Thanks, Silken! Yep, we have a family room too. Our house is a 3-level, front to back split and the grow space is basically the middle level. The kitchen is on this level. The family room is on the lower level and it's much bigger anyway so it's a better space for hanging out and having friends and family visit.

When we first moved into this house (many years ago) this space was my main aquarium room and plant room so it's never really functioned at it was intended. I used to have more fresh water tanks than any normal person would want to own/care for and most of them were in this area. Also, I can't remember a time when my family wasn't questioning my sanity due to the sheer number of plants I had in any of my places. LOL! So, yea, from the moment we moved in...it's never been a conventional use of the space.

Speaking of those tanks, the Ctsm table is actually an old tank stand. That thing held a 75 gal tank for a lot of years. After the fish were gone the tank was used to house some smaller/minature orchids that needed more humidity but i got tired of the mess in the bottom so I cleaned it up and free-cycled it to family that was looking for a new tank for their kid. My husband then installed a solid top on it and viola...awesome orchid stand. Bonus...extra storage for orchid gear that can be tucked away behind closed doors.

As for how many plants I have...let's see...at last tally I had 301 or 302 orchids and then w/my most recent gifting away of some of the "other" plants I'm now down to around 20/25 non-orchids. W/the exception of a few of the hanging "others", most of those non-orchids spend the winter under lights in a room upstairs. I'm really most comfortable (time limits and spacial constraints) at 250 orchids and I do manage (most years) to get the number back down to 250 over the course of the fall/winter but then it magically climbs again before the orchids come back inside in the fall. Gee, I'm not sure how that happens. XD

I'm glad you like and I appreciate the kind words. If it helps spawn ideas for others...then my work here is done. ;)

Thanks, everyone!

Katrina- Big thank you for many photos and detailed explanation of how you do this. I don't think I've ever come upon yours before.

I love photos.
I think I see some nicely grown plants of catasetum family in one of them?
Also, great idea for draining the water! How come I never thought of that?!
High Output bulbs can really extend the distance between the light and the plant, wow!

Thank you again! :)

Katrina, I have seen pictures of your setup before, but I am always amazed by what a wonderful grow space you have created. No matter how many times you post, I will be in awe. I do think it is wonderful that you post pictures more than a few times so members who missed it or new members can benefit from your pictures and explanation.

Katrina, your set up would be the envy of any pot grower!

I've seen it before but not this extensively. I love it! I covet it! (Of course in my hands, it wouldn't be so nicely organized).

Katina, you should start your self a little Orchid Room Set Up business... YOU would have plenty of customers after seeing your display... We all love it.

I know I can't compete with Katrina, but this, on a much smaller scale, works for me. Two units of T-5s, 4 HO bulbs 4 feet long about 2 feet above the plants. Some are on risers to get them closer to the light. I follow the daylight time wise, they come on at 6:30AM and off at 5 PM. They get late afternoon sun, so that extends or shortens their day according to season. I do have quite a few in bloom and /or in spike, so I call it a win for me :biggrin:
I do put my few cool growers out on the deck during above freezing weather (Only about 8 plants out of my 90 or so )

http://i.imgur.com/bGJQYF7.jpg

My little grow room in the basement....
On the right is a single 4foot sunblaster t5ho 865
On the left a single 3foot LED stripe (forgot the specs but it's pretty bright)

I move all the plants in the garden from May to October.
This is my second season growing under lights.
Most of the plants are growing better in the basement than outside actually 😀
Must be because of the higher and more constant humidity (outside 40-100%, basement 70-80%)
Lights are on for 14 hours now, going down to 12 hours in December and then up again to 14 in April.
Temps are around 75 in the day and 65 in the night (I have a little fan blowing air in from outside connected to a thermostat)

You are more than welcome. And, yes, you do see some Ctsm family in those shots. I'm somewhere north of 31...not counting the 2 compots a friend gave me. :blushing: I had a few more but they found new homes this fall.

You are too kind, Nikki. Truth be told...I love being able to show the space off. It took several years and quite a few make-overs to get it here and most of our family and friends just think I'm nuts so its always fun to show it off to other orchid addicts. You guys get the crazy. ;)

HA! At least then I could make money on it rather than just spending money to maintain it. LOL!

Glad you like it. My dad was a career Marine and he raised me w/the rule of "a place for everything and everything in it's place" and I do a good job of living that...just don't look in my laundry room. LOL!

I loved the process of setting this space up and if i could use someone else's money to do it again and make money at the same time...SCORE! :biggrin: If only there were more orchid growers around here! Thanks- glad you like it.

Katrina,
Do you find that you have to water more under T5s? My catts seem like they are drying out quicker than the ones in the south window.

Okay you grow space is SIIIIICK!!!!!!! Cant wait to have one just like it one day!!!!!