How do you keep/have all those Orchids!?

[HighSeas]

I really enjoyed reading those posts! I've been growing orchids for over 30 years now. Got my first one in Omaha. Like so many, I've had them all over the place...inside and outside...where ever there existed the amount of light I needed! Watering days were hectic. I've slopped water all over my kitchen more than once. The collection grew.

When I got up to about 50 plants, watering days were a job but I think that when you love the hobby, it's not the work...but instead, the TIME. I work so it's not like I had all of this free time to "mist" something several times a day!

I live in Florida. One day it "occurred" to me that if I had an orchid house, I could have more plants! I'm not quite sure why THAT revelation didn't come sooner! Duh! I now have over 200 plants and so much more time to just enjoy them! I completely changed the way I do things....

My orchid house really isn't that big. My objective was to be able to safely give them what they needed, save myself some time AND have room for more!

The house, made of lattice with a polycarbonate roof, has a nice fan running for ventilation 24/7 and it's just a cheap fan I bought at Home Depot. I have crushed rock under the benches and one walkway down through the middle between the benches. My work station is repurposed slate from an old pool table. I did invest in a 100 gallon tank, a proportioner, and a jet pump. My husband built the manifold. I have a 5 stage RO system that dumps into the tank. We put a storm door on it. During the winter, when the temps drop at night, we have had to cover it with plastic sheeting and put heaters out. As a result, when it's 48 degrees outside, the orchid house is still 60. I have a guy making eisenglass panels to replace the plastic sheeting. During the winter, the panals can stay on and just be rolled up. I'll take them down for the summer, spring and fall. I also put aluminet (shade cloth) up to protect them from the harsh florida sun.

It has been a dream come true! (I could kick myself for not doing it sooner ) It wasn't a huge investment and it does exactly what I intended for it to do! My orchids are growing and blooming more then they ever have before AND the best part....now my husband spends as much time in there as I do! Just today he mentioned that there's an Orchid Festival in St. Petersburg....and said he'd like to go! Last year, my husband would have NEVER brought that to my attention for fear that he'd have to go! Now, he's buying orchids of his own! I can see fighting over bench space in our future!

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by HighSeas

I really enjoyed reading those posts! I've been growing orchids for over 30 years now. Got my first one in Omaha. Like so many, I've had them all over the place...inside and outside...where ever there existed the amount of light I needed! Watering days were hectic. I've slopped water all over my kitchen more than once. The collection grew.

When I got up to about 50 plants, watering days were a job but I think that when you love the hobby, it's not the work...but instead, the TIME. I work so it's not like I had all of this free time to "mist" something several times a day!

I live in Florida. One day it "occurred" to me that if I had an orchid house, I could have more plants! I'm not quite sure why THAT revelation didn't come sooner! Duh! I now have over 200 plants and so much more time to just enjoy them! I completely changed the way I do things....

My orchid house really isn't that big. My objective was to be able to safely give them what they needed, save myself some time AND have room for more!

The house, made of lattice with a polycarbonate roof, has a nice fan running for ventilation 24/7 and it's just a cheap fan I bought at Home Depot. I have crushed rock under the benches and one walkway down through the middle between the benches. My work station is repurposed slate from an old pool table. I did invest in a 100 gallon tank, a proportioner, and a jet pump. My husband built the manifold. I have a 5 stage RO system that dumps into the tank. We put a storm door on it. During the winter, when the temps drop at night, we have had to cover it with plastic sheeting and put heaters out. As a result, when it's 48 degrees outside, the orchid house is still 60. I have a guy making eisenglass panels to replace the plastic sheeting. During the winter, the panals can stay on and just be rolled up. I'll take them down for the summer, spring and fall. I also put aluminet (shade cloth) up to protect them from the harsh florida sun.

It has been a dream come true! (I could kick myself for not doing it sooner ) It wasn't a huge investment and it does exactly what I intended for it to do! My orchids are growing and blooming more then they ever have before AND the best part....now my husband spends as much time in there as I do! Just today he mentioned that there's an Orchid Festival in St. Petersburg....and said he'd like to go! Last year, my husband would have NEVER brought that to my attention for fear that he'd have to go! Now, he's buying orchids of his own! I can see fighting over bench space in our future!

Well I've enjoyed reading your post!! Sounds like you're going to need "HIS" & "HERS" Orchid houses!!

That really does sound great, and how cool that he's gotten interested. Sounds like a great opportunity to bond even more. My guy isn't much of a plant fan, he got a bit burned out as a kid he said his mom had plants all over the house and he always had to help care for them. Too bad... MORE SPACE FOR ME!

Becoming an Orchid enthusiast has made me envy all you warm states more than I have and for a COMPLETELY different reason. I just can't imagine how awesome it would be to be able to put my plants outside without constructing a whole new structure (which is what I'd have to do in my region if I wanted more space and to keep outside "permanently). I look forward to putting them out for the summer though. But it's good to dream and I've been thinking one thing I 'd miss if I had them all in a greenhouse is being able to see them when I'm inside. Then I'd HAVE to make time to go out and chill with them. Now I can get my birds out, turn on the TV even, pull up my laptop, get to work and stare at my Orchids when my eyes burn out!

I also enjoy learning about all the different member's obsessions here and how they manage. It's like OA!! and we're all each other's sponsors.

The only reason I'm not online buying more right now is because I'm saving room, money, and time... ... ... to go to a greenhouse. he he he

Cheers!

[tropterrarium]

There is number of plants, and then there is size of plants. I grow mainly minis to micros, but have some 250-300 give or take.

