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Do you guys have timers set-up for your grow lights?

16 years ago

Hey, I have gotten a ton of great advice as far as grow lamps for my orchids on this forum. One more question: do you guys have automatic timers set up for the lamps to turn them on and off? If so where can I get some?

Thanks!

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Comments (9)

bob123how
16 years ago
Absolutely. Timers can be purchased at any home improvement store like HD or Lowes. I actually found mine at a local grocery store.
Good Luck
Bob
cjwatson
16 years ago
Make sure the timer you buy has the same type of plug. I use grounded fluorescent shop lights and have to get a 3-prong timer instead of a 2-prong. Supermarket usually has them, or Target, Walmart, HD, etc.
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Hi Nancy! Becareful about feeding the leaves with fertilizer. If it's a very very weak solution I can't see any harm but I don't make it a habit. I don't mind spring them down with fish emulsion and organic seaweed though. When talking about orchid care, many people use the words “feeding” and “fertilizing” interchangeably. It’s a common assumption that orchid fertilizer “feeds” the plant; but rather than providing a meal, fertilizing orchids is more like giving it a vitamin pill . Like other plants, Phalaenopsis orchids and others use photosynthesis to create their own food from water, carbon dioxide and the sun’s energy. Orchid roots absorb water from rain and humidity in the air and carry it to the leaves. The plants leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air through pores called “stomata.” The pigment chlorophyll, which gives leaves their green color, absorbs the sun’s energy. Plants use that energy to break down the water molecules in their leaves into oxygen and hydrogen. Some of the oxygen is used by the plant but most is expelled into the air. The hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide in the plant’s cells to create sugar which is what actually feeds the plant. Fertilizer drenches applied to the root system are the most efficient way of supplying most mineral nutrients to your orchids but when plants are stressed, have root damage or nutrient deficiencies, foliar feeding can provide a quick fix. ... Plant leaves are specialized organs for capturing light and carbon dioxide.
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elvinwei
16 years ago
i don't know how i could survive without timers

i got one that is a whole power strip with a timer, and then i plug everything into that
claritamaria
16 years ago
gotta have them. That is really important to keep consistent. My HD did not have the 3 prong ones so I just removed the ground (the 3rd prong) won't hurt a thing of you have an extension cord with its own breaker, the little shut off switch.

Clara
mrbreeze
16 years ago
Let's see...I have four or five controlling various lights, one for the humidifier, two for the mist pump/nozzles. Plus I have two outdoor ones for the bug zappers outside. I'm swimmin' in timers. My advice is to just get the 'heavy duty' ones to begin with. The cheaper ones break eventually and the better quality ones are not that much more expensive anyway. Timers are your friend.
-MB
mehitabel
16 years ago
Yes, timers are essential. Lowe's has them.

As someone mentioned, you can plug a power strip into a timer, and then everything plugged into the strip will go one and off together.
tmigratoris
16 years ago
I have banks of fluorescents that are hard-wired to a wall switch I replaced the wall switch with an Intermatic SS7C programmable timer. Works like a charm & easy to install & program. Found it on-line. BEWARE THOUGH: this thing has lousy reviews (check out Amazon, for example). Mine's worked flawlessly for over a year.
flower_crazed
16 years ago
A timer was included with my orchidarium, it was a fancy digital one, but I just couldn't figure the darn thing out, so I was about to leave for vacation and had to have something, I almost bought another fancy one that was a power strip with a timer, but then a friend showed me her cheap-o timer she uses with her fish tanks...thanks to her I bought one and it only cost me around $6.00 when I was about to pay $30.00 for one of the fancy ones. I love the simple timer much better. All I do is press down on the clips during the time I want the timer on...it couldn't be more simple....and cheap! I will admit I was a little skeptical at first...Do your self a favor and get the cheap one, you won't regret it!
mrbreeze
16 years ago
Do yourself another favor by NOT getting the cheapest, but spend the extra five bucks for a heavy duty one (the kind that receive grounded [three prong] plugs), it will be safer when you inevitably add more lights and fans and humidifiers once your collection doubles in the next year. The cheapest ones break more readily as well.
-MB

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