My Growing Space #2

[Sharyn]

Ellen: The new space looks great - wish I had more room to do the same!

IrishCreamCoffee: I think I saw of pic of you with a violin? Studying professionally? It's amazing how we all love orchids and yet come from so many different walks of life. Sure makes the forum interesting.

[prisana]

Ellen, lucky you with your new space. Me ? I'm starting to pack some of my stuff to make room...my husband shakes his head everytime he sees me moving something out..

[pikevi]

Looks great, chefatplay. Looks like a professional job.

I assume the skylight is just about the orchids.

And I like your colour coordination.

[PhalPal]

Very nice Chef!!! Nice touch with the orchid pics above the shelf.

[arleneg]

Ellen,

Nicely done! What kind of pots are those towards the right? Tree fern type??

I can hardly wait to start decorating my house...still working on paying off two cars. When done with the payments, I can start shopping for furniture for the formal dining and living room areas...and accessories.

[Kevin Western]

Originally Posted by kmarch

In the short time I have been reading and posting on this forum, I have noticed quite a few posts where people are sharing information and advice about growing spaces, from windowsill, to Edwardian cases, to sun rooms and all the way up to greenhouses. So I thought there might be some interest in a thread dedicated to growing spaces where people can post pics of their spaces, share info, ask questions. I find I learn something new every time I visit someone's growing space. This thread will allow us to visit each others' growing spaces in a "virtual" sort of way.

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I'll get the thread started. I live in Melbourne Australia where the climate is somewhat mild, similar in many respects to some places in the southern US. During our winter the temps are around 40F at night and 60F during the day. Winters are fairly cloudy and wet with high humidity. Summers here are hot and dry, 60F+ at night and 85F+ during the day with low humidity (sometimes less than 10%).

The climate here allows me to have 2 spaces one indoors for my Paphs and warmer growing plants and one outdoors for the cool tolerant plants.

Sunlight here is intense and, depending on what you're growing, 50-70% shadecloth is used outdoors. My outdoors growing space gets no direct sunlight yet is broght enough to bloom Cymbidiums, Australian native Dendrobiums and Dockrilla, and a few other things. The first picture is of this outside growing space.

Outside I have to adjust my watering seasonally: in the summer at least twice a week (notice the trays under the Cymbidiums), in the winter about once a week sometimes less. The mounted orchids get soaked once a week in the summer with an almost daily misting to raise humidity, and get soaked about twice a month in winter with little misting.

Indoors I grow mostly Paphs and Coelogyne with a few other things. The second pic shows how I grow in trays in a window. I rotate trays to give the plants on the lower trays a bit more light. In summer I water twice a week and in winter once a week.

Light in the indoors is enough to bloom Cattleyas, Paphs, Coelogyne, and hopefully some Gongoras and Encyclias.

I only fertilize the outdoor plants during spring and summer.

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Take a moment and post some pics of your growing spaces and let us know how you grow your plants in our space.

Cheers,

-Kevin

Hi Kevin,
I'll be over in Melbourne at the Maribyrnong Orchid Club show on the 8 th & 9th of September. Your flask of Den. tetragonums are ready for deflask & I can bring them over for you if you like.
Regards, Kevin Western

[chefatplay]

Pikevi- I have worked this room up from all white. It's only taken forever, though. As you can see by the paint chip, I'm working on deciding on my next color. Hubby's got it made, though. I do all the painting. The skylight is 30 feet above the shelf.

Arleneg- I bought the planters at the Vero Orchid show in the spring. They are palm leaves twisted and tied to the frame. They are a little fragile, though, don't know how long they'll last.

Phalpal- You can blame Anton for the pictures. He has been helping me along and now I'm totally addicted. Thank you.

[sandra]

Ellen, that looks really nice. What are those phals in? Are they those moss baskets, pre-made? I've seen them and have wondered........ a great alternative to my lack of space would be to hang these and I would if I planned on staying here but, that's not what's in the stars... I can't believe I am thoroughly out of room again for more orchids..... Anyway, this spot looks very pretty.

[pikevi]

wow, great job.

