What did you do to your collection today?

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Or a good contractor..

Orchid people add rooms to their homes AFTER the kids move out.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Orchid people add rooms to their homes AFTER the kids move out.

I have put already some plants in my daughter's bedroom but she doesn't seem to mind.
Whe she comes home from uni, ocasionally, for a few days, I ask her "Are these plants ok here?" and she replies "No problem!"
But there's a problem...when she's here, she sleeps until 11:00 or noon which means a lot of sun hrs go to waste.
Young people's nights seems to be longer than mine.

[Mountaineer370]

Well, I did this yesterday, so I hope I'm not cheating here. I keep my orchids on my wooden dining table, so I do everything I can to protect the wood from moisture. First, I have water-resistant placemats down on the table under all the plants. Then, each plant sits on a round cork mat. On top of the cork mat I use the clear plastic saucers, and then the plant itself (most of which are in clear plastic pots) sits in that saucer. This arrangement has worked so far to protect my table top.

Now, this may give you an idea of how bored I am getting with this long, cold winter, but I decided to dust each of the cork mats with a stiff brush and wash all of the plastic saucers in soapy water. Did the same thing with my African violets that are in my bedroom window.

Now, what am I going to do with myself today? It's 9F outside. There's nothing else I can do with the plants that wouldn't be just pestering them. Thank goodness a couple of them are gracing me with pretty flowers to look at. My house needs cleaning. We'll see.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer370

Well, I did this yesterday, so I hope I'm not cheating here. I keep my orchids on my wooden dining table, so I do everything I can to protect the wood from moisture. First, I have water-resistant placemats down on the table under all the plants. Then, each plant sits on a round cork mat. On top of the cork mat I use the clear plastic saucers, and then the plant itself (most of which are in clear plastic pots) sits in that saucer. This arrangement has worked so far to protect my table top....

What about a water-resistant tablecloth? You could probably find a jungle print to match the orchids.

[Mountaineer370]

Originally Posted by estación seca

What about a water-resistant tablecloth? You could probably find a jungle print to match the orchids.

Thanks for the suggestion, but this is a triple-duty room: kitchen, dining room, and now orchid room. I can't give it over completely to the orchids, and I like things made of wood, so I don't want totally disguise it. If I did, though, I'd have to go with a solid color, as the jungle print with orchids on top would probably be too busy for my brain.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Follow-up on my February 11 post.

Temperature is 79 F today, partly cloudy. My orchids are still outdoors. I looked at the forecast for the next 10 days, no cold weather is forecast, so they likely will remain outdoors for at least the next week. They are not on my orchid bench, just chilling on some pavers outside in my back yard. Oh, and the mounted ones are hanging from tree branches. Spikes are forming on various plants, so far, so good!

Took pictures, maybe I will post my outdoor February plant setup later?

I also did some watering and fertilizer application.

I also looked at the (very) extended forecast (which is not expected to be reliable). Still, that forecast does not include weather that would force my plants back inside. If the weather holds, this will easily be the earliest I have moved my collection outdoors. By at least 2 weeks. Last year it was late February, which I thought was crazy early at that time. I'm aiming for Groundhog Day next year ("Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties" . . .)

[Dollythehun]

To us Hoosiers, that sounds insane.

[Leafmite]

I cannot imagine the orchids outside right now; it was snowing today. I will be re-potting Burr. Nelly Isler today. The new growths have nowhere to go....

[Pattywack]

Today has been a new orchid day for me, yay! I had placed an order with J&L almost three weeks ago and the weather has been too cold for shipping both in Connecticut and here in Maryland.

I had a large box delivered to my porch and was a bit surprised by the size of the box, I only ordered five plants, miniature. So exciting!

Upon unwrapping the plants, one bundle was much larger than the others. I had taken the plunge and ordered a (gasp) hybrid! I had to try Neostylis Lou Sneary Bluebird. The plant is a monster, a beautiful monster with one flower left on an old spike and a second spike about three inches long with buds forming! The Neostylis is six inches tall and seven to eight inches wide. It’s gorgeous! I had no idea the plant would be this large, very pleased. Needless to say it dwarfs my Neofinetia.

Also in the box we’re four miniatures, Macroclinium aurorae which is teenie, Pleurothallis sarracenia, Pteroceras semiteretifolia and Isabelia virginalis. I’m beaming! The plants are beautiful and healthy. They arrived moist and warm as if they were packaged today.

I have all of them quarantined for now though I’ve never had issues with J&L plants. I will take pictures and start my own thread. Tomorrow is going to be a snow day, again but I will be busy with new plants ignoring the cold white stuff!

[Bulbopedilum]

Removed a huge caterpillar from my Dendro. Pachyphyllum... the caterpillars seem to love Dendro. Pachyphyllum...
Luckily as far as I can tell only 2 leaves got eaten.