Just building Orchid house - need advice please - Orchid Board

marcoeverard · #1 07-29-2013, 09:53 AM

Hi everyone,
When I was about 30 years younger I used to own several hundred orchids but had to give them up. I have been waiting all this time to have the time, space etc to start a collection again. I am in the process of building an orchid room onto my house. I decided to build in this fashion rather than add a greenhouse due to the benefits of good insulation and underfloor heating via my ground source heat pump which will be quite cost effective. I am just a bit concerned as to whether it will be bright enough. As you can see from the photo there is glass on 2 walls and and a large opaque ceiling dome on the roof. The orchids that I have had in the house have mainly been phals and dendrobiums but they have been thriving well so I hope the new setup will be ok too and would be grateful for any feedback. I would like to be able to have Cattleyas and Paphs also.
Also any thoughts on :
Staging : Pebble filled trays or slats?
Best options for a watering system. I will water as much as possible with rainwater but need something automated also for holidays etc.
Is a hydrofogger a good idea or would a misting system under the bottom shelf be suitable?
Sorry if this was a bit long for an introduction and I would be really grateful for any help.

RosieC · #2 07-29-2013, 12:01 PM

I'm not sure about the light, but I was actually surprised to find that my greenhouse, set with a wall one side, a fence another side, and a path then a wall on the third side... actually get's far more light than I expected. It's almost too bright for most of the orchids in the summer and has to be shaded. That's with our not so good UK sunshine

For staging I have just built some with a slat & wire mesh top. I like the mesh because I find slats are often difficult to stand small pots on. The pots either have to be stood on a slat... which inhibits draining, or spanning two... difficult on the small pots. The wire mesh means I don't have to think where I stand them as it lifts them off the slats and spans the gaps.

I found a suitable mesh in sheets in Homebase, but it took me a while to find as often they are either too thin or have too large holes.

---------- Post added at 03:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:54 PM ----------

This is the mesh I used (just in case it's helpful).
Tenax Galvanised Panel - 6x6mm from Homebase.co.uk

---------- Post added at 03:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:54 PM ----------

I've looked into the Mistking system which is sold by Marty our site owner. I know other folks from here who've been happy with it. I had a long delay in getting my staging sorted though, and got used to just managing without, so I've never got around to it. He has a reseller in Europe (or did when I was looking).

---------- Post added at 04:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:59 PM ----------

And of course... welcome to Orchid Board

marcoeverard · #3 07-29-2013, 12:37 PM

Thanks Rosie that is really helpful and good to know that you are growing successfully despite not having 100% glass. BTW you photos are fantastic.

Silje · #4 07-29-2013, 01:12 PM

Will you have access to electricity in your orchid room? If so,you can add some lights for whenever the need is there.

I agree with Rosie though, it's sometimes amazing how light greenhouses and growrooms actually become and you'll probably need some kind of shading in the window and the door at certain times of the year. It's just ridiculous how easy certain orchid leaves get sunburnt.

I think it sounds great with the ground source heating. Here on the southern hemisphere I've got this nightly routine padding out through the garden in pajamas and slippers at around midnight nowadays, then the temperature in the greenhouse have fallen to the desired minimum.

I've got a manual heating system where I need to put in/take out an electric heater after/before the misting system turns off/on in the afternoon/morning. It's somewhat restraining and causes a bit of stress if one is planning to be away for a night or two. To have a room attached to the house this way where a lot can be automated sounds great. For my next greenhouse project I'm definitely looking into underground heating, although it will probably be normal electric cables.

For my next greenhouse project I'm also opting for under-bench misting. At the moment I've got misters in the ceiling and due to slightly low pressure the effect is not quite as foggy as I'd like and it becomes too much of a watering system rather than a system just providing humidity. I've also been looking at the MistKing system and think it looks like a good option.

For benches I opted for mesh, actually I use expanded metal grid. I have access to a welder that could make the tables for me.

Welcome to the OrchidBoard!

We're looking forward to follow your orchid room ant the collection as it grows and flowers!

marcoeverard · #5 07-30-2013, 05:42 AM

Thanks Silje. Yes I have wired the room for lights and electricity but I am hoping that I wont have to have lights running all the time. I am thinking I can put the Catts and dendrobiums near the window and the others that require less light further away. Maybe I should have gone for a clear skylight and just put some screening up in summer - oh well live and learn.
Gosh you are really dedicated doing all that with the heating but at least you get to check on them regularly I guess. I travel a fair bit so need to have a fair level of automation when I am not here.
Do you use mains water or rainwater? I have some water butts to collect water from the roof but I wont be able to water with those when i am away so i hope they wont mind getting the tap water every now and then.

Silje · #6 07-30-2013, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcoeverard

Do you use mains water or rainwater? I have some water butts to collect water from the roof but I wont be able to water with those when i am away so i hope they wont mind getting the tap water every now and then.

I use mains water, but I will have to make a plan there as well. I live on a farm and we have our own boreholes. Water quality is generally good and we've had not need to do any filtering up to now, but for the orchids there's just too much lime in the water and I have to either accept and leave their leaves with some lime deposits or I have to scrub them regularly.

I'm leaning towards installing a filter system. Not so keen on reverse osmosis when I see the water wastage in that process. I live in a desert country and I'll have to try to keep water usage as effective as possible.

HighSeas · #7 07-30-2013, 11:19 AM

I think you're on your way to a great start! I'll bet you're SO excited too, after all of these years of waiting!

Love your new orchid house! As was mentioned, if you need more light, you could always install lights. Don't forget air movement in there! Enjoy!

marcoeverard · #8 07-30-2013, 01:23 PM

Thanks - yes very excited. In summer I guess I can leave the rooflight open and the doors if necessary - is that enough air movement? And a fan for winter looks like it is also on the purchase list. I really don't want to install lights if possible so perhaps I should stick to the lower light requirement orchids - but the others are so tempting