Advice on growing in NYC area

[whygreenberg]

Hi! I'm a relative newbie, have posted a couple times with "emergency" questions, but mostly been lurking for a while.

I've noticed quite a number of people growing in the NYC metro area. I'm curious if any of you have advice about growing here? Small apartment space solutions? Dealing with the particular seasons as experienced here? Dealing with the dryness of winter in heated apartments, dealing with the air conditioner vs. sweltering heat of the summers, etc.

Any advice and suggestions about anything you think is helpful in terms of growing in the NYC area would really be appreciated. I've been bit by the addiction bad, and would really like to build a collection.

Cheers & thanks,
yvan

[Tindomul]

Hi, I grow mostly large Phalaenopsis and Cattleya types in my apartment. My apartment get strong morning sunshine on sunny days. And strong indirect light until mid afternoon.
The Catts I have sitting on the windowsill, and the Phals a few feet away from the window. They are all doing well. Just got to keep them well watered. I mist everyone almost everymorning to try to counter act the dryness factor in the winter.
All my other plants, I grow inside terrariums.

[GreggC]

you might want to research some miniatures. That way, space does not become an issue as fast as it would with regular sized plants. Or maybe a combination? By the way-Welcome!!

[Lindafvb]

Hi there,
Welcome! You may want to investigate your local orchid club. This way others in your area can give you first hand advice. There are also lots of flower shows coming up soon. The NY Botanical Garden Orchid show is in full bloom. We have the Phili. Flower show and Longwood Gardens in March. Lots of educational opportunities.
I have found living here that a fan is helpful. In fact I have two fans blowing. I do not have central air and it does get hot. Keep your air moving around the plants.

[irrka]

I've a good southern window so i've put my catts and oncidiums right on the windowsill and phals below the window or a couple feet away. I'd set up a fan on one end of the apartment blowing on a mister next to the orchids which then i hope blows the mist on them. I still need to refill the water-trays pretty much every day but then my radiator is right next to the window.

[whygreenberg]

Thanks for all the welcoming!

Yeah, I am definitely thinking about more miniatures in terms of space (helps that I really like the looks of minis anyway!) I still may have some space issues, as there's not a lot of floor space for a table or bench. The room they're in has two really good southern windows - but the catch is that #1, my cat rules those windowsills, and #2, come summertime, my partner will insist on an A/C unit going into one of them. So there are two issues there.

Do any of you have to contend with the summertime window A/C unit?

[irrka]

yup. i have two southern windows and A/C goes into one of them. so i just move my orchids to the next windowsill. i'm thinking about how the expand that windowsill somehow but may just end up sticking some milk-crates next to it for stuff that won't fit on the sill anymore.

[quiltergal]

I'd suggest going vertical with floor to ceiling shelving in front of one of those windows. Put your warm growers on the top shelf and the cool growers on the bottom shelf. It's a great way to maximize limited space.

[whygreenberg]

Yeah, it would seem that vertical is the way to go. However, one of the two windows will get the A/C unit come summertime; my bed is directly under the other window. I will just have to come up with something...

Actually, I have a large bookcase against the wall perpendicular to the A/C window. I've pondered the idea of converting a couple of shelves from book to orchid. At a height above where the A/C would blow out.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...

[irrka]

I've been toying with the idea of just hanging mine along the sides of the windows (and i guess i could move the phals in between those). But i've come short of picking up a drill... for now