I get tired of looking at the same colour too. I like to go with wall papers. Much easier to put them up but can be a bugger to get them off.

[orchid_girl]

Well my growing area right now is in my kitchen in my bay window. I only have two but I will be getting more soon as I learn more about them.

[arleneg]

Ellen,

Although those palm leaves pots are fragile, they add character and beauty in the home. Now, I'll be on the look out for some. That is, if anyone in California or the west coast makes them.

[chefatplay]

Don't worry new to orchids. I started with one plant in March of this year, found this forum and now I have 13! I have no idea how that happened!?

Arlene - thank you for the kind words. I bought them at an orchid show. They come from Miami,(don't know if they're made there or not.) The next time I have a show near by, I'll let you know. They are light, so I would be happy to ship some to you.

[Sharyn]

Thread bump.

I ran out of room. I need a bigger condo! In preparing for the winter, I added a glass shelf in my kitchen window to accomodate some of the orchids. Technically, the kitchen is probably not the best place to grow orchids, but I only have two areas - a southern exposure and the kitchen. It's a west window, so I get nice light and can control the afternoon sun with the blinds - plenty of humidity. Unfortunately, I had to take down my curtains so it's not a decorating delight, but a temporary solution for the winter.

[PhalPal]

Sharyn they look like a nice happy little family!! I see smiles.....

[pikevi]

The plants look great,Sharyn.

You should get an A+ for neat and uncluttered arrangement

I wish I can get a few lessons from you

[arleneg]

Sharyn,

They look happy there. I like your idea of installing a glass shelf by the window. I've been thinking of doing something similar. However, for now, my hubby bought another set of shelves for me since my collection has grown. He and I will be rearranging (removing a table and replacing it with the shelves) my orchid room this weekend.

[PhalPal]

I just spent well over two hours re-reading this entire threads and provided links. About page four, I went and got a cup of coffee and settled in for awhile! I am getting a spare room ready as an orchid room and going to order lights, fans, shelves, etc TODAY!! WooHoo!!! Thank you everyone for all the fine ideas and suggestions; I now know exactly what is the best decision for my situation. Besides, this wonderful thread needed a good bump.

[psyc1210]

I finally transferred my small collection of orchids from a 1 shelf crowded table to a 4 shelf baker's rack. Now it looks pretty empty since they're split between two shelves. And now I want more!! hehe

[articuno75]

Now see you can add more to the rack and more to the old crowded table. (Did I mention that I'm not a good influence do to being an orchidolic? )

[patticake]

Awesome! I'll have to show this to my husband...hint, hint

[pikevi]

Looks very nice psyc1210.

I hope you have more like it for future expansion!!

[flowerchild]

It does look pretty empty, all the more reason to try and fill it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vivienne]

Very nice... you now have plenty of room for more orchids! YEAH!!

[rmt135]

Just crowd the 4 shelf baker's rack with more orchids. Then you can post a picture of another new rack which is quite empty. What do you do - go & buy again & the process will go on & on & on & on ....................................

[evagentry]

Congratulations on all the empty space,the only better thing is filling it.

[mayres]

Thought I'd post a few pics of some of my blooming phals along with their general growing area. For those who may be interested in growing more phals and have not got the room presently - a setup like this works very good with inexpensive shop lights - I've been at it for a couple of years now and it seems ideally suited for phals. The only issue is that when they spike you have to put most of the longer spikes off to the side as you can see. I also have 6-8 really long ones that I have actually put other places or given to others to enjoy during the blooming time - that will not fit. It is surprising sometimes how fast the spikes can be pressing up into the light fixtures - then just remanuever and keep going.

[mayres]

Okay Connie - here is how I have my T5 currently - my initial thought was to put the T5 on the bottom section of the shelves I had made for my shop lights - but when I tried that I was frying all my orchids - I couldn't get them far enough away! :-) So, I had to find another place - and have yet to put my shoplights back into my original setup and am currently just using the bottom section for misc. non-orchid storage. This is all a learning process to find out what works as we all have found out.

