My summer setup for outdoors

[L I Jane]

Finally-- I'm done-now dreading the fall to fit them all back in a 12 x12 grnhse.


In pic 2 at the end you can see I have a canopy bench up against the fence if you look hard-this holds phals & masd The long metal bench in front of the 2 canopied tables in pic 2 holds huge phrags & smaller ones as well.This whole thing is what I call my Rube Goldberg setup using things that I've collected along the way so it pays to 'dumpster dive'.Bread trays are indispensible!

[dennis]

looks good jane glad you got everything out for the summer. and your in luck weatherman said summer should last at least till end of june

[Gin]

Wow end of june i hear end of May ? they look good jane and there is room for more . Gin

[L I Jane]

I thought so too so I bought 2 more paphs today!

[Charles]

I love LI in spring. I miss it. You can keep the winters though.

Jane? You have all that in a 12x? How is that done?

[Lagoon]

You gotta love a gal who knows how to work her space. I'm loving that look and all those orchids.
Happy growing, Jane

You can't have enough slippers

[L I Jane]

Very-veeerrry carefully,Charles.That's why I'm always yelling--no more plants but......being an addict I can't say no.Since I'm so crowded, I have good air movement as there are many overlapping leaves.I have mounted shelves on the sides,trays across the aisles, which I have to remove sometimes to check on what is going back further on plants that are deeper in the back that I can't reach.I have a hanging screen plus a regular mounted screen behind the main bench.I use every available spot.I can't keep any plant that is just languishing away-just bite the bullet & toss.I try to keep the plants from getting too big by dividing.Also you have to be on guard for pest control as they can get a hold on your plants & be missed with a tight collection.
I should have a bigger greenhouse but alas I know it would be the same story.

[dennis]

well jane i really hate seeng people in trouble with thier plants so when i go to parkside i will drive the truck, you can bring as many phals ,paph, and cyms that you can carry and i will bring them back with me. this way you will gain more space and they will be more managable for you. PS. you no what to do with the neos LOL

[Gin]

I heard you were renting a semi. Dennis

[smweaver]

That's an impressive--or, in my case, since I only have one modest three-tiered bench in the backyard that is home to my orchid collection in the summer, intimidating--set-up you have. It looks very well organized. May I ask what you do to keep insects from crawling into all of the pots? I don't mind ants, and the occasional wasp or two, that come along and sip at the sugary deposits on the flower spikes and buds. But I don't care for the pill bugs (sow bugs?) that seem to very much enjoy the warm, moist potting mix. I don't like to use a lot of poisons, and I'm thinking about trying to smear a product called tanglefoot (a sticky, non-toxic product designed to keep birds off of things) on the legs of the steel bench. But I would like to know if you also have to deal with insects (particularly the pill bugs) and what you do to deter them. Thank you!