Welcome to OrchidsForum.com. We are a friendly online community for Orchid Growers all over the world. If you haven't joined yet we invite you to register and join our community. Hope to see you on our forums!

I grow here

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Lika[Sweden], Jan 13, 2009.

  1. Lika[Sweden]

    Lika[Sweden] Svenska

    Messages:
    461
    Likes Received:
    30
    Location:
    Sweden
    I have three places where I grow my orchids. One intermediate, one warm and one warmer and drier.
    Below is our greenhouse. It is 18 sqmeters. All together we have 1100 plants down there, divided on 950 species.

    afarm4.static.flickr.com_3499_3194189267_604423e7c5_o.jpg

    Here I have the species that are too big to grow in cabinets. The temperature is during winter as low as 14°C. And some of the more warm growing species like all Bulbos from section Lepidorhiza, most of my African species are complaining. But I have no choice. Unfortunately I think that I’m going to loose my B. beccarii.

    afarm4.static.flickr.com_3333_3194194779_a518f7f792_o.jpg
    (this photo is 2 years old)

    Indoors I have two growing cabinets.

    afarm4.static.flickr.com_3374_3195030200_4767541201_o.jpg

    Space is a problem so I have packed plants tight together and some gets very low light, but they does not complain. Here I have seedlings and small divisions. When they grown to big, they are moved.

    afarm4.static.flickr.com_3340_3195030564_7af94dda3d_o.jpg

    This round one, is more moist. Lowest temperature is 18 °C. On top is 2 80 W T5 armatures and in front there is a 70 W metal halogen armature. I have 2 fans inside. Everything grows on epiweb, I water 5 times a week, or perhaps I should say, WE water...

    afarm4.static.flickr.com_3484_3195030732_5451c87bda_o.jpg

    This vivarium is for species growing more dry, like Eria perpusilla and Bulbophyllum triste. I have put some more medium sized bulbos in here also. This cabinet is divided in two in the middle, so I can have light all the way down. On the top there is 2 80 W T5 and in the middle there is two more. And in front there is another 70 W metal halogen armature. I have 1 fan in each section of the cabinet. But the plants closest drier a bit to fast so I have to water every day.

    afarm4.static.flickr.com_3529_3194187367_688b79867f_o.jpg

    This is the same afternoon I got the cabinet in place. It was in December 2007. Now it's cramped with plants. I have 95 plants here. Perhaps I can make a new picture if someone want, but I can't move the sofa by myself.

    Space is always a problem with growing orchids for me. As you can see there are not much space between the plants.

    We have been experimenting with self watering. And this pipe is one of the first tries we made. I have almost forgotten the small division I put on it. They have been growing for app. 2 months now, and I only add more water once a week. I’m planning on having one of these at my office.

    afarm4.static.flickr.com_3464_3195031052_2a7a7a895f_o.jpg

    Linda
     
  2. Armando

    Armando Hobbyist gone wild

    Messages:
    244
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    NC
    WOW that is so amazing I am speechless!!!
     
  3. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

    Messages:
    4,437
    Likes Received:
    107
    Location:
    Denver CO, USA
    Awesome! Thanks for posting the pics. Isn't your GH an old swimming pool that you converted?
     
  4. Brant

    Brant dazed

    Messages:
    1,668
    Likes Received:
    39
    Location:
    Near the border
    a forest of green and a few meters away is SNOW :clap::clap:
     
  5. Dale

    Dale New Member

    Messages:
    3,738
    Likes Received:
    330
    Location:
    Bandon, OR
    Very nice, Linda.
     
  6. Bob2741

    Bob2741 New Member

    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    4
    Thats really nice. I like the cabinet great job (And I thought I had Orchid Fever bad wait till I show my wife this))
     
  7. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,732
    Likes Received:
    3,530
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Linda, so great to see this, thank you. Things look wonderful. How many meters wide and long is the greenhouse?
     
  8. Forrest

    Forrest Really Neat

    Messages:
    2,300
    Likes Received:
    27
    Location:
    Northern California
    that is just fantastic. I am envious.

    Cute kid too.
     
  9. Clark

    Clark Gator Member

    Messages:
    1,297
    Likes Received:
    38
    Location:
    The Gator Nation
    Good job of handling the short duration of light and by the way, thanks for the photos of your growing area. How much time a day do spend working with the orchids?
     
  10. Alexis

    Alexis New Member

    Messages:
    2,893
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    Redland, Miami FL, USA, Earth
    Your collection is amazing! Everythng looks very healthy. (Sorry about the beccarii; hopefully it will make it.) Thanks for sharing!
     
  11. Candace

    Candace Kept Woman Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,151
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    South of Sacramento
    I thought I had a problem with too many orchids. Now I feel much better. Whew. :>
     
  12. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    5,515
    Likes Received:
    420
    Location:
    U.S.A
    Very very nice, Linda.
     
  13. Chris

    Chris New Member

    Messages:
    1,479
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    That is incredible Linda!! Thank you for sharing.
     
  14. vmijct

    vmijct Clif

    Messages:
    391
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Poquoson, VA
    I'm stunned. Love the photos. What kind of pipe is it? Terra Cotta/Clay? Wonderful idea!
     
  15. EGOISTA

    EGOISTA Member

    Messages:
    747
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Varese Italia
    Unbelievable, you have lots of orchids and all very healthy! A fantastic collection!
    You are also very ingenious,
    I would be as you :)
     
  16. Lika[Sweden]

    Lika[Sweden] Svenska

    Messages:
    461
    Likes Received:
    30
    Location:
    Sweden
    Thank you!

    Clark : I spend about 15 minutes a day tending the cabinets and 3 hours a week the greenhose. So not so much.

    Marni: The greenhouse is 4x5 meter.

    vmijct: It's epiweb, glued together to a tube. Ontop is a dripping hose that goes on a timer and wets the epiweb twice a day.

    Linda
     
  17. Mary Jane

    Mary Jane New Member

    Messages:
    4,342
    Likes Received:
    15
    Location:
    Duluth, Georgia USA
    I LOVE the first photo. Thank you for posting your wonderful grow areas.
     
  18. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

    Messages:
    4,437
    Likes Received:
    107
    Location:
    Denver CO, USA
    So.... is it a swimming pool?
     
  19. Karen

    Karen Species nut

    Messages:
    2,559
    Likes Received:
    20
    Location:
    Southern California
    So awesome! Thanks for letting us see it!
     
  20. Lika[Sweden]

    Lika[Sweden] Svenska

    Messages:
    461
    Likes Received:
    30
    Location:
    Sweden
    Jon It was a swimingpool, but since we live by the baltic sea we have no use for it.