[sandra]

OMG, I'm just seeing this old post of mine and don't even recognize this space anymore. Things have changed dramatically which I didn't realize till seeing these photos. What a difference a year makes.

[Vivienne]

LOL Sandra. Yesterday I was looking at old pics of my atrium (to put on my website) and couldn't even believe how bare it looked!

[exasperatus2002]

Great thread gang!! I'll have to take a pic of my stand though its not as impressive as most of yours are.

[Vivienne]

Go for it Scott. Remember, we all (well ok, most of us) started with 'a stand' or a table. It's fun to look back and see how things change!

[Sharyn]

Sandra & Viv: LOL I think my growing space changes every month.

Phalpal: Where's those pics of your new set-up?

Mike: Very nice growing set-up - and SO NEAT! You must have Merry Maids service for Orchids.

[Celcat]

Hello everyone,

I live in a 1 bedroom flat, in UK (Southern of england) SE orientated and do have 23 orchids, 3 of them now are at my office as they are not in bloom but in resting period.
Every room has some orchids except the bathroom as there is no window!
So here my pics....
I wish I could have a balcony... but I was not that lucky
The 1st pic is the east orientated window in my living-room,
the 2d pic is my kitchen (east orientated)
the 3rd south window in the living-room (yes, I do have 2 window in my living-room with different orientation)
the last pic is a south orientated window in my bedroom (they are not in flower at the moment)

So here my little installation

[PhalPal]

Sharyn our camera is all but broken and my husband is searching for a new one. I can take macro shots but anything else is very blurred. We have almost no good shots of the SB show. My husband is looking at the Canon's as many forum members like them. We'll probably get it this weekend! I really miss having a camera!

[Vivienne]

Celcat - it sure looks like you are taking advantage of every possible source of light. Way to go! You have some beautiful blooms!

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by pikevi

The plants look great,Sharyn.

You should get an A+ for neat and uncluttered arrangement

I wish I can get a few lessons from you

I will be getting an F. Because my wife has hijacked my home made orchid stand for her cactus & nicknacks and her cremated cat she had for 22 yrs. She wanted somewhere nice for a final resting place but the woods werent good enough for her.

[articuno75]

Originally Posted by exasperatus2002

I will be getting an F. Because my wife has hijacked my home made orchid stand for her cactus & nicknacks and her cremated cat she had for 22 yrs. She wanted somewhere nice for a final resting place but the woods werent good enough for her.

LoL. Funny, yet understanding. You just need to buy either yourself another stand or get her one. Keep the kitty.

[Celcat]

Thank you Vivienne,

I try to do my best There is only one spot that I could use if really desperate... but I would need lighting and ventilation system and that would be in my loft!! I think I will wait to get a bigger place...

[janice]

I would love to have an orchid hut......................In the summer I have an Orchid Wall under the south end of our walk out basement..and in the winter they go to my south bedroom door/or in the west living room windows....I am envious of all the possibilities posted.

[pikevi]

exasperatus2002: articuno75's advice seems good.

Get another good one!!

I just saw today that a chrome plated 3 tier shelf is going for $12:49 at a local Canadian chain-store.

I am plannig to get two. I will worry about where they will go later

[exasperatus2002]

Ok heres my monstrosity but keep in mind, when I built it. I was single and had it in an apartment in front of a sliding glass door. Its amazing, when your a single man, how much more important function is over form. Then you get married and its time for culture shock (i.e. your not wearing that are you? no dear, I just put it on to show you that Im not going to. mumble mumble women...) The shelves are 24" apart.

Ok for introductions on the top row left to right we have--
a succulent pot with something ? & a donkeys tail ( the dt used to be 3' long but cat played with it so I cut it back).
Guarianthe aurantiaca (formerly Cattleya aurantiaca)
2 noid Phals.
seedling snap dragon


On the top shelf I also have my wifes 2 cactus which have a bunch of keikis of their own but the parent is getting narrow in the middle and flopping over. they need to be sent to mark martins house for a little while for a pick me up.

