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My greenhouse

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by KellyW, Jun 6, 2015.

  1. orcoholic

    orcoholic Member

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    I see room for a couple Lepanthes in there. What's keepin you?
     
  2. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I adore Lepanthes but they don't like my conditions. The only one that has ever done well for me is L. gargoyle (purchased as L. manabina). It seems to do OK with the heat. I think it is among the better ones of the genus anyway :cool:
    However, my trend is away from large plants and focusing on miniatures. My wife thinks I'm nuts for doing that:rolleyes:
     
  3. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Lep. niesseniae, Lep telipogoniflora, & Lep tentaculata all do well in warm conditions. I know there are more, but those come immediately to mind. If humidity is an issue, you can grow them in a covered tray. They don't seem to care about air movement.
     
  4. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Thanks, Marni. It is so hot now I won't be ordering anything for a while.
     
  5. juanriog

    juanriog Barcelona, Spain. Inter GH.

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    Kelly, did you try to grow outside in summer time?
     
  6. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    No. It gets very hot and dry here every summer. Right now it is 111*F with 11% humidity. The only orchid that I have tried to grow outside in these conditions was Dendrobium kingianum. It screamed and died. I may try D. kingianum outside in the winter and see what happens since it is moderately frost hardy and our winter temps usually stay above 27*F.
     
  7. DPfarr

    DPfarr Well-Known Member

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    I have a kingianum outside in mostly full afternoon sun. Our temperature maxima are not very different.
     
  8. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Good to know. Potted or mounted? Does it stay out all year?
    Have you been successful with any others outside there?
     
  9. DPfarr

    DPfarr Well-Known Member

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    Its potted.

    I'm experimenting with Mystacidium capense on a cedar plank. Thus far into our hottest year on record its still growing well with root tips present. It takes in excess of an hour of late afternoon sun.

    There was a centerfold in Orchids Digest of a capense that got an FCC that was grown outdoors in the Santa Barbara hills. It's quite a bit drier up there and I suspect can get slightly colder. I had <500 plants of it so an average one was no loss to experiment. I appreciate doing this so I don't feel like a complete asshole when people ask about culture and I tell them they can be grown outdoors or in a north window (as two extreme orchid locales).
     
  10. juanriog

    juanriog Barcelona, Spain. Inter GH.

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    This is my first summer I take almost everything out. When the cold season begins I will put everything in again.
    My temp here are between 24 c up to 36 c right know. I grow them in cork so I over water to help them with the moist to. I have notice that this 2 months my plants are with new grows and look healthier than other summers. My gh is to hot!
    Cheers
     
  11. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    This is very nice, i hope one day my collection will look like this. I've been wanting to build an outdoor greenhouse for orchids and other plants but the winter in Ohio are very harsh I don't now if I could keep it warm enough. So instead I have made my one room in my attic into a make shift greenhouse the room has a big window that let's in a lot of bright light all year around and no direct so nothing sunburns and I have a rain barrel outside my house that I filter and use for all my plants. I also have fan and things hooked up.
     
  12. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Jai, perhaps you will start a thread to show us some images of your growing set up.
     
  13. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    I will try later today
     
  14. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    have you tried a spray solution or carnivorus plants to combat insects?
     
  15. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    have you tried putting more air vents\exit fans to increase air circulation?
     
  16. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Jai, I routinely use insecticides and miticides and spot treat with alcohol when I see any live mealybugs. I have had carnivorous plant. They are fun to grow but really have no affect on insect populations.

    I have modified my setup several times over the years.
     
  17. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    A good recipe spray to try is a spray bottle with 50:50 water to rubbing acohol with 2 tsp of blue dawn soap
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 10, 2015
  18. jai

    jai Orchid addict

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  19. Wade

    Wade New Member

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    Probably the best thing you can do is to talk to others who have a greenhouse. There are many factors to consider. Probably the most limiting is expense. Secondly is the area you are going to put it in. One thing that I highly reccommend if possible is to include an evaporative cooling system. It increases dramatically the variety of orchids you can grow. Another rule of thumb is the more air movement, the better. Best of luck!
     
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  20. Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    I have to disagree with that last statement, Wade - "the more air movement, the better" - up to a point.

    Air movement is simply intended to make sure there are no stagnant pockets anywhere in the growing area. Too much, and the "breeze" becomes desiccating to the plants, especially blossoms.
     
    juanriog likes this.