winter migration

[pikevi]

It has been a struggle to accomodate the orchids indoors for the winter. Only about 25 orchids are still outside in a heated mini GH. I think I have room for them as well. The migration will be completed by next weekend, I hope.

I am attaching some photos of the indoor locations of the orchids. It ,however, is not the final setup.

[robb]

wow, that looks like a lot of room got cleared out to make room for plants, hurray orchid-power!

it does look like a nice setup for winter; i was doing some searching through the forums, regarding light levels for winter, people are reporting their typical indoor growing area is <1000 foot candles, but the plants are doing just fine. some of the setups were typical of yours, but suggestions made to have the lights closer to the plants (nearly touching, i believe mayres suggested).

i have mine currently in two locations, one is north facing, large window, the plants are centered in the window; the other location is in a southern window room, against the eastern wall (if you can picture that??) with perhaps 2 hrs of direct, late afternoon sunlight (blinds available to be closed on sunny days). our area typically gets more sunny winter days than cloudy, and quite a short cold period. i'll attach some photos after i take them...
http://www.orchidgeeks.com/gallery/d...p?imageid=1708
the window is to the right in the picture.

[pikevi]

Last winter I had some sunlight that came in through the window for about 3 hours in the mornings. The orchids (Phals) did fairly well. That sunlight is only available in one of the rooms.

This time I have brought many orchids to the basement where there is NO sunlight. I have ,2X40W; 2X40W;1X20W broad spectrum fluorescent lighting attached to the ceiling. I bought 2 more sets of 2X40W for the same area and I will be putting them up this weekend.

I will see how the lights measure up. And my lights are at least 1 metre high.

Since you have some sunlight coming into your room ,you may not need many additional light fixtures.

[Vivienne]

That is quite an undertaking pikevi. Well done! I too have had to migrate my plants but thankfully it's only been from one end of the room to the other. LOL. Sooner or later I'll get some updated pics of my atrium. Looks a lot different than when I first posted pics!

[arleneg]

Wow! They sure filled up the basement quickly.

The four orchids I have outside will be moving in into the orchid room within the next week or so, as soon as I assemble the garment rack they'll be hanging from.

[Anton]

So many orchids, but I can't see you hiding in there, too much foliage I suppose.

Like trying to find Wally...........

[Orchidflowerchild]

No, no, ANton. You're thinking of Where's Waldo... Find Wally is an entirely different game....

-Cj

[mayres]

Looks good! Wish I had as much room as you do. I brought all but my five cymbidiums in this week as well. For some reason they don't fit in the same space from whence they came????? Hmmmm.

[Vivienne]

That's a good thing mayres... lots of growth! Or is it that their space has been taken up by new plants?? Time to get creative. LOL

[kazjak]

Wow Pikevi! I was wondering where I was going to put my 10...... I guess I should be greatful. Is that a bowl of Duck Weed in the last picture?

[Aleksa]

Do i see some mounted Dendrophylax on the second pic?

[pikevi]

yes, Vivienne. It was.

I spent many hours moving things, putting up shelves and mounting light fixtures. My wife was upset that I did not leave that work to the pros. She still thinks the ceiling or the wall may come down

I gave the tubular stand for that fish tank to my cousin and I had to build a stand myself. I did not want to spend another $100 on a stand. I think I did a pretty good job with wood. I am sure I have the potential to have a second profession: carpentry LOL

My Cyms grew big too. They DID like the direct sun!

Anton: It will be still harder when I bring the other tropical plants inside.

kazjak: Yes it is duckweed.

Alksa: Those two mounts are Tillandsias and Rodriguezia decora

[joan gero]

Gosh Pikevi, having all those pots would take up every window sill in my house! No wonder all my plants are still outside... I can hardly bear the thought of where they'll go when they come in. Do you put the ones in bloom somewhere else, like on your dining room table or somewhere integrated into your non-orchid spaces?

[brookn]

Wow nice setup Pikevi. Our nights are still in the 60's, but I've been working on my winter setup, and whew lots of work. You must be happy the end is in sight.

[pikevi]

Thanks, brookn. We were down to below 40F (one night was 37F) last week and the temperature has since stabilized around 50F.

joan gero: Usually I don't move them around. But this time three of them are away; two are on the 'coffee table' and one is on the dining table.

[mayres]

For those who may have already or are contemplating bringing your plants in like pikevi and I did this past week - keep an eye out for pests who may have come inside with your plants. I brought mine in after dark - in a hurry - due to an oncoming storm. I wondered if maybe there might be a stray mealy or something that I would have to deal with laster? I was shocked to walk in and observe my plants this morning and note that a SLUG had climbed up two flights of shelves to have breakfast on one of my phals (which now has a small new leaf riddled with holes!). mike

[Vivienne]

oh pooh Mike - how awful. Be sure to put out some plates of beer and make sure there aren't any more little critters hiding!!!

[orchid_girl]

I can relate to that. It wasn't my orchids it was my other tropicals. I brought in my dracenas (boy have they grown) and I had a spider nesting on one ofr them. The other had ants...had to spray them both down....UGH!


Pikevi you have a great set up for all of your plants

[kazjak]

Pikevi...throw that duckweed out! I can send about a ton of it to you in the spring! I spend all summer raking it out of the pond with my canoe and it just multiplies and multiplies and multiplies and multiplies and .........