Housing orchids very close to the ground

[ArronOB]

I need to build a small ‘shadehouse’ about 2 metres long by one meter wide for some small cattleya and Oncidium hybrids - all very small plants. The only place I can put this is right in the neighbours sight-line. I know they appreciate the view in this direction so I want to avoid impinging on their view. This means the maximum height I have to work with will be about 1 metre. Therefore the plant shelf will be about 300mm off the ground, giving about 600 mm clear space above.

I’ll probably put some weed matting down to prevent anything growing underneath, and then build a simple timber frame with shadecloth fixed all round. It will probably have a lift-up lid like a blanket box. I guess it will look like an oversize cold frame. I know it’s a very second-rate approach but it will help me get by until the great day when I can build the permanent solution (I need to finish building our house first).

Its a fairly exposed position so I think air circulation will be ok. Light will be ok from midday onwards, morning sun is obscured by large trees that I can’t do much about. It’s sloping so drainage is ok. My question is - is there any other impediments to growing epiphytic orchids this close to the ground? It’s not something I’ve had to do before?

[Shadeflower]

hey Aarron,
I built myself pretty much exactly what you described, 40cm off the ground 60cm tall with conservatory panels and flip lid.
Thing is you can buy yourself ready made ones for cheaper than what it cost me to make mine...

So I do still wonder lol.

Like I could have just bought myself this: Festnight Garden Greenhouse with Raised Bed Kits Rectangular Vegetable Planter Bed - Grey Galvanised Steel, 100x100x85 cm : Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

You ask what your main concern should be. I'd say slugs nd snails

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Slugs and snails can be kept at bay with a small strip of copper placed around the base of whatever you end up with. They won't cross the copper.

[K-Sci]

The question really is, can you meet the needs of the plants in the frame you want to use? Give the plants what they need - the proper temperature range, good air movement, proper drainage, not too much or too little humidity, and keep out undesirable insects and animals.

k-sci