The Orchid Garden

Greenhouse/shade cloth questions

Question:

I am putting up a small greenhouse in my yard to move my HID grown collection outdoors Please tell me that this is not the "necessary" next step that is inevitable for this mania.  Say it isn’t so. Have you ever seen a grown man cry? Howard

 No, Howard it isn’t mandatory…you can do what I did; move your daughter out and take-over her room!                                        See Ya!                                        "Connie"

Response:

Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am putting up a small greenhouse in my yard to move my HID grown collection outdoors Please tell me that this is not the "necessary" next step that is inevitable for this mania.  Say it isn’t so. Have you ever seen a grown man cry? Howard Too bad, Howard!  At least for me, it’s "almost" a neccessary step to have a little greenhouse to get a better controlled climate for the orchids.  I had been keeping orchids under HID lights for a while.  After moving the plants outside–under shade, not in a greenhouse yet–I find that they are doing way way much better with the natural sunlight and wind.  Seeing the result of the outdoor conditions (with the supplement of shade and regular misting,) I don’t think I would move my orchids back in the house.  The greenhouse will provide the orchids the neccessary temperature and humidity control, not to mention that it will release some living space back to the humanoids living in the house. -dqv-

Response:

I am putting up a small greenhouse in my yard to move my HID grown collection outdoors

Please tell me that this is not the "necessary" next step that is inevitable for this mania.  Say it isn’t so. Have you ever seen a grown man cry? Howard

Response:

I am putting up a small greenhouse in my yard to move my HID grown collection outdoors Please tell me that this is not the "necessary" next step that is inevitable for this mania.  Say it isn’t so. Have you ever seen a grown man cry? Howard

Too bad, Howard!  At least for me, it’s "almost" a neccessary step to have a little greenhouse to get a better controlled climate for the orchids.  I had been keeping orchids under HID lights for a while.  After moving the plants outside–under shade, not in a greenhouse yet–I find that they are doing way way much better with the natural sunlight and wind.  Seeing the result of the outdoor conditions (with the supplement of shade and regular misting,) I don’t think I would move my orchids back in the house.  The greenhouse will provide the orchids the neccessary temperature and humidity control, not to mention that it will release some living space back to the humanoids living in the house. -dqv-

Response:

My greenhouse (in central NJ) has a similar exposure during the winter months.  I tried shade cloth and wooden slats, then got lazy and a few years ago tried hanging and arranging sun-loving plants (like vandas) to shade the others.  So far I haven’t lost any paphs to sunburn.  But of course the winter sun is far less damaging.  I take almost all of the plants out of the greenhouse for the summer.   Peter

Response:

5 hours of full sun in the middle of the day during the summer will probably be enough to crisp most orchid plants, especially those you would likely grow under HID lamps.  I know I was surprised when I made the shift from lights to sunlight.  You didn’t say where your are growing.  Latitude makes a bit of difference.  Type of orchids is very important to answering your question too. If you are growing Phals or many Paph or Phrag species/hybrids, you may not need to worry about the dark produced from your shade cloths during the morning and after noon. Also, remember there are many different densities of cloth you could choose. Al – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am putting up a small greenhouse in my yard to move my HID grown collection outdoors. The site I have available faces south but is tree shaded until 10:00 AM ( gets about 500 fc of light), then has full sun until 3:00, and then is back to shade for the rest of the day. This is the only site I can use. The shade is from deciduous trees so in the winter the light will be more evenly distributed. If I use shade cloth to cut down on the full sun portion of the day (5 hours) , I will then have only 300fc for the morning and afternoon. Should I forego shade cloth and risk toasting the plants in full sun or use the cloth and have a very dark space for 8 hours of the day? Paul

Response:

I am putting up a small greenhouse in my yard to move my HID grown collection outdoors. The site I have available faces south but is tree shaded until 10:00 AM ( gets about 500 fc of light), then has full sun until 3:00, and then is back to shade for the rest of the day. This is the only site I can use. The shade is from deciduous trees so in the winter the light will be more evenly distributed. If I use shade cloth to cut down on the full sun portion of the day (5 hours) , I will then have only 300fc for the morning and afternoon. Should I forego shade cloth and risk toasting the plants in full sun or use the cloth and have a very dark space for 8 hours of the day? Paul

Response:

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