My orchids in Chaiyaphum Thailand.

[gjanick2]

My orchids home may not look well organized, but the plants are sharing the space with our community residents every day and evening in this hut made out of bamboo and straw. Our friends and relatives get together all the time for meals and recreation and it seems like we are also a pre-school for all the many small children. Surprizingly, the plants are fairly well organized and are grouped by their family (grex I think).

It has been sooooooo hot here. And for 3 months we had no rain. I did lose a couple of plants due to the intense sunshine and heat. The high humidity here the plants love (I do not). Now all 64 plants are under shade cloths and should be OK even in this heat. They all get hosed down morning and sometimes evenings too. None are in bloom now, but some are growing spikes and even buds.

I have a question: with this extreme heat (40C/100F every day), how should I be fertilizing? I realize every plant is different, but what should I be doing?

In the pictures you will notice the kids sandbox (loose sand with toys), we have 4 hammocks, and an old-fashioned loom that 2 of the Thai ladies make by hand custom rugs/mats and sell them.