2nd shelf

My mount of a noid Dendrobium
Brassia Rex
my big noid Dendrobium
Blc. Chia Lin ‘New City’ AM/AOS

in front of them (closer to the window) I have my seedlings-

Lc. Caudebec ‘Marty’s orchids’
Oncidium kramerianum x versteegianum
Dendrobium 'Burana Wan' keiki

[flowerchild]

Originally Posted by pikevi

Awesome display of growing spaces!

Spectacular collection of orchids as well.

Congratulations to all.

(I do play music to the plants: can't give you any reference but I remember reading something about a controlled study of the effect of different music on the rate of growth and health of plants.

Pikevi, the show Mythbusters did a study on that very thing!!! The plant that was played soft flowing music did better than the plant that had rock n roll or that generally loud obnoxious music.

[flowerchild]

Originally Posted by mayres

Okay Connie - here is how I have my T5 currently - my initial thought was to put the T5 on the bottom section of the shelves I had made for my shop lights - but when I tried that I was frying all my orchids - I couldn't get them far enough away! :-) So, I had to find another place - and have yet to put my shoplights back into my original setup and am currently just using the bottom section for misc. non-orchid storage. This is all a learning process to find out what works as we all have found out.

Mayres, do you find that the 2 sets of 2 lights are enough light and what kind of bulbs do you have in them? I am setting up a set of shop lights and just need a little advice? Thanks Cindy aka flowerchild

[pikevi]

exasperatus2002: Your monstrosity will put some professionals to shame... I was expecting a shoddy workmanship, but that is a fantastic shelf.. I wish I had your talent!!

If I did, I will have many shelves all around the house, but , of course , NOT my wife

[PhalPal]

OH MY GOSH I got my pics to upload!!!! Yeah!!!

This is the beginning of my new 'orchid room.' We have two guest rooms and one of them has been taken over by me!! Guests from now on will just have to share. In fact, maybe this we mean we will get fewer guests.

I have hybrid and species Phals, Oncidium and a few Catts growing indoors. I built the frame out of PVC pipe and I still don't have it exactly like I want it. The lights are four foot/four bulb T5's. I recently re-potted almost everything into my own recipe of coir/dynarock/perlite/charcoal mix in plastic pots. The trays have gravel in them and are the type with the little hose for drainage. I cut up a plastic grate for the plants to sit on over the gravel and it has worked great. I bought a cheap cork board and wrapped it like a present in mylar and hung it on the wall. I then used picture hangers to hang my cork bark mounts. ALL seem very happy and I am getting lots of nice fat roots that I can see through the plastic; I love seeing what is going on in the pot!

I will add pics later of my outdoor growing space where I have Cymbidiums and Laelia anceps. I recently added a large cork log with four Cattleya mounted to it with spraghum. The entire log is attached to a palm tree hanging over an in-ground jacuzzi. Time will tell if they will make it through the summer but it would sure be wonderful to have blooming Catts in this area.

With the weather warming up so quickly I need to construct a little shade house on the east side of my backyard to put my Cyms in summer. As always, a work in progress.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of your arrangements, no matter how big or small!

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by sandra

Kevin, Awesome! I'd rather get locked up in your orchid room than at the Hershey Chocolate Factory which I thought, nothing could ever beat...until now!

Sandra, how about being locked up in Kevin's orchid room with a huge Hershey Bar!

[Sharyn]

It's looking good Connie! I can see that your T-5 lights really give a lot of light. Nice idea with the mylar to reflect the light on your mounted orchids.

You still have lots of room for guests, that is, "orchid guests."

[fred]

congrats Connie
I like your setup
orchids are more important than guests lol

[PhalPal]

Orchids are a lot easier to feed and clean up after too.

[pikevi]

A very nice setup, PhalPal.

[sandra]

A whole room just for orchids...that's on my wish list. Nice set up Connie and room for more of whatever strikes your fancy...ideal!

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Sandra, how about being locked up in Kevin's orchid room with a huge Hershey Bar!

LOL. How 'bout his orchids in my house with a unlimited supply of Hershey bars and close to the fridge where I can get to the insulin!

