Excited to report mine is doing far better than last year. I totally banned the Miracle Grow soil I used last year - as I think that was the cause of all of the gnats. I'm using Vortex (once they've been sprouted in fertilome) - and they seem to be doing good. Last year I tried the "green extra dwarf pak choy" and they barely sprouted and then died. This year they are probably pushing close to an inch tall now. Experimenting on growing winter things in the GH that I don't see so much in the store - pic below. Also sprouting them in washed egg shells - read that is good for them as it provides calcium. Put a little hole in the bottom before I filled with fertilome and then before I transferred the sprout to a larger pot, gently crushed the bottom of the egg shell so the roots have a place to grow. I've transferred the seedlings to my attached GH2 which I keep a little cooler than the primary - thinking things like lettuce, pak choy, etc. will do better in a cooler climate. Fun experimenting this year -- pics below (Baker Creek: Lettuce Celltuce, Green Extra Dwarf Pak Choy, Raddicchio). Maybe I'll make a gardener yet !

You have the heart and soul of an "experimenter", Carol.

This is my first year with a Growing Spaces dome greenhouse. We put the kit together ourselves. Now it's finally planted and doing well. I have a salsa garden in it. 3 types of tomatoes, green onions, hot chili peppers, garlic and cilantro. I also have a variety of cacti and succulents as well as 2 plumeria and 3 hibiscus. I've gotten strawberries started as well as some hanging pots of portulacaria afra...plain and variegated. I'm really enjoying having the protected area for my plants. Prior to this, the wildlife had been enjoying my plants a bit too much!

We've also found it a wonderful place to have our morning coffee, and to enjoy a glass of wine in the evenings.

I barely have room for morning coffee till I get all my plants groomed and in order. I can't wait til I have room for a stool.

It's a beautiful sunny day here, but chilly and breezy. 38*F may reach 40. I'm headed to the GH to do some re-potting, grooming, and rearrangement, and pretend I'm somewhere in a tropical jungle.

That's where I have been, Ric. Doing some re-potting and mounting a few (orchids).

Yeah Ken, my orchids have been neglected too long. Lately if I want to bring a bloomer to the house to display, I have to groom it first. Jammed as they were in getting all the tropicals into the GH, they didn't get any individual care. I'm trying to get more of mine mounted so they are more in you face and can't be neglected. One of my favs, I'll have to look at the tag to remember, has both a nice health side shoot as well as a large flower spike. I got it about 18 mos. ago in flower, and this is the 1st flower since.

Darn, I couldn't find the tag, since I'm not very experienced with orchids; It grows in a basket with very little medium, extensive air roots and it's leaves grow so that the whole plant has a v shape. It produces one of the bluest flowers I've ever seen, 5-6 on a stem, and is very long lasting.

That sounds like a Vanda, Ric. They love to dangle their roots, and those roots can get several feet long. Vanda only have a single stem, like a Phalaenopsis, and simply get taller and taller. Here are a couple of mine for comparison.

Eric4home said: I barely have room for morning coffee till I get all my plants groomed and in order. I can't wait til I have room for a stool.

My greenhouse is new now, but I can imagine that in a year I'll have such a jungle I won't have room for the chairs anymore.

We are in a rental home right now on the beach in Florida. The entire yard down to the beach is full of plumerias, orchid, ixoras, bromeliads, gorgeous flowering vines and more. There are sitting areas everywhere, with flowing fountains and statuary. It's paradise for Christmas! I'm in heaven here, and it will be hard to go home.

Ken, that is exactly what I was talking about, and the name sounds right also.The flower is just stunning. I definitely need to study orchids more, just as soon as I find time.
I'm as bad as my great aunt that had her corner in our commercial GH. She raised every thing from succulents to Stephanotis floribunda, Madagascar Jasmine or aka Bridal Veil Vine, and a few orchids that could withstand her infrequent care. Her vine grew over the north face of the GH and smelled heavenly. I have only been interested in orchids since we have had a place to harbor them. I will probably consider vegetative propagation of some but definitely will never become a breeder. I have a friend at https://www.facebook.com/fishi...
I've been up to his GH a few times and follow him at local shows.

plantmanager, I'd like to know more about where you are. I'll send a tree mail.

I wonder whether your friend will be showing anything at the Asheville Orchid Festival/AOS Spring meeting in April? My wife and I are attending that expo/orchid judging/sale. We will celebrate her birthday while there.

Here's what I have inside what I call my Orchid house and it's also where I do all my repotting and so forth.


My 23 rescued Walmart Mothers Day Orchids


Hibiscus that is finally coming back after the deer chewed it to nubs


Top of shelf 2 window boxes with Stone Crop
2nd/3rd Shelf window boxes with Sun Rose - this is their 3rd yr
3rd shelf - starter pots of purple, pink, white and Heart Leaf Hibiscus
also Desert Bird of Paradise and Bird of Paradise


Back to front - another recovering Hibiscus, Jade Plant, plants from my oral surgeon, Snapdragons, Esperanza from seed, White Pentas

All of the below are in my new greenhouse that I had to erect due to too many plants to fit in the old one


Aloe, Jade plants, Datura, Spider Plant, Geranium, Bougainvillea, Asparagus Fern, small Kalanchoe


Some are the same as above with the addition of Lily of the Nile (2) and another Bougainvillea in the back.


Angel Trumpets blooming, they love it in the greenhouse


More Angel Trumpet blooms, Hibiscus off to the right and another Bougainvillea in the back


Large Asparagus Fern (about 5yrs old) putting out lots of seeds


String of Bananas used cuttings from the one I had last year that died off


Sorry for the poor quality, not sure what happened. From the front, String of Bananas, Columbine, Asparagus Fern, Foxtail Fern, Kalanchoe


Stone Crop started from cuttings


From back to front Bougainvillea, Ivy (you can barely see it) and another Asparagus Fern


More Angel Trumpet blooms

I'll try for some better photos of other plants in there tomorrow. My tablet didn't seem to be taking very good photos this afternoon.

Eric4home said:plantmanager, I'd like to know more about where you are. I'll send a tree mail.

I just answered you, Ric. I think any plant lover would enjoy a stay at this place. It's the nicest home garden I've seen in a long time. The only thing I wish is that he had all the plants labelled. I suggested that, but it didn't go over too well. I gather he's too busy for that.

Thanks Karen.

Chris, it looks like your filling that house too. I sometimes rescue orchids from Lowes and HD also.

Ken, I'm not sure how far he travels, I know he is involved with a number of orchid societies. I don't shop from him at shows, that much. I wait for him to have an open house weekend.
If you see Fishing Creek Orchid from Pa. that's him and he will not remember my name guaranteed.