Glad to be Here!

Hey everyone!

My name is Nicholas. I'm 20 years old and am currently going to college with an intended double major in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Biology. While I enjoy studying these sciences, my true passion is with orchids.

I've been growing orchids for about 4 years now. Compared to many people, I'm "new," but I feel like I've done well with catching up with the experts. I'm always excited to learn more about orchids and have been constantly (sometimes against what I probably should be doing) expanding my collection.

I specialize in terrestrial orchids, especially members of the Habenaria genus, but I grow a huge variety of orchids of many, many genera (some of my favorites being Anguloa, Bulbophyllum, Tolumnia, Lepanthes, Stanhopea, Coryanthes, Myrmecophila, and many more).

I grow my orchids in a variety of different conditions under various kinds of artificial lighting and natural lighting. I have a mid-humidity, mid-bright light grow room with a Metal Halide or HPS Bulb depending on the time of the year and several shelves with warm and cool T8 Fluorescent bulbs. I also have a shelf with a full spectrum LED grow light and a high humidity greenhouse with a LED grow bulbs. During the summer, I move a bunch of my orchids into the yard where they get varying levels of natural sunlight. This in mind, I have a lot of experience growing under artificial and natural light (and combating the heat of the Georgia summers...), so feel free to ask any questions and I'll try to be as helpful as I can.

This past year, I began a flasking program and have been experimenting around the mediums, sterilization methods, seed preparation, and post-flask care, so it has been quite the learning experience. I use the labs at Emory University to achieve a sterile environment, but my main setup (post-sowing) is at home. With that in mind, I also buy flasks here and there, so I'll be selling plants every now and then. If you're interested, feel free to contact me!

I honestly don't know what has taken me so long to make an account on this forum, but here I am! I'm excited to share my plants and other adventures with you all and am equally excited to see what all everyone is doing and growing in the orchid community.

-Nicholas

 

I grow all the cool growing orchids inside under lights (Metal halide/HPS, T8 Flourescent, and LED). During the summer, I move any Cattleya type, Myemecophila, Epidendrum, Stanhopea, Coryanthes, and Encyclias outside. I'm actually doing something a little different with them this year, so we'll see how it goes. Traditionally, I grow them all under shade clothes, but I got yelled at by the HOA last year for the shade tent so... I had to change that... This year, I'm growing them in various places throughout my yard that get different amounts of sun. Fingers crossed on the results... It has already reached the 90's in Georgia...

As for some of the more "cool growing" Cattleyas, I think I'm going to keep them in the a small waterfall I have in the backyard. It's a pong with a waterfall and short, rock stream. It only gets sun in the morning and some in the afternoon, and it obviously will keep the orchids watered, so I'll be trying that this year.

For the Stanhopeas and Coryanthes, I hang them in a magnolia tree. They only really get sun a little bit during the morning and in the afternoon, and I give them a lot of water to cope with the temperature. The Stanhopeas always love it, but the Coryanthes can be a little tough sometimes. They've always seemed more sensitive to the sun/heat, so placing them in a spot where they get the perfect amount of sun is always a puzzle.

-Nicholas