I couldn't agree more, John. Thanks for bringing this up again. CJ's point about the numbers being masters was very well taken, I thought.

Also, I actually felt all the greenhouse envy seeping out of me when I read CJ's post. And if you don't know, I've had a severe case of GH envy since my days with tropicals, long before orchids.

What's hard for me about indoor growing is the decisions-under-risk that have to be made all the time, every day it seems:

is this too much shade? Is 95 too hot for them? Will they burn at 11:30am on July 10? Can I take the shade off at 3:30 or should I wait til 5? Should I turn the heat on now the night temps are hitting 60-61? etc etc etc ad infinitum.

You solve one dilemma and another is waiting for you, or it's back in another guise a few days later.

Nothing is ever clear and labelled for me. Makes my poor head hurt. You have to just grit your teeth and choose and risk being wrong.

I always imagine a greenhouse as a sunlit paradise. To realize they have the same dim days each winter (Duh!), find out they have the *same decisions* to make: How much shade, how hot is too hot, should I turn the heat on, etc etc opened my eyes to a little reality.

Every generalization has to be turned into a specific choice by the grower, every day.

*Plus* add the worries about systems going out on a freezing night... This is what drove catt hybridizers to CA and FL in the first place. The December issue of the Oak Hill newsletter was all about trying to keep a furnace from breaking down on a cold night. Not much to envy there.

I admit I do love to splash water all over, and a greenhouse is great for that-- but so is the concrete floor in my basement, or my deck in summer.

So thanks CJ (and John). Now I can relax and enjoy what I do have instead of spending all my energy on what I don't.

There you go mehitabel. I loved your post. Talk to me about splashing water!! What is all that about? I don't know and I don't care. I just love it.

I think my answer will be a garden room someday after retirement. Some of our members have dropdead gorgeous sunrooms. Have you caught any of them over on the gallery? Stone floors, naturally. Drains, I assume. Sky lights, ceiling fans, sound effects, lounge chairs and drinks with umbrellas. Who needs Bali? In the meantime it's a 3x3 space in my tiny kitchen and a spray bottle. I'll take it.

John :>)

This is why I prefer to just keep it simple. Like everyone else, when I first seriously started growing orchids, I did everything to extremes. I've since learned, through laziness and accident, all this fussing is overkill. That's what a book should be written about, debunking the notion orchids are so fussy.

Now, you want to hear about serious orchid growing hardship (tongue firmly in cheek), there are frost warnings all the way down to S. Florida Wednesday night. Do I bring the plants in with all their roaches, lizards, frogs and god only knows what else, hiding in the pots/baskets; do I hose them down good the night before and turn the sprinklers on them before dawn (like I'm apt to get out of bed that early when it's freezing outside); just cover them or, since most are sitting at the edge of the lake, hope the microclimate from the water keeps them from freezing? And I don't just have the orchids to contend with but also the terrestrial orchids, the tropicals, vegetable container gardens, the parrots.

I'll worry about it Wednesday.

All this tropical paradise stuff keeps sufacing, especially the humidity. If you go into your glasshouse/ plant room you do not want emerge covered in sweat.

It should be pleasant in there during the day.

Just wondering north of what latitude in the USA does a glasshouse become a money eating energy monster and a plant room a better alternative?

John, I'm glad you were able to enjoy the unintentional double entendre. :P

Tuez, you can't be trying to tell me that growing outdoors forces you to make decisions alla time, too? Are you trying to say I should be giving up my zone envy, too? LOL.

You are reading my mind here. Those kinds of questions are exactly what makes my head hurt with decision making all the time.

And BTW, you've got my vote on the Keep it simple, sweetheart. If it ain't easy it doesn't get done at my house. :)

I understood what cj was saying. If you have up to date information of where the plant originates and the variations within that area, it is possible to grow the plant in conditions other than a greenhouse. Each person's grow area will have a different set of problems but the same plant, can and is grown successfully if the basics are understood.

Average temperastures are just that - average. There are highs and lows to reach that number and the actual "average" may never occur. Seldom will the suggested humidity be available at all times. The same for light requirements. Coming close will probably mean success in growing the plant - particularly if you can come close with the light too.

Brooke

Greenhouse conditions are "ideal" compared to a kitchen window. But even a very small greehouse has it's problems: it gets too hot, loses heat quickly. Not ideal for very cold climates. But humidity does vary from species to species. Rhyncholaelia dibyana grows in semi-arid parts of Mexico. While phaleanopsis come from highly humid places in the Philippines and South East Asia. For me, good bright light is the most important thing for any orchid growing, indoors, outdoors or in a greenhouse. I give my plants as much light as they can tolerate without burning. Fans are kept on them 24/7 (I have several large GH) but even in a window, southern exposure is the best. If you have a western exposure, the direct sun in the summer can be brutal, so hang white sheers over the window. It diffused the light well. For my GH I use the old fashion white-wash. I don't use shade cloth. It's always a pain to re-paint in the early summer, but my white wash diffuses the light better. But some will argue that shade cloth does the same. But again, for humidity, check and see what each plant requires. Miltonias need cool and high humidity. Same for Phrags, and Odonts. Cattleyas on the whole like a medium range of humidity and temps. Right now, with the weather being cool and damp, there is too much humidity in the GH and I get boltryis.