my vanda grow area improvement
 

I spent about 6 hours this morning redoing my shade canopy area where all of my vandas and a few other hanging plants grow. I raised the left side support by at least 2 feet and it is so much nicer! It looks better, the plants will grow better, and the layout construction is much stronger now. I have two orchid grow areas. This one is all hanging orchid plants. With good reason, I call this grow area the 'oasis'.

That is beautiful!

Something I do in my hot climate is use annual or perennial vegetable plants as shade during our hot season. Okra makes a good quick vertical screen. Yard-long bean or blackeyed pea (same species) is a vigorous vine for hot weather, and a few plants produce a very large number of beans. Luffa sponges or other similar gourds like winter melon and bitter melon, and many real melons, also serve this purpose.

When luffas are small they can be eaten like summer squash.