Interesting reading in here. I've tried several orchids, new spots, etc. the past couple of years. The phal I bought a last spring has not yet rebloomed, but keeps putting out new leaves (not as nicely as Elaine's) and new roots. My small selection of orchids has been on my front porch all summer (bright filtered morning light) and all of them have been thriving, even in 100+ temperatures. No, I haven't had any bloom spikes, but I'm hoping that the next month will prove a profusion of them as the weather turns cooler.

Last month I finally set up my 4--tier "greenhouse" and piled my begonias, orchids and epis inside. Because the epis are so tall, I didn't put in one of the shelves to give them room. There isn't much for airflow (I'm having the hardest time finding those clip-on fans this year!) but it's been a few weeks and everything seems to be thriving. I picked up two more orchids in spike last week and both have opened. I believe one is "Burana Beauty" that Jim posted above, and the other is a brassavola hybrid "Jiminy Cricket"

I know these pictures aren't that great, but this is my current set-up. I did just re-arrange a bit - some of the orchids were on lower shelves and looks like they got a bit of burn so they were just shifted. I'll go out and re-arrange again for maximum view...and misting. It's not as humid as I expected out there. Poo.

That's a cool little greenhouse setup you've got there, Carey. D'you mind me asking where you got it?

Bet you could increase the humidity and cool things off a bit if you sprayed that brick wall with the hose once in a while. Bricks absorb moisture a bit, then cool as they release the moisture back to the air. Sort of like a swamp cooler effect.

Your Burana Beauty and Jiminy Cricket are so pretty.

My filter is one of those plastic covers they put on flourescant lights in offices.

Nice set up, Carey and your plants look very healthy. Welcome to our little group.

Jim

Elaine, that is one of the reasons I love Amazon. The whole setup cost me around $35, which is fabulous. It'll make moving it inside so much easier when it cools off into the 40s at night. As you can see, the epis are in hog-heaven in there. When I had the orchids on the porch, the cement got hosed down with it. Guess I didn't even think about that when I put them in the GH!

The Angel Wing begonias are on the stumpy side because the neighborhood deer snack on them pretty often. Thankfully the greenhouse has finally stopped that activity!

Thanks Jim. I've posted in here pretty infrequently before. I'm hoping this new setup works to get some blooms!

Awesome, Carey. I love shopping Amazon. I need one of those, maybe two!

Nice surprise out in my jungle tonight, a new bloom plus a bud coming along on my Brassavola 'Big Jim'.

WOW Elaine. Big Jim is gorgeous!

The nice part of shelf greenhouse is the shelves are all wire. I'd probably go with a taller one now, but it definitely works for the time being!

Thank you, thank you very much.

Big Jim

Found it and ordered one last night, Carey. Thanks! I think I'll leave the plastic cover off it until the nights start getting cool just for air flow. It will be a huge help to me through the winter.

I walked by where that flower is last night and could smell the perfume from 5ft away. Not sure if I'll bring it into the pool cage for enjoyment, it might attract the wrong crowd . .. Jim, I knew when I got that plant as a gift that we'd have fun with the name when it bloomed!

I'm off to a regatta today, wish us wind! It will be a frying pan out on the water if it's not breezy.

Big Jim

Ha Big Jim! Didn't even get that at first!

Elaine, the only thing I wish the shelf unit had was a cross-bar on top. I have some heavy-duty wire that I'll probably use to string across - it would make hanging a few more a bit easier. I walked out to mist one last time last night (there was a warm very dry wind) and Jiminy Cricket almost knocked me down it was so potent!

Today's challenge will be repotting a couple of them. My Blc. Keowee Newberry needs some fresh bark. I found some nice glazed orchid pots not long ago that are begging for a good-sized orchid. I'm not sure what I'll put in the second since none of my others is close enough to filling the sized pot I have, except for a one phal.

It's time for the September thread. Please follow me over to: The thread "Our September 2012 Orchid Blooms" in Orchids forum where we will soon meet up with Ursula.

Big Jim