Ecological orchid growing or orchids w/o guilt

[Epipactis12]

I am trying to grow my orchids without using many resources requiring electricity, etc. So I grow the indoor ones in my bathroom mostly on trays to get humidity from showers and the outdoor orchids in a converted playhouse used by my kids. I have a rain barrel and try to use water from there, although I use the spigot plenty in our dry summers. I tried a solar portable fan (complete joke) for air movement, but am dependent on the breeze at the moment...

Not all of my orchids are happy with this regime, of course and I wonder if there is any other eco nuts out there that have advice? Here are some photos of growing areas and 2 outdoor orchids in bloom (Cymbidium Devon Odyssey and Encyclia diota that don't mind. Thanks for any advice!

Mary

[Johnny B]

Love the bathroom!

[orchids4me]

Interesting topic I was recently brain storming solar exterior lighting with motion sensors and where to place them to get around having an electrician come out and re do the wiring that shorted out a couple years ago ( yes I did disconnect it from the breaker box. It was a jimmy rig job my grandfather done years ago and time passed and wires with aging tape etc got exposed so to not have a fire I pulled the wires from the breaker and capped them off just in case). I also had to up the breaker for my grow space another grandpa job 1/2 the house wired into a 15 tandum braker. Sheesh !!! I talked to an electrician before I changed it out to a higher one. Its nice to be able to make coffee and use the toaster at the same time no while the over head lights are on and I don't have to turn off my grow lights anymore either ) it was a pain in the you know what!!!
But yeah out side going solar for night time no more wire mess!!!!
But. I like your idea if I set up a shade house and non breezzy hot days was one of my big concerns other than bugs.... So I'm interested in what others may have to say also. Thanks for posting this thread, and the power companys are really gougers in cali for sure!

[ysanabria]

Fantastic set up in the bathroom!!

[JudyC]

Interesting topic ... and nice display inside & out

[Epipactis12]

RE: the non-breezy hot days. Last summer I did get some irrigation tubing, a timer, and some mist heads, along with one of those little punchers to make a hole for the mister. Didn't know I could do this, not that handy with building stuff, but the misters one can buy are expensive and/or junky. So I made my own with misters where the orchids are. The timer I currently have only has the potential to come on 2x/day when I turn the hose on - which I only do when I need to or on hot days when I have to be away. Long way of saying that at least on hot days there is some mist and I also leave a couple of old catboxes (clean! Honest!) below the bench that collect water which then can evaporate. That doesn't provide the breeze but at least it is something.