My grow area...aka the orchid bar

[Cjcorner]

My back porch would normally be called a tiki bar. But, since i'm not normal it's now referred to as the orchid bar. A member asked me to show my set-up...so here it is. The paving stones and pool seem to reflect a ton of sunlight. I have to hide phals and oncidiums in the darkest corners...and still they burn.

I put alot of cattleya on the bar as this seems to be where these ones like it best.



As you walk out the back door I arrange the blooming plants so it's the first thing you see.



Down at the far end in the corner is the misting area I call the jungle.



I've begun moving everything back against the wall as the sun has been so hot lately it's burning everything. You'll probably notice alot of burn spots on the plants I had out front for awhile.



...this will take a couple more posts to finish...

[Cjcorner]

The vanda area includes a few Renanthera now.



I have to move things around to make sure everything gets good air movement and a good thorough watering every day. The black tubing is for the drip system...it waters the plants farther out from the mist.



Mounts and baskets are included in the area as well as a nice Bulbophyllum Lepidum in the metal heart shaped basket...it has three spikes.

[Cjcorner]

Under the hanging vanda area are a few of the baskets that like it abit sunnier...they catch what drips off the roots overhead.



Looking from the other side you see the extreme sun lovers...a schomburgkia, an encyclia a few mini vandas....an a huge cattleya, encyclia cross that won't bloom for me. It grows, has nice roots...gets moved everywhere in an attempt to bloom it....but nothing. Arrgghh



Move the bamboo leaves and there are a few more vanda...a renanthera...



The area for the cattleya is further down by the bar...this area, another high sun area, is for the dedrobium. I didn't pull my shelves back fast enough and several plants got a little sunburned.

[Cjcorner]

This shelf holds mostly cattleya...and another shelf farther back holds sun sensitive catts.



This shelf was full of plants for most of the summer and acted as a sun shield for the jungle area. As the sun got hotter it had to be moved against the wall.



This fall my plants will have a nice greenhouse to keep them warm. It should be built in the next month or two. I'll repost when it's built....for now though the porch is doing a great job. The dendrobiums are nearly all in bloom or in spike with one or two exceptions. And as soon as it cools off I should have several catts blooming nicely.

[Daethen]

Beautiful, Connie!!! Wish I were there having an orchid at the bar.

[Naoki]

Connie, That is amazing. I am so impressed as to how all of them are nicely co-mingled. I enjoyed scrolling my computer screen up and down, then go up again. Thank you for sharing.

[Jef09071984]

Nice collection Connie.
I like your orchid bar. :-)

[mujacko2002]

Mabuhay!

Wow, now at least i have a reason to go to the bar. hehehee. I think the palms are old enough for orchids to hold on to.
congratulations! Just simply awesome.
Godbless

[pavel]

Well that's a use I'd have never thought of for the video cassette/CD/DVD holder. Plants look very happy there, Connie!

[Cjcorner]

Well that's a use I'd have never thought of for the video cassette/CD/DVD holder. Plants look very happy there, Connie!

I saw that shelf thing (they called it a magazine holder) at a garage sale and bought it for 10 dollars. When I hauled it out of the van my husband was like...and you bought that again, why??? Ah well...I noticed a few months ago, wood baskets seem to sit perfect on it, and some clay pots. It now will be forever an orchid stand. You'll note the hat/coat stand i'm using to hang vanda plants from?? My husband says I could be on that "picker" show. lol My favorite shopping day...when I bought one piece of wood and one rock from a landscaping guy to mount orchids on. He thought i'd gone wiggy buying one rock and a piece of wood.