Blooming in this heat

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Thank you!
From fall into spring is when all the phals, many of the paphs and dendrobiums are in bloom.
Then intergenerics and maudiae paphs blooming at random times throughout the year.

I have about 200 and you have 1000!!!
I would love to have a greenhouse. oh, well...

Are you a hobby grower?

BIG SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.. I have a small apt. not much room. JamesL

[Chatbud]

200 orchids growing in an apt???
How long does it take to water/feed them? Half a day?????

[NYCorchidman]

Well, many are either lady slippers that do not grow very big, and many dendrobiums and cattleyas that grow skinny and tall, so they do not take up much space and I can put many of them side by side. lol


Well, properly watering them all (which happens about once every two week) does take a long time like 4 to 6 hours. Yeah, that is like a half day almost!

During the summer time when everything dries fast, I water about half of my collection more than twice a week. These are fast growing dendrobiums, some cattleyas, oncidiums, and others in rather course potting mix.
Ones in mostly moss or in larger pots, I water less.

Then I mist and dunk small hanging pots and mounts at least once everyday.

Also, I take time to examine and clean leaves quite often now that I have some mites issues.
With window open in the summer, even green aphids make their way in and land on young leaves or growing spikes, so I really have to watch out for the bugs.

Overall, I enjoy tending my plants. I think it is a great hobby.

I really wish I had a greenhouse though. The watering chore will be much easier then. oh, well...