Yes, but the soil itself isn't fertile either, takes a lot of amending to grow much. Of course adding amendments hinders nematodes, too but not enough really.

Still, we grow a tremendous amount of tomatoes here for commercial sale and they are very susceptible to nematodes. The tomato farmers religiously solarize their soil so they don't have so much problem with that.

Of course neither nematodes nor bad soil affect people growing orchids. Other than keeping them shaded and cool enough in summer, we have a great climate for commercially growing orchids, and maybe that's what's going to take over some of the land that the citrus greening disaster has cleared. We should invite those growers in the Netherlands to come.

Sadly, any climate that doesn't have a long, cold winter is going to have bugs and plant diseases. But then so do climate-controlled greenhouse operations.

@sallyg I was intrigued by your mention of Harvest Hosts, and looked up their site - they have 126 locations in Florida that "invite RV'ers to stay overnight" Darn, I though you could go and stay a couple of months and grow your own garden there, etc. I think I'd consider selling my house to do that!
. . .

https://harvesthosts.com/flori...

A few orchid businesses have closed within the states recently and it had nothing to do with expenses, soil or nematodes. It had to do with retirement, people just wanting to relax after running the business for 30 years or more and being unable to find someone to take it over and run it.
Look at H & R, they just wanted to rest and retire after so many years.
J & L Orchids, where the girls who bought it from the original owners decided they had had enough after 35 or 40 more years!!! But J & L found a buyer!
Orchid Inn, Sam Tui is retiring due to health issues and all of those years running the business.
Look at Waldor Orchids, Walt ran it for many years after taking over for his Dad. He dies unexpectedly and yet the children are keeping Waldor open!

Just like anything else. Businesses come and they go. Nothing new there really.

Yes, and in addition, although we all feel like energy costs and fuel costs are through the roof, in truth the rest of the world has been paying SO much more for those things for many years. Even now our energy and fuel costs are probably half what they are in Europe.

My way to keep happy my grocery store orchids. I have too many phals which I bought a few years ago and planted them in the glass/plexiglass vases from Walmart. They all feel great, blooming every year and developed huge, healthy root system. The main benefit of this way to grow phals is easy watering, you just add water when it is completely gone on the bottom, once in a month or two. Also fertilizer is much efficient because it is just sit there and roots are able to absorb it over long period of time.
Disclaimer: orchids species and seedlings I grow a traditional way, in plastic pots with holes.

Wow, Newgreen- the leaves on those! the roots!
I'm waiting on buds to open, but I'll be tempted to toss mine atfer blooma re done and just start fresh next winter. Even Lidl has blooming phals that look better than mine, I think they are $10. How can you beat that? No slug holes

I think you hit on a perfect combination to grow them! They look healthy!

Wow! I am amazed of your set up @Newgreen, looks like you are doing well with your Phals! They look happy and healthy.

Thanks everybody
Technically it is just a simple self-watering set up with a difference of clear glass enclosure because of orchid roots use sunlight for photosynthesis.
Also I have noticed that bright light (at least LED bulbs), airflow (ceiling fan), humidifier, and(!) day/night temperature difference are very important components. Besides subtract and fertilizer.

Wow Newgreen! Your phals. growing in the glass containers look so healthy! The leaves are thick and turgid, the roots healthy and growing...
Please tell us more! What media are they planted in? It looks like a sphagnum moss mixed with those clay balls. What kind of lighting do you have, your humidity, your temps... Those plants are clearly very happy with the conditions you are providing.

SunnyinMichigan said:
Please tell us more! What media are they planted in? It looks like a sphagnum moss mixed with those clay balls. What kind of lighting do you have, your humidity, your temps... Those plants are clearly very happy with the conditions you are providing.

