This grow space is simply stunning !!! I am going to dream about this one for some time. I finally have decided that I will grow cool to cold loving orchids in my hot climate in a set up like yours. Cool growers here I come !!!
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Thanks a lot for putting me in the spot, Bruce.
I used to grow my plants(different kind of orchids, mainly hybrids) in a greenhouse when I lived up in further north, but now I only grow my plants in my basement under HID light. The cooler growers stay inside year round but the warmer growers will have to be outside for 6 months of the year. I was thinking about the greenhouse after I moved in the new house five years ago but financially I could not do it right away, plus I was not sure I should pick up this hobby... Well,... If I want a greenhouse again, I would like to have a true cool/cold greenhouse.
I will show you guys all my growing arears and plants someday, but for now, just three old photos of my indoor growing area/areas:
***There were 40% of my plants had been moved outside when I took those photos(in 2007?). The empty table on the right is for warmer growers and that table will be enclosed in the winter time and keep warm growers warmer.
I mainly grow minature or small species.
This grow space is simply stunning !!! I am going to dream about this one for some time. I finally have decided that I will grow cool to cold loving orchids in my hot climate in a set up like yours. Cool growers here I come !!!
wow tom,
thats a good start with pix!
everything is soooo neatly arranged, im jealous now!
So as to not take anything away from the Maxillaria variabilis, I moved your grow photos to the member's grow photo area in our community.
Tom, that looks like an incredible setup. I would not have guessed you grow under HID lights in a basement.
Nice growing.
Cheers,
BD
Growing under HID light(no experience with other kind of artificial light) is economical and low maintenance(equipments). The light system(one whole unit) is a combination of 250w of MH and 250W sodium. There is fresh air coming in from time to time through the air exchange system for the whole house.
Each table is 6X8 feet, not including the hanging walls, and hanging basket at the edge...
The table is cover with pond-liner, The potted plants are sitting on egg-crates. There is a drainage hole on the table to guide the waste water to the septic system.
Because of the way I set up my hanging walls. I can hose down my mounted plants just like I used to do in the greenhouse without a big mess.
Every basement has a different set of temperature and humidity depends on the location and size. I live by the bay and by the woods, the humidity is much higher naturally than most basements. I don't do any thing to maintain the humidity and it is naturally 65-85%for most of the time. Sometimes I have to turn on the dehumidifier to cut down the humidity level...
Thank you all.
Last edited by Tom-19951; September 12th, 2009 at 02:09 PM.
Tom-- this grow area is just cool. It's interesting how you've made it so much easier on yourself to water. I have the "haul-it-all-to-the-sink-one-by-one" setup right now! The 800! orchids you have must be a happy bunch down there with all of the pics you've posted.
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Wow Tom that is absolutely a fantastic grow area. Thanks for sharing. I love those mounts, good job.
What a wonderful growing space! Everything is neatly organized.
Wow! This is a very beautiful setup that you have got. I never thought for a while that you are having your plants in a basement under lights. We will be looking forward to your more recent pictures of your growing area. Great job!
What an amazing uber-neat set-up! No wonder the plants are so happy, it looks like a wonderful place to live in... hmm.. might move in... hahahah...