Thread: 100+ F
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Old 25-08-2007, 05:07 PM posted to rec.gardens.orchids
wendy7 wendy7 is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,013
Default 100+ F

What do you grow in the greenhouses? I would get swampcoolers for the heat
of summer.
Cheers Wendy
"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...

"K Barrett" wrote in message
. ..
I used to use a tall sided baking dish to move my collection from the
window sills to the kitchen sink where I'd run water through them, let
them drain in the dish drainer, then carry them back to the windows.
Eventually I changed out the baking dish for a taller sided kitty litter
pan. (unused.) A friend of mine used to use kitty litter trays with a
plastic grate cut such that the plants stayed an inch or two above the
bottom of the tray, then he used his wet/dry shop vac to suck up any water
that drained out over time. I found watering them at the kitchen sink to
be much more effective, and it gave me time to go over the plants and
inspect them.


I have too many to do in the sink. That's why I use the dishpan, soak
them until thoroughly watered let them drain for a few minutes and put
them back in place.

I did this
until my collection got up to 80 orchids or so. Then I moved to a light
set up and got some of those humidity trays (for sale at Charley's
Greenhouse) and watered in situ. Less time to inspect orchids. Easier
to water plants.


Does the water go up the bark by capillarity and become wet to the top?
If the water is low my potting bark stays dry on top where most of the
roots are. The water has to come up to the rim.

By the time I had 100-200 orchids I got one of those greenhouse 'tents'
which worked really well (I think Charley's has them and Costco has
them). Then I built my GH.


We have two greenhouses, a Rion and a HarborFreight, but they go up to
120F by midday. Much to hot for plants in the summertime.


K Barrett

"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...
It's been at or over 100 F for the past 3 weeks now. The severe drought
continues, forcing the grasshoppers to go for anything watered. Today I
started to bring my orchids back inside. I think the heat is getting to
them also as they're getting a lighter green.

How do you guys water your indoor orchids? I've been using a dishpan to
set them in 2 at a time but as the collection grows that takes a long
time. I can't use a watering can as the water runs right through the
orchid mix.