Thank you very much!
I place a layer of rocks in the bottom for drainage (I use white marble chips from Homedepot , washed before using). As for media I used to use a hammock bark from the forest, microwaved it for 1.5-2 minutes before using. Now I switch it to a New Zealand pine bark. I found that this bark work better in a long run. I add some Leca balls to the bark, mix it together, however I am not a big fan of Leca, so not too much of them. The sphagnum moss only on top layer, I do not mix it in.
When I just started this way about 5 years ago, I did not microwaved the bark from the forest, thus some orchids have plants growing inside. It does not bother me if the root system is doing great. If it doesn't - I just replant the orchid.
At first time after replanting, I add water up to the top of the vase and leave it for a few minutes to soak it in. Then pour water out, leaving only on the bottom layer. I try to place orchids roots down to the bottom to reach the water. In a few weeks after replanting, I watch the roots and soak the whole vase every week, if roots are far from the bottom level. Usually the orchid starts to grow roots down pretty fast, but some orchids prefer to get rid of old roots and grow new ones, thicker than they have before.
I call this way to grow orchids an "enclose system". The media should be placed loose, to allow the system to breath. When the system will stabilized, it will be very low maintenance set up with very happy and healthy orchids.

Regarding the humidifier.
First, I live in WA and keep my upstairs windows open from April to October. It takes care of it, lol.
Second, I tried many of them and never got satisfied enough. My place to grow indoor plants is my home office, I do not have a greenhouse. Yet. Then I found out this YouTube video and created my own DIY humidifier. From a $10 plastic container, small computer fan and Hydro Mist Maker Kit.
Here is how it works:


PS. I tried to attach a video, but it does not look working. Is a video file possible to download here or only jpg files?

I think it is best if you just post the link. I would love to watch it

Ted5310 said: I think it is best if you just post the link. I would love to watch it

Ok, here is an idea which I found on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/PHpCo_ZFgfE

Mine is much smaller and nicer. Still very efficient for my home office room.

I love DIY.
but, I dunno how this compares effectiveness wise but it's what we run in the bedroom and another in living room https://www.google.com/search?...

Thank you for posting more information! Did I understand the watering routine correctly:
fill up the glass container to moisten everything, then tip over to drain it, leaving a small reservoir at the bottom. Check for needed moisture, repeat when needed.

I understand now how the clear containers are helpful; plus, as you pointed out, the orchid's roots can do photosynthesis if light is available.

You mentioned that you grow the species in regular pots -- besides the phals, did any other orchid group do well this (clear containers, no hole) way? I am thinking that the Zygopetalum group might really like this, and perhaps some of the miniature cymbidiums. Hmm... Your success is inspiring!

SunnyinMichigan said: Thank you for posting more information! Did I understand the watering routine correctly:
fill up the glass container to moisten everything, then tip over to drain it, leaving a small reservoir at the bottom. Check for needed moisture, repeat when needed.

Yes, you got it correct, exactly what I am doing. Usually it is needed just in the beginning of stabilization process. Afterwards only addition water from the top to keep the reservoir level up.

SunnyinMichigan said: I understand now how the clear containers are helpful; plus, as you pointed out, the orchid's roots can do photosynthesis if light is available.

Yes, surprisingly (or not), simple clear vases from Walmart work the best. I tried different kind of decorative glass vases but always failed.

SunnyinMichigan said: You mentioned that you grow the species in regular pots -- besides the phals, did any other orchid group do well this (clear containers, no hole) way? I am thinking that the Zygopetalum group might really like this, and perhaps some of the miniature cymbidiums. Hmm... Your success is inspiring!

I do not have a big variety of orchid species to give any conclusion. I tried that on Draculas with a very negative result. Apparently the Draculas need much stronger air flow to their root system (I think). So, I stoped trying. I know for sure it works great for Phals.

This is beautiful in person but the price is out of my range:

Gigi, how much were they? Just curious.
Orchids are not cheap, probably ever? Compared to C&S definitely!

Ursula said: Gigi, how much were they? Just curious.
Orchids are not cheap, probably ever? Compared to C&S definitely!

It was in a combo arrangement with other plants. I forgot to take a photo…for $69 that is way out of my price range.

69 bucks for the combo. I suppose it is all relative. I am used to seeing fairly high prizes here, especially now coming out of the pandemic. I gasped a few times looking at price tags at a recent Orchid Show!