bisquamata, which has flowered for me:
1%20(7)%20-%20Copy.JPG


Here's the flowers for verification:
1%20(25)%20-%20Copy.JPG


Now compare that first shot with what you have. Then compare this shot from CPPhotoFinder for U. sandersonii:
3161710820_a5326b7c51_b.jpg



I think you're in luck if you were hoping it was U. sandersonii. ^.^
 
  • #18
New Neps! I'm acclimating them with the plastic baggy method. My humidity is a bit low since I changed my setup, so I'm probably going to keep them in the baggies until I can get a little humidifier next week.

Nepenthes Spectabilis x Aristolochioides
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Again <3
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Nepenthes Truncata "Pasian", Thank you Mass!
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Adorable little pitcher!
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No ID, it will be fun to figure out =)
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  • #19
I haven't been on here for awhile, so I thought I would post a short update.

My N. Ventricosa/Ventrataish mystery plant has been very happy lately. If you have opinions as to what it actually is, I would love to know!
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N. Khasiana.
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D. Aliciae seedlings.
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  • #20
I decided to post some of my newer plants and updates on the others. I also recently upgraded my light to a 4 bulb T8 fixture with a better reflector than I had before, and bought better bulbs for it. I'm definitely pleased with the results.

N. Ramispina.
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N. Ventricosa "Black Peristome".
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N. Truncata "Pasian"
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The increase in leaf size is really gratifying =).
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Sorry for the blurry picture, this one just opened its first pitcher for me. Any ideas about what it might be? I figured Ventrata, but both the pitcher and the leaves look very different from my other Ventrata, so I wasn't sure.
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N. Ventrata.
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Again.
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My first Heli! Heterodoxa x Minor, I love it so much ^_^.
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My first ceph. The two green pitchers are the first that it has formed in my care. I was terrified that I was going to accidentally do it in, so I'm pretty relieved that it appears to be doing well.
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P. Ehlersiae.
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P. Titan.
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D. Aliciae.
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