I have two terraria, one 90 gal (63x13x24") cool, one 180 gal (60x36x24") warm, and a mini greenhouse (9x4') intermediate.

The other thing to keep things in check is specialization. After an initial binge all over the orchid map, I now only get Oberonia and Hippeophyllum. These genera are so uncommonly available in the trade, that I even if I wanted to add plants, frequently there is nobody who has anything new. Once in a while, some odd botanicals are added for variety (Chilochista, Diplocaulobium and alike), but mostly just my two target genera (with some 300 species, never mind).

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by lotis146

Becoming an Orchid enthusiast has made me envy all you warm states more than I have and for a COMPLETELY different reason. I just can't imagine how awesome it would be to be able to put my plants outside without constructing a whole new structure (which is what I'd have to do in my region if I wanted more space and to keep outside "permanently). I look forward to putting them out for the summer though. But it's good to dream and I've been thinking one thing I 'd miss if I had them all in a greenhouse is being able to see them when I'm inside. Then I'd HAVE to make time to go out and chill with them. Now I can get my birds out, turn on the TV even, pull up my laptop, get to work and stare at my Orchids when my eyes burn out!

There's a twist to growing orchids in a place that can shoot up to over 100 F during the summers easily…

I have a difficult time growing the cooler growing orchids.

Some of the cooler growing Masdevallias are not easy to care for here in Los Angeles County unless we live by the coastal areas.

There are orchids you may be able to grow outdoors all year round and they may be somewhere in your neck of the woods...

Yeah, there are orchids that naturally grow in your part of the backwoods. You just have to know what to look for.

Depending on where in the midwest you are, Cypripediums may be the native orchids in your area. You might have Cypripedium montanum or Cypripedium reginae growing up in the woods in your home state. It's entirely possible you may have Tipularia discolor or Aplectrum hyemale growing near you. It could even be the cute little Calypso bulbosa var occidentals or Calypso bulbosa var americana, idk.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

This is how. Quick, easy, and cheap. This was the early version. Now there are around 150 crowded into this 10x10. Just visqueen sides and a plastic top.

But James, that only works if you also have the climate. Most of us have to settle for window sill in the winter.

[james mickelso]

Yes I am blessed with stable temps all year long. Seldom below 30f and seldom above 100 f. It gets dry for a week or more in fall and cloudy in summer but around 60-75 summer and 50-65 winter. Can't beat it with a stick. I'm spoiled. King is too. I live 1/2 block from my avatar. Been here all my life. Surfed this beach for 60 years.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I will admit, the climate here is pretty conducive to growing all but the coolest growing orchids or those that need super high humidity to thrive.

A large majority of orchids that are available for sale are growable here, whether it be indoors or outdoors.

I tend to like growing smaller orchids. I have a few of the larger ones mixed in there.

The problem that I have is mostly time or energy, sometimes a bit of burnout if the orchids are very demanding. If I know ahead of time, I try to limit the amount of orchids that must be grown with constant moisture and would absolutely go downhill fast if I missed a beat.

Of course, if I make mistakes with certain orchids and end up wiping them out, then that also frees up space. Wiping an orchid out isn't the goal for me or many other people though.

Growing orchids that go dormant helps out too. It gives me a break from watering them.

Not to mention, having a good sized piece of property means that I don't have to worry about space. I'd just have to make more space if it calls for it later in the future.

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

There's a twist to growing orchids in a place that can shoot up to over 100 F during the summers easily…

I have a difficult time growing the cooler growing orchids.

Some of the cooler growing Masdevallias are not easy to care for here in Los Angeles County unless we live by the coastal areas.

There are orchids you may be able to grow outdoors all year round and they may be somewhere in your neck of the woods...

Yeah, there are orchids that naturally grow in your part of the backwoods. You just have to know what to look for.

Depending on where in the midwest you are, Cypripediums may be the native orchids in your area. You might have Cypripedium montanum or Cypripedium reginae growing up in the woods in your home state. It's entirely possible you may have Tipularia discolor or Aplectrum hyemale growing near you. It could even be the cute little Calypso bulbosa var occidentals or Calypso bulbosa var americana, idk.

Thanks for those Orchids types! I plan to look into them, I do believe it is Cypripediums that grow around here but I'll have to check. I would love to have some growing in my yard. If I do be sure I'll post!

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Yes I am blessed with stable temps all year long. Seldom below 30f and seldom above 100 f. It gets dry for a week or more in fall and cloudy in summer but around 60-75 summer and 50-65 winter. Can't beat it with a stick. I'm spoiled. King is too. I live 1/2 block from my avatar. Been here all my life. Surfed this beach for 60 years.

Wow, wow, wow. Now that is where I'd like to live one day. Those sound like the PERFECT temperatures . Then I could keep my birds outside more often too! We have pretty nice summers though they can get hot but our winters are nothing to mess with, at least this year proved that.

Sounds like you grew up in paradise. Keep enjoying! Good to know too where the temps are perfect.

Thanks guys! I'm glad that I'm able to keep Orchids in the house at all, it's nice to be able to see them so much when in flower. And it's awesome if they flower in the winter when nothing else is. For that we're all blessed.

[LovePhals]

What type of birds do you have?
I am pretty picky about which orchids I buy. I can't throw them out so I know I am stuck with them for a long time if I don't like them. I have a few that I am not thrilled with but I keep them b/c I can't throw them away when they are healthy. Although, I do have an order of 5 I am going to make here soon that I can't pass up!