My Winter "Greenhouse"

[mauraec]

After studying the photos and explanations accompanying so many extremely impressive greenhouses, I needed a reality check. I don't have now, and will never have, a real greenhouse. I'm still getting over Geoff's thread on his "Greenhouse in Winter - A Pictorial Guide" - and trying not to commit the further mortal sin of envy when looking at Bruce's greenhouse - awash in blooms that I wouldn't know how to fantasize about!

In the summer, I have inside and outside space, depending on the particular plant, time of day, and temperature, but in the winter, all of my orchids come inside (excluding my cyms.) and live against the southern-facing wall in my living room - some in the bright light from the sliding glass, some in the lesser light to the side and farther back.

This is it in its entirety - together with 3 humidifiers, 4 small fans, and 4 auxiliary fluorescent lights - a hodgepodge, to be sure. Makes me wonder how I grow anything at all, really. And indeed, there are a few orchid corpses to attest to the tenuous nature of the arrangement - but I just have to get them all to the end of January before the outside space is somewhat available again.

Anyway, here are my 2 areas - leftish and rightish of the sliding glass doors. I took these around 10:30 a.m., so the sunlight made it difficult to balance light and dark areas - need a polarizing filter!






I'd love to hear from others who find themselves in any similar kind of position - how they attempt to grow greenhouse plants without a greenhouse.


Thanks y'all -
Maura

[pavel]

I have that same rack as in your first pic! Only downside to it is that I have 3 or 4 extra shelves because of the spacing I needed between levels.

[mauraec]

I have that same rack as in your first pic! Only downside to it is that I have 3 or 4 extra shelves because of the spacing I needed between levels.

Well, that same rack is also in my other photo, as well as outside in three different sections on the deck. We don't have much imagination, I guess - we also have about 7 or 8 extra shelves that I am determined to put to use in some fashion.

[GenevaDad]

And so what's the problem?! You have a great collection of plants and they ALL look very healthy. We all have our own special challenges when it comes to raising healthy, productive orchids. I think you are aware of the challenges you face and have them all under control! Keep up the good work you are doing!

[otis226]

Here you go, Maura. It's pretty infrequent that I need to bring everything in, many nights I can leave the large bonsai and more cold tolerant orchids out doors with a some blanket wraps. But with expected temps the next couple of nights down in the mid 20's possibly, everything green that isn't nailed down had to come into the lanai! The most fun is moving some pretty large bonsai in and out this time of year. Oh well, its only for a few weeks. We do what we must for our charges.
Best,
Tony

[mauraec]

Thanks, Tony -

Now I want YOUR grow area, too. No, no, no - I don't really mean to sound whiny - I'm just having a tough time getting all my orchids watered nearly every other day (even the catts), because I'm battling humidity issues - as in not enough, despite the fact that I have 3 humidifiers going along the south wall. I need a system here! I'm seriously looking into S/H, especially for my paphs and phrags. And Geoff says he grows his oncid. hybrids and even some catts in S/H. So what's stopping me? First, I just repotted nearly every plant in terra cotta, because I was worried about root rot (ha!) and wanted a reasonably uniform look to my plant shelves. And second, I'm trying to figure out how I can make an S/H system actually look decent in my living room - I don't want half my living room to look like a botany lab.

I heard y'all were going to have cold weather down there for a few days - you have my sympathy about getting large bonsais moved in - I had to move Phillip's 4' bald cypress in and out last week while the complex here pressure-washed our decks.

By the way, your home is lovely. Your plants enhance it so perfectly.

Don't worry, I'll settle down about this as the weather improves and I see the end of this particular time of the growing year - although I'm sure I'll have to obsess over something or other at that point - after all, what is growing orchids if not an obsession with lots of minutiae?

[otis226]

I know exactly what you're saying, Maura. Watering my vandaceous and mounted orchids takes about 10-15 min when they're outdoors, and the better part of 2 1/2 hrs. when they're in the lanai. Thanks for the comments. I kind of like they way it looks like a jungle in there this time of the year, but it drives my wife to distraction!
Best,
Tony

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Both of you have beautiful grow areas. Tony, you have some large bonsai! WOW. Love all the photos.

cheers,
BD

[k_andreev]

now you found the solution about your living room Maura,it look well organize and the plants look healthy.for the fist picture,be careful for the heavy stuff with the high of shelf.find something to hold or tight it or move the heavy one to the bottom/Kitty

[tunari]

Verry ,verry nice .