[PhalPal]

Since I cut up the grates as a 'floor' it has doubled my space for pots. I think it was Sharyn's idea? Thanks - great plan! It gives me a two story set-up and my low light mini or species Phals are on the bottom floor, Oncs and a few Catts on the top floor. I LOVE having this room all to my orchids; it's my little sanctuary.

When we get our new camera (come on hubby....pick one already!!) I will post pics of my OTHER two growing areas, i.e. my kitchen window and patio outside. My Cyms have bloomed very late this year, so did my Phals. It has been worth the wait! I have several first time bloomers and they are just gorgeous. Can't wait to share!

[Sam_Smith]

Been an orchid geek for a few years now, just changed my growing system over to coconut chips/hand watering, I was trying hydroponics but that didn't works so well for me.

[tizzycat]

picture tomorrow, when there is some natural light

[sandra]

Sam, great growing setup you have.

I'm curious about the coconut chips for your Phals. Nothing else? I've been using bark (w/perlite/charcoal) and just repotted about 10 young Phals, adding about 20% coir. They were drying too fast. How long have you had them in this new mix? What results have you noticed so far?

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by sandra

LOL. How 'bout his orchids in my house with a unlimited supply of Hershey bars and close to the fridge where I can get to the insulin!

I'm a diabetic as well, but I figured as long as we're dreaming...

[sandra]

Originally Posted by Sharyn

Unfortunately, I had to take down my curtains so it's not a decorating delight, but a temporary solution for the winter.

Sharyn, that's a very inventive idea you had with the glass shelving and very pretty too. Yeah, you're an orchidholic to sacrifice your decorating senses for their wellbeing.

[Sharyn]

LOL Sandra!

Fred can no longer eat at his dining room table - it's full of orchids.

Connie has only 1 bedroom left for "people" guests.

When Arlene's daughter moved, she burned up the carpets redoing the room for orchids.

pikevi's wife will soon be sendiing him to the basement and Mike (mayres) is already there!

Me? No curtains - no problem.

[Vivienne]

LOL - that's great Sharyn!! Oh what we do for our beloved 'chids!

[tom499]

Thats a great set up Sam! so organised too, most unusual for an orchid grower hehe

Please tell us more about what your growing, i see lots of lovely green seedlings there.

[sandra]

Sharyn, I don't know if we can include this to your list but the other day when I was shopping, I had a gorgeous green flowering Phal in one hand and a gorgeous pair of strappy summer sandals in the other hand. I couldn't quite afford both. The Phal. won out.

[PhalPal]

The worse/most crowded of my growing areas is my patio. The cyms have taken over!! They are lovely to look at but we have to move lots of plants if we want to eat outside.

[okianer]

well I put my pictures somewere..here again
my greenhouse is in proces of building

[norris]

I live in an apartment with a nice big east facing bedroom where I have my orchids. It gets full morning sun, then bright light reflected off the adjacent building the rest of the day.
Since space is limited, I put plants that need the most light on the sill, such as the large rambling Epidendrum in the background, I thought that thing would never flower, but this year it put out three spikes, I can't wait to see the flowers I placed an old dresser next to the window where I have a nice assortment of plants that need a bit less light.
My bathroom also has a small east facing window, that is where I keep newly potted, or sick plants.
I have a west facing porch that I keep a few Cymbidiums. I'm seriously thinking about a bigger place just so I can get more plants

[tizzycat]

Only a windowsill grower, just now, I'm afraid

Lounge Windowsill No.1.



Lounge WIndowsill No.2.



Kitchen Windowsill.



Considering this when everything else is full. I also have a small GH but unheated at the moment.



Problem with the conservatory is huge fluctuations in temperatures.

[PhalPal]

You have some major windosills Tizzy!! Your orchids look really happy.

I have this thing about windows and front doors. I think you can tell a great deal about a person by these two personal places. They are either alive and inviting, or cold and uninviting. Your windows are full of life, literally.

[kmarch]

Thanks tizzy for sharing your pics and info about your growing spaces. It's really helpful whenmembers share this kind if info. It's useful and other members get some good ideas to improve their spaces.

