The Looking Glass 2011

It's been a few years since I posted pictures of my shadehouse. I just finished spring cleaning, and since she looks so spiffy, I thought it was time to make new photos. My main passions are Cattleyas, Bulbophyllums, Phalaenopsis and Dendrobiums, but I have a mishmash of many other warm-growing genera. 99% of my collection are species.

 

I had an Orchidarium for many years, in which I grew different Pleurothallid genera. I got tired of the eyesore the tank had become, so I moved the plants outside. They are growing in the shadiest part of the structure. They're all potted in sphag, and sitting in saucers that help retain moisture. They've been going strong for 5-6 months in this setup, and our summer heat has already arrived. I have my fingers crossed that they'll survive the summer.

 

Since all of my plants are hanging, that frees up a lot of ground real estate. I've planted a number of specialty gardens, including a warmth-tolerant Cymbidium section, another for different types of terrestrial orchids, and these in the following pictures: one is for carnivorous plants, mostly nepenthes; one for succulents like Stapeliads, and one for aroids.

 

Thanks, friends. It's my favorite place on Earth.

 

Sorry, Dale, but I have hit my annual spring-cleaning quota.

This is my new method for growing Bulbophyllums, so I can't yet report success or failure. They are plastic saucers from the local big box store. I've dremeled a number of drainage holes in the bottom, and a hole in the center for the hanger. The medium is a combination of treefern fiber and good-quality sphag.

Are you coming to Redland?

 

Armando (and anybody else reading this who may be attending Redland), I'll be working the vendor gate from 7-9AM every morning. This gate is immediately East of the park store (main entrance gate area.) Stop by and say howdy if you arrive before the main gates open at 9!

Wazzel, dealing with the south FL heat is a whole topic unto itself. In a nutshell, I run a lot of water through an automatic irrigation system. I've also installed Aluminet shadecloth, which is supposed to reflect heat and therefore keep the structure a little cooler. We'll see how that works, as this will be my first summer with it up. I also have a cooling mist system that is activated when the temps rise above a temperature threshold that I set using an attached thermometer.

I get the pots from Banjong Orchids, a local nursery owned by some very nice people from Thailand. The pots are handmade, and imported from Thailand. They ain't cheap, but well worth every penny for my needs. They don't have a website, unfortunately, but I know they do ship if you call them. That might be cost prohibitive, though.

 

Front and center of the kitty-butt picture is the N truncata you inspired me to get, Dale. It's doing great, and has put out a few new pitchers since I acquired it.