Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

Page 3 of 3 FirstFirst 123
Results 21 to 26 of 26

Thread: My greenhouse etc... the first of a series of postings...

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #21
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Gender
    Female
    Posts
    21

    Default

    Nice greenhouse, and your plants are all healthy. Good job!

  2. #22
    Real Name
    Leigh
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Cattleya
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Just Outside Key West, FL, USA
    Posts
    511
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I wouldn't put too much stock in the 22 mph "optimal" wind speed.
    Somewhere here on another thread recently there was a discussion on "important factors to optimum plant growth" or some such and I chimed in that I believe that good air movement is paramount.
    I'm not going to disagree with your perspective Ray because I have read a lot of your writings and have great respect for the scientific approaches you have developed over the years. And this orchid disease is, at its heart, a scientific endeavor, no?
    I would just like to point out what my personal experience has been in regards to that one component.
    When I had my greenhouse here in NH I fought constantly with pests of all kinds. Aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites. you name it and they were in there somewhere. When I moved my collection to the Keys 3 years ago they started living in a shadehouse that is less than 200 feet from the shoreline. As you can imagine, being on an island directly between the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico creates almost constant wind, often in the 20-30 mph range for days on end. I believe the actual year-round daily average is something like 12 mph.
    Anyway- I have not had to deal with a single pest issue since they went into that shadehouse. The only other things different are 1) no artificial light needed now (love your set-up Geoff- very similar to what I did in my NH GH) 2) some slight tinkering with fertilizers for water quality deltas and 3) they get rain water year round vs. summer only. (and we very rarely get rain in the winter so the difference is insignificant) and finally, it's warmer with way more sun (natural light). Hence my belief that heavy air movement is highly desirable in avoiding insects and disease. I had 2 large oscillating floor fans in my 12x16 GH but even that does not give you the movement necessary indoors at all levels from the ground up.

    Geoff- outstanding work there.

  3. #23
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    All of them
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Port Orange, Florida
    Posts
    5,155
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Wow Geoff! Great work and knowledge! Your devotion and patience for 60 years has and will continue to benefit so many of us. Thanks!

  4. #24
    Real Name
    Ray Barkalow
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Oak Island NC
    Posts
    2,103

    Default

    Leigh,

    While I cannot argue with success, I WILL state that there's a lot more different about a greenhouse in New Hampshire and outdoors in Florida than just air movement.

    I know that in the case of my greenhouse in Pennsylvania, for example, the greenhouse can become something of an "oasis" for insect pests of all sorts. It offers a good environment for them year-round, and excludes a lot of their predators. Now that I am growing outdoors all summer here in North Carolina, and my plants are on a deck that is fairly enclosed so there is not a lot of air movement, I'm seeing almost no insect issues either.

    Besides the need for air movement around orchids is more for drying water droplets and preventing stuff like mold spores from settling then it is about keeping insects away.

  5. #25
    Real Name
    Alan
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Gender
    Male
    Posts
    40

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Keysguy View Post
    Somewhere here on another thread recently there was a discussion on "important factors to optimum plant growth" or some such and I chimed in that I believe that good air movement is paramount.
    I'm not going to disagree with your perspective Ray because I have read a lot of your writings and have great respect for the scientific approaches you have developed over the years. And this orchid disease is, at its heart, a scientific endeavor, no?
    I would just like to point out what my personal experience has been in regards to that one component.
    When I had my greenhouse here in NH I fought constantly with pests of all kinds. Aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites. you name it and they were in there somewhere. When I moved my collection to the Keys 3 years ago they started living in a shadehouse that is less than 200 feet from the shoreline. As you can imagine, being on an island directly between the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico creates almost constant wind, often in the 20-30 mph range for days on end. I believe the actual year-round daily average is something like 12 mph.
    Anyway- I have not had to deal with a single pest issue since they went into that shadehouse. The only other things different are 1) no artificial light needed now (love your set-up Geoff- very similar to what I did in my NH GH) 2) some slight tinkering with fertilizers for water quality deltas and 3) they get rain water year round vs. summer only. (and we very rarely get rain in the winter so the difference is insignificant) and finally, it's warmer with way more sun (natural light). Hence my belief that heavy air movement is highly desirable in avoiding insects and disease. I had 2 large oscillating floor fans in my 12x16 GH but even that does not give you the movement necessary indoors at all levels from the ground up.

    Geoff- outstanding work there.
    Great observations, Keysguy.
    I too had the pest problem go away when I moved my plants, but I believe it was due to the improved general health of the plants resulting from the move.

    ---------- Post Merged at 06:20 AM ----------

    Very enjoyable post, Dorsetman!
    I visited a friend's greenhouse last weekend, the first visit in many years.
    Your greenhouse reminds me a lot of his setup.
    One thing that struck me when I walked in his place was the high humidity; very difficult to achieve in this arid climate!
    He does nothing to increase humidity in there, but the place is filled to the rafters with plants. It seems that the number of plants helps with this issue.
    I am still rebuilding my collection, so not quite there yet.

  6. #26
    My Grow Area
    Under Lights
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    phals & Cats
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Lake Charles, La
    Posts
    12
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Wow, looking at the photos sure brings back memories. I am so jealous, you have a great looking setup both plants and greenhouse.

    Louis

Similar Threads

  1. check on postings
    By fbashplant in forum Using the Boards
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: June 8th, 2017, 02:33 AM
  2. Dendrobiums at Bournemouth Show. First of two postings.
    By Dorsetman in forum Cattleyas, Vandas, Dendrobiums IN BLOOM
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: March 6th, 2011, 11:55 AM
  3. a visit to the farm series 38
    By ntgerald in forum Orchids of Other Genera IN BLOOM
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: July 30th, 2009, 03:37 AM
  4. a visit to the farm series 37
    By ntgerald in forum Orchids of Other Genera IN BLOOM
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: July 18th, 2009, 03:31 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.