How is an orchid greenhouse/hothouse arranged?

[ElleWon]

Hello, I am doing some research and I have questions about the layout of an orchid greenhouse/hothouse. Is anyone willing to be a resource, or point me to some accurate resources? Thanks, Elle.

[Ray]

What, specifically, are you seeking? Greenhouse orientation, climate zones, ???

[ElleWon]

I am a novelist and I need to describe what someone might see/hear/feel when they walk through the door of a greenhouse, assuming they have no experience with orchids or greenhouses. I have read that cold-weather orchids need a different climate zone, with special lighting and fog, and many grow from a hanging position, but is there a physical barrier between the climates? What do warm weather orchids need that cold-weather orchids don't, aside from warmth? Also, what other items/tools would I see? What would I hear? I know these things may vary a lot but I want to be as accurate as possible.

[AnonYMouse]

You haven't said size. A lot of factors depend on size. Perhaps if you gave us context, we can help you better.

Greenhouse structure in a suburban backyard?
Greenhouse in an educational institution?
Greenhouse conservatory/botanical gardens?
Industrial greenhouse for wholesale nursery?

What are you doing in there?
Friends admiring a fragrant bloom?
Mad scientists propagating another Audrey2?
OCD bad guy listening to Bach petting a white kitty?
Foot chase involving gantry style water sprayer?

[ElleWon]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

Mad scientists propagating another Audrey2?
OCD bad guy listening to Bach petting a white kitty?
Foot chase involving gantry style water sprayer?

Sure, go ahead and make my scene look boring.

It's not a main element of the story, which is good, because I'm not an orchidist. It's a scene that takes place in a wood and glass greenhouse, 8x16, in the garden of a home in rural Northern Scotland.

[rbarata]

May I sugest to visit one?
Maybe you end up to be an orchid addict,

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by ElleWon

Hello, I am doing some research and I have questions about the layout of an orchid greenhouse/hothouse. Is anyone willing to be a resource, or point me to some accurate resources? Thanks, Elle.

You might have to think about watering, and water. A general rule-of-thumb is - don't re-use raw drainage water (after it drains through the orchid pot) to avoid spreading possible pathogens to other plants.

The other thing is --- avoid splashing of water from 1 leaf of orchid to another.

And I usually avoid getting water into spots where the water can sit for a long time and stagnate ----- such as in the crown of orchids, or in sheaths.

And if you water a pot from above ------ and the water goes through the pot to drain ----- avoid that draining water from hitting a plant right below it .... in the shelf below.

[ElleWon]

Originally Posted by rbarata

May I sugest to visit one?
Maybe you end up to be an orchid addict,

Yes, it is on my list of things to do. I just have to find one nearby.

And I love orchids. I have 6 or 7 store-bought plants, nothing special, but I've kept them alive and blooming for several years now. Must be pure luck because I don't know much about them. They really need to be repotted or something.

---------- Post added at 05:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:35 PM ----------

Originally Posted by SouthPark

You might have to think about watering, and water. A general rule-of-thumb is - don't re-use raw drainage water (after it drains through the orchid pot) to avoid spreading possible pathogens to other plants.

The other thing is --- avoid splashing of water from 1 leaf of orchid to another.

And I usually avoid getting water into spots where the water can sit for a long time and stagnate ----- such as in the crown of orchids, or in sheaths.

And if you water a pot from above ------ and the water goes through the pot to drain ----- avoid that draining water from hitting a plant right below it .... in the shelf below.

Oh, good details. Thanks for calling attention to those things. I appreciate it.

[AnonYMouse]

I've been to Inverness in July but my greenhouse experience is based on my dad's greenhouse growing up (about the same size as yours) in the SF bay area (temperate with 2 seasons).

My dad didn't grow any cool growers, he had Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums and Cymbidiums (actually outside). All warm growers so the greenhouse was to keep the plants temperate in Winter and hot in Summer and raise the humidity. It was rare to see the space heater in use, your location is likely to need heat. It was stifling in the Summer unless it was just misted (there was a simple overhead mist system).

Have you ever deplaned onto the tarmac in the tropics? The atmosphere is like that, going from an air conditioned airplane to hot, muggy air.

Sounds: water drips, water in hoses, water leaving the spray nozzle, crunch of gravel underfoot, creaks of wooden walking platforms.

Smells: moss, algae, flower blooms and sometimes, disinfectant.

Potted plants would be on some slotted surface, maybe arranged on multiple level shelves (high light plants above, cooler low light plants below). There might be plants in baskets or mounted on various materials hanging from joists/frame (watch your head!).

Hope that helps.

[ElleWon]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

I've been to Inverness in July but my greenhouse experience is based on my dad's greenhouse growing up (about the same size as yours) in the SF bay area (temperate with 2 seasons).

My dad didn't grow any cool growers, he had Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums and Cymbidiums (actually outside). All warm growers so the greenhouse was to keep the plants temperate in Winter and hot in Summer and raise the humidity. It was rare to see the space heater in use, your location is likely to need heat. It was stifling in the Summer unless it was just misted (there was a simple overhead mist system).

Have you ever deplaned onto the tarmac in the tropics? The atmosphere is like that, going from an air conditioned airplane to hot, muggy air.

Sounds: water drips, water in hoses, water leaving the spray nozzle, crunch of gravel underfoot, creaks of wooden walking platforms.

Smells: moss, algae, flower blooms and sometimes, disinfectant.

Potted plants would be on some slotted surface, maybe arranged on multiple level shelves (high light plants above, cooler low light plants below). There might be plants in baskets or mounted on various materials hanging from joists/frame (watch your head!).

Hope that helps.

It does help. A lot. That's exactly what I needed. Thank you!

And yes, I know that sticky heat. I lived on the Yucatan Peninsula for a year in my early twenties without air conditioning. And Hawaii is like that too. Oh, and St. Augustine in August. That one was interesting.

You said your dad grew orchids, but do you grow them as well?