Massachusetts

[1joyceh]

Hi,
I am am Joyce from central Massachusetts...
I have many types of orchids, and one day, will make a list
Currently, I have over 100, some I have had for years, others, new areas I am trying, and have been adding deflasked babies, I starting getting the flasks in the fall...found I can do it, without too many being lost..and enjoying watching them grow.
I grow my orchids mainly in tents, where I can control the environment to suit their needs. Using a mix of T5 bulbs of different spectrums, seems I am able to make everyone happy.
My biggest accomplishment so far, has been getting through dormancy with my Fredclarkeara After Dark, a first for me. I have attached a photo of the new growth!
Have a great day everyone

[Marci in SoFL]

Hello Joyce and a big welcome to the forum! I haven't dabbled in flasks but have always wanted to. I no longer have the room but enjoy reading about other's experiences. Your tent setup is intriguing. Can you show us any photos? Congrats on that new growth on your Fredclarkeara. Please post pics when it blooms.

Marci

[1joyceh]

Thanks for the welcome
here is a picture of the baby tent...2' x2' x3', I keep the smaller babies and some of the mini orchids in here...Dracula, Promenaea, Pleurothllis, Haraella, Stelis, and Lepanthopsis. I also keep a carnivorous or 2 in there, to take care of the soil gnats...
For the intermediate size babies and paphs, I have a tent 51.5 x 22.5 x 48.5, and for everyone else, 47.25" x 47.25" x 78.75" sized tents, I have 2 of those...

LOL...yes, I am addicted to orchids and carnivorous ( have a dozen or so of those....Nepenthes, Sarracenia, Drosera,Pinguicula, and Dionaea

[Marci in SoFL]

What a clever setup. As your signature line suggests, you must be quite inventive. Are the tents in an enclosed area for weather protection?

[1joyceh]

They are indoor tents, and residing in my livingroom

[jean2]

Do not overwater when using a humidity tent. Let the orchid almost dry out between waterings. Check the soil conditions by feeling the soil one-third of the way from the top of the pot with your fingers. Don't water if the soil is cool or damp to the touch. If it is dry, water the plant.

When the orchid is kept in a humidity tent, great vigilance is needed to keep the plant from staying too wet. New growth is very susceptible to mold infections which can grow very quickly.

Molds grow very easily in such humid conditions. Inspect plants several times a week for growth of molds on leaves, stems and pots. If mold occurs, take the orchid out and treat the mold. Take care not to spread the mold to other places, especially if there are people with mold allergies in your household.

The beauty of the orchid plant and bloom will be obscured by using a humidity tent. Alternate ways of increasing humidity for orchid plants are air humidifiers, pebble trays, misting and providing open clay jars full of water in the growing area.