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There's a Chipotle a block or so away as well.

I filter water into a small basin that sits under the GH benches. I use a Shurflo 8005-733-255 110V diaphragm pump to draw water from the basin & deliver it through a combination of 1/2" pvc and 3/8" reinforced hose (could be pvc also) to a stainless steel watering wand. The pump has an...

That hurts ... and fast! I know switching to NG will significantly cut my winter heating costs but the work & expense involved in extending gas piping out to the GH is not something I'm ready for just yet. What I really need is to grow a higher value crop ... :evil: This is California, after...

I gagged when I opened the last PG&E bill ... $402 total (house+GH). I'm only guessing at the split but based on previous years I'd have to say the GH was $150 of that. We live in the foothills east of the Central Valley at about 1500 feet so it's always pretty cold in the winter, but as Candace...

I've had a handful of Ball Pythons over the years - including some good sized ones (one was somewhere between 4 & 5 feet). Wonderful creatures. We made feeding live mice & rats a ritual (dimmed lights, soft music, etc.) which took some of the yuk factor away, at least for my wife. But our house...

That's it. I've had one for many years that I got from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate and I think I've found that they don't particularly care for a ton of light. I currently have mine hanging in the rafters with a couple of Vandas as an experiment and even though it bloomed there I can tell it's...

I've had problems with slugs in my GH as well. I've started (but not yet finished) the process of becoming a certified pesticide applicator - it's not hard - so then I can buy Mesurol for use in California. It's expensive but so are miticides, and frankly slugs can be more devastating more...

I should have mentioned that I use Avid and Tetrasan in a tank-mix formula (often with Orthene) and I have astounding results. I spray once every 7-10 days for three applications and that's it. Mites are a thing of the past. I also add 1/4 tsp per gal liquid soap for spreading. I understand...

There's a very clean and reasonably priced Best Western in Goleta - near Santa Barbara. Cal Orchid is across the street from SBOE - very convenient. If you have time and like unique scenery, try to fit in a jaunt to Death Valley. There really is nothing like it anywhere in the world.

I use Merit 75 WP periodically for mealybug - it's extremely effective and much better on mealies than Orthene, for example. I use it as a foliar spray and I've never had any negative vegetative effects. Never used it for scale.

I recently installed a Generac auto start generator for backup GH power. I bought the smallest one available - 8KW - and delivered it was just a hair over $2K. Came with a pre-wired transfer switch & great installation instructions; the battery was an extra $80 or so. Mine runs on natural gas...

I like Avid and use it still, but principally because: a) I already own it; and b) the alternatives are way expensive. If I were out of Avid I'd switch to something else to avoid resistance.

I knew I'd like this thread ... Rye Old-Fashioned - my all-time favorite: 4 oz. good rye whiskey. Overholt is good; so is Wild Turkey 1/2 tsp or so Grand Marnier or Cointreau (don't use triple-sec) dash bitters. I like Peychaud's but Angostura works also. Be careful - a little goes a...

Despite being a healthy, growing plant mine's aborted spikes two years in a row. Any idea what would cause that?

I'm in the early stages of building a gh now & despite a ton of research not a single source mentioned mice & rats as a problem. Since it's not too late to modify the design ... any recommendations on how to prevent their access?

I was there as well. This was my first visit to the Southland show so I have nothing to compare it to, but the Huntington grounds & conservatory are worth the visit alone. The artwork in the gallery is amazing & the grounds are top notch. Only came home with a couple of plants - a Jumellea...

You guys are going to hate me for this ... My oldest daughter just enrolled at UCSB - the University of California at Santa Barbara. The University is about five minutes from both Cal Orchids and Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, which are located literally across the street from one another...

Wow. I'm an engineer - I do lines, grades & numbers which completely eliminates the need for artistic talent. I often wish I had the ability to interpret natural shapes & colors the way true artists can.

I'm missing something. Where's the fogger itself? What's the water source?

Not to worry folks. Blake sent all the plants I purchased & they're fine. Love the Paraphal by the way. The Aeranthes was in bud & bloomed on arrival. The Paraphal must have been a pain to pack (4-foot long leaves) but it arrived in great shape. No complaints Blake, & no mealies either...