Idea for a grow box with cooling

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Why is it that you always want to grow what you can't? Or is it that the really neat orchids are cool growers?

I've been toying with the idea of buying or making some kind of grow chamber with cooling of some kind.

First i thought of using a wine cooler that could be set around 60 degrees and using a fluorescent light through the door.

Then i thought: why not use the same technique that a greenhouse employs? a wet wall and a fan to blow air through it!

At first i thought i would build a box out of wood and acrylic, but ended up with a plastic storage box about 33" x 17 x 14. I cut a square out of one end, and another on the other end.
I used evap cooler pad and rigged a pump to circulate water through it. The other end has an ordinary clamp fan that i attached to the wall of the box.

I'm very encouraged by the results so far!! I was able to lower the temp in the box from 74 to 66 degrees, plus the humidity went from 33 to 60%. The orchids should love the gentle air circulation as well.

I will probably put this box in a North window, and add some lights to it.

I will post some pics later after i make some the adjustments more permanent.

Anyone else tried this or have comments on how to make this better? Any hidden risks with this idea?

Peter.


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