The "Orchidpatio.."

[sweetjblue]

Beautiful grow area RJ. Everything looks so nice and healthy! It's nice to see both you and the chids are happy in the new digs!

Judi

[RJSquirrel]

thanks you all again .. and tucker if you nailed me down and made me beg for my life I couldn't swear in any real scientific terms why or how the jars work for me.
I think Its the same phenomena that makes a cold glass of water sweat in the heat. The water inside the glass eventually ends up outside the glass by convection until its all the same temp. So by that the temps inside the jars which are kept moist by the moss and rocks, creates a micro mini climate. When they get warmed by the sun or lights the water starts to evaporate cooling off the roots and revitalizing the moss each day. When the sun goes down yes you guessed it the water returns to the reservoir under the rocks.The roots never sit in water but always have water if they need it.

Its in essence an open top terrarium for orchids.

I think I'm going to go back to using hydroton, leca or whatever its called in your area. Expanded Shale would work too. It looks so much better than the granite chips. Looking at this vid Im really unhappy with the lack of uniformity with the granite chips.

[tcrane]

Beautiful healthy plants RJ! I've moved a few of my plants into a similar set up - inspired by you - my windowsill masdevallias seem very happy. I've used small sherry glasses for miniature plants!

-Tristan

[RJSquirrel]

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

thanks you all again .. and tucker if you nailed me down and made me beg for my life I couldn't swear in any real scientific terms why or how the jars work for me.
:

Interesting. Where do you get the bowls? Are they just gold fish bowls? What size net pot do you use in them?

[RJSquirrel]

I get the bowls at the dollar store for 1.09..it cost too much to change the sign to 1.09 I'm guessing and 1.09 store doesnt have the same ring ya know...The 3 inch net baskets fit the bowls I can find perfectly. I load the jar up with obviously whatever I can find so the top of the net ie even with the top. Im working on settling the mix ssue. What I like seems to change all the time when I see someone else growing great orchids in something different. I wish they would stop that so I can make up my minds ...these work great in windowsills for keeping moisture at bay inside them. they are outside now bec its not too hot. they can be mini boilers or they can be mini coolers..depends I find on how you use them....they need to come inside way too soon as the plants really like being outside ..

[epiphyte0]

HOLY BOWLS! How many is that and how often do you water?

I hear the sound of water running in the background, do you have a pump/aquaponics pump going through those bowls?

[lostonthebeach]

Great set up. Nice to see a video.

[MrsSky]

thanks for the video-so tranquil!

[RJSquirrel]

Ill have to update the video now

thanks and next time Ill add some music and try to keep things in focus a little better...everything that didnt get broken in a series of 2 hail storms in one week is doing fine...Got some weird spotting on some from what I think was ice that got down between the leaves and melted..Orchids dont like ICE regardless of what some says. but thanks you all for having a peek. I'm adding more plants, 30 paphs this week I bought from my new freinds in hawaii. I have no more room with a total of around 300 plants. Then next...

My next project is going to be customizing a floral cooler for masdys..I found a 3 door 5 shelve used floral cooler. Doesnt have enough lights in it and havent figured out how to get more lights in it..I havent figured out how to get it in the house yet either....hmmm I can take it apart and rebuild it inside

The bowl plants get mist everyday and not watered. The moisture is trapped, so on occasion I have to wring out the moss bec it gets sopping wet and nothing I know like soppin wet all the time. Most of the jars have gone back inside bec its way too hot for the cool growers already here. Been hitting 90+ on the porch and Im worried about the warm growers now. Its too damn hot and dry.

Humidity is my bane