ORCHID PARAPHENALIA

[lobsterman]

BEANLUC had a brilliant idea for a thread!
WHAT IS IN YOUR ARSENAL IN THE WAY OF ORCHID PARAPHENALIA?
Other than the basics for terrarium growers (ie. humidifiers, lights, monitors, etc.) and other than the basics for windowsillers and outdoor growers (ie. pots, moss, bloom clips, etc.), what "tools of the trade" get you and your chids by for a living?

Q-Tips for watered paphs?
Tweezers for bugs?
.
.
.

[cb977]

a few good scissors/clippers
a nice sharp knife
a curved dental scraper

I'm sure I'll think of more as the day goes on ...

didn't realize I should've listed everything I use!

Rainwater (kept in jugs in the orchid room...it's a precious commodity!)
aliflor or hydroton
409 cleaner
Listerine
Alcohol
hydrogen peroxide
cinnamon
cotton swabs
paper towels
lots of sprayers
MSU fert
SuperThrive
KLN
beer
mounting pieces
baskets/pots
twist tie and cable ties
hangers
s-hooks
wire
pen/paper
name tags / marker/ pencil
measuring spoons
Bayer 3-in-1
Thiomyl
Orthene (yuck! I keep it triple containered and stored in hubby's shed )
Pro-Tekt
Physan 20
Epiweb (pots and cubes)
long sphag moss
coco husk chunks
perlite
coco fiber
soft toothbrush

I think I'm done now

Nope...

dishwashing liquid
Neem oil
eye droppers

Ummm...did I mention LOTS of sprayers?

Starting to think I need a bigger orchid room...or just another one! There's space on the other side of the lanai!

[bonsai1504]

cinnimon
brown listerine
razor blades(only use once)
spray bottle
bleach(disenfecting)

[beanluc]

Various sized buckets for immersion watering

A can of compressed air (computer cleaner) for blowing water out of crowns/leaf crotches

Humidity trays! Here are pictures and the recipe:

Originally Posted by beanluc

Get big plant drainers and fill them with pebbles and water, and put the plants in it. A turned-over saucer under the pot keeps the plant from sitting in the standing water. I like to get rectangular drainer saucers intended for "box" type planters because they fit better in more spaces indoors. A big round one takes up more room for the same amount of humidity.

A light meter with readout from 50-5000 footcandles

An analog combination temp/Rhum meter

A computer MVP (most valuable paraphernalia)

A house with a cool ENE-facing glassed-in porch and a hot SSW-facing glassed-in porch

Gris-gris and rabbit's-foot

A flogging stick

[let_it_grow]

Did you start this post cause of me? lol. If i was SMART... a STRAW would be on my list so I didnt get a face full when i tried to blow water out of my phals crown.
tweezers (for lots of different things)
Bark
Lots of extra pots
alsohol
mineral oil
soap
spray bottles
plastic bags -sturdy clear ones for tenting and green plastic to cover the ground so i dont make such a mess
a good boyfriend who lets me spend lots of time and money in my chids

But i think the ultimate is..

HYDROPONIC EQUIPMENT...
clay aggregate
grow lights
fertilizer

the store that i go to for my stuff CLEARLY sells to primarily potheads (not that theres anything wrong with that ). I walk in that place and they assume I'm growing weed

[WhiteRabbit]

*bamboo skewers!
*lots of spray bottles
*cinnamon
*styro packing pnuts
*my old betta tank (now a chid hospital)
*old fishbowl (has sphag moss growing in it now)
*dishpans and plastic food storage containers used for soaking plants

*the california sun
*the california coastal climate

*** All the great people on OrchidBoard! ***

[lostonthebeach]

"If i was SMART... a STRAW would be on my list so I didnt get a face full when i tried to blow water out of my phals crown." QUOTE]


I second the idea of straws. Not only do they get water out of Phal crowns but off of new tender growth on all orchids, especially seedlings. And using straws forces one to get down and up close with one's plants.
A good way to keep on top of their condition.

Also a roll of stripped #12 copper wire and a good pair of pliers. Always ready to made plant clips or hangers.

[Ross]

OK, here are my secrets:

Calibrated light meter
Calibrated TDS meter
Calibrated pH Meter
spray bottles (lots of those)
Home Depot 5-gallon buckets
2 RO units
Nikon D200 camera with lots (more than 15) lenses
Photo studio
A whole library of orchid books (some pretty expensive and pretty specialized - like a whole volume on Angraecoides)
Orchidwiz software
a Turkey Baster (I'll let you figure out what that's for )
A calendar (for keeping track of the water/fertilizer regimen)
Fans - lots of them - for circulating air
Drip trays
Small clippers to clip off stuff
Wire stakes to stake up stuff
Sponges to mop up stuff
and even a "Sham-Wow" for soaking up drippage and moisture in the fans of Phals and Paphs.

[let_it_grow]

twist ties
bamboo skewers
buckets... lots of buckets
I pot my S/H in just about anything, I found a really big pickle jar that someone was just gonna throw away... one mans trash is a chid lovers treasure, My Cym fit PERFECTLY... it was deep enough for the roots and the mouth was wide enough to get the rootball in without damage. I was so excited

[let_it_grow]

Originally Posted by Ross

"Sham-Wow" for soaking up drippage and moisture in the fans of Phals and Paphs.

Heck yeah!!!!!