Originally Posted by tizzycat

Problem with the conservatory is huge fluctuations in temperatures.

This might not necessarily be a bad thing. It's possible that you cold grow several orchids that prefer those temp fluctuations, I'm thinking specifically of various Dendrobium species and other orchids that come from climates where the seasons are more pronounced. You might be able to grow some things the rest of us can't.

Also, depending on the nature of your temp fluctuations, they may not be detrimental to more commonly grown orchids.

Can you describe your temp fluctuations? Temp ranges, etc?

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by Anton

All I can say Maddy, is that they must love the music you play.

Four Seasons by Vivaldi ?

Judging by her signature, I'm guessing Maddy plays a lot of Rush (a Canadian rock group) for her plants!

[exasperatus2002]

As I mentioned in a previous thread, Im going to be closing on a house in the coming weeks. I did another walk thru today and picked out the spot for my orchids. Its the south east corner. I cant wait to move in. I'll have room for my lil chids when I eventually send & recieve my hybrid's pod (Blc. Chia Lin 'New City' AM/AOS x Guarianthe aurantiaca) from flasking.

[tizzycat]

Originally Posted by tizzycat

Can you describe your temp fluctuations? Temp ranges, etc?

Kevin I'm not precisely sure, but you have whet my appetite, I will place my Max/Min in there for a while and report back the results.

I just assumed that the differences would be too much.

Just now, it's pleasant through the day, but cold through the night.

In the summer it will be overpoweringly hot in the day, and obviously cooler, but not cold through the night.

I'll get back to you on this if that's ok?[/QUOTE]

Oh and the windowsills in the lounge are North East facing, and so far, so good, everything I have seems to cope well with that. Kithchen is almost South East (nearer east with morning to mid-day sun), so have to keep phals away from the windows on good days.

[janice]

Kevin, thanks for starting this thread! It is so much fun to see what everyone has and does with their orchids. I am in Southern Illinois. Temps in the summer range from 60's at night to 90's during the day. In the summer we have lots of humidity and heat!!! I have must of my orchids outside on a walkout porch under a roof or I put them under trees in the shade. During the winter (Oct. th/ April) they all have to come inside. I try to give them a shot of cooler nights in the fall. Inside our temps run from 75 during the day to 60ish at night. Our bedroom has a walkout so the South window/door is the sunniest place I have. This year I used shoe racks (yes, shoe racks!) for the orchids. I am going to buy or make different shelving for next winter (because I just keep BUYING!) Humidity is low in the winter so I have a fan going, bought a small humidifier and use water trays. In my living room which has a large bay window and double door facing the west I have my Paphs. and Phals. I dream of having an Orchid House!!

[Sharyn]

tizzycat & exasperatus: You guys have such GREAT windowsills for growing and nice natural lighting. Most of us don't have those deep sills. Sure eliminates the need for tables or shelving near the windows.

janice: Using the shoe racks is a great idea and a space saver.

[jctusa]

Originally Posted by mayres

Okay Connie - here is how I have my T5 currently - my initial thought was to put the T5 on the bottom section of the shelves I had made for my shop lights - but when I tried that I was frying all my orchids - I couldn't get them far enough away! :-) So, I had to find another place - and have yet to put my shoplights back into my original setup and am currently just using the bottom section for misc. non-orchid storage. This is all a learning process to find out what works as we all have found out.

I have decided that if I want to get my cattleyas to bloom, I will need an artificial light source in the winter and have been looking for ideas. Mayres I really think your model will work for me. Can you share any insight about it - types of lights use, how they were mounted etc. I was going to make a lighting shelf, but your plastic shelf looks exceptional.

Thanks,

John

[PhalPal]

exaperatus GREAT little room for your orchids!!! The shades will be very useful. Did you pick the house for your plants or for you?? Like, does it have a kitchen??

John several of us have recently purchased lights and went through months of price shopping. If you would like some links to the places that we bought from nobody even minds sharing price information. Please feel free to just ask!

[jctusa]

Thanks PHALPAL. I would like to see any links related to the groups light price shopping that anyone might have.