Balcony Set-up: 'Showing Off A Bit' - Orchid Board

gjanick2 · #1 07-13-2018, 12:14 AM

I am showing off a bit. Sorry! But I have put a lot of work into this project and I am proud!

Living space is at a premium in any city in China. Every little square foot is important. We are the only home owners (in China a home is an apartment) to have this balcony, and many people want to copy, but they don't know how to do. This custom-made balcony is enclosed with stainless steel bars to prevent break-ins (which happened one time previously). This little balcony is now 'my little corner of the world.'

The bamboo shelving unit is so beautiful and surprisingly fantastic for my orchids. There are 24 different orchid plants consisting of dendrobiums, oncidiums, phals, one cymbidium, and one cattleya. There isn't any more room for any additions to the plant list.

The two pictures were taken through our dining room window, so every meal we eat I can look at the plants. Very nice!

Also, Zhuhai has subtropical weather (perfect for these orchids) and the plants are fairly well protected against rain with the ceilings above. We have never recorded a 0 degree C day (the coldest temp is 6C) and snow has never ever been seen here. It can get hot, but again the plants are protected against burning sun.

Joseia · #2 07-14-2018, 09:36 PM

Very nice setup! I wish I had a sunny balcony like that.

gjanick2 · #3 07-15-2018, 07:01 AM

I wish the balcony was even one foot wider. There is very little room between the bamboo rack and the back wall. But this little balcony is so ideal for growing orchids. I only have one oncidium in bloom now (the 2nd spike is about to go into full bloom and I will send pics), but this next late winter it should be very impressive. My favorite orchid is some kind of noid Dendrobium Kingianum cross hybrid (there is a post of mine in bloom about the plant), but I think the orchid has grown by 1.5 times. It is getting huge. So beautiful even without blooms. Next late winter when in bloom, it will be spectacular! And the fragrance is also fantastic and powerful. I wish I could ID it.

Thanks for the compliment.