Orchids or snow, which would I rather have?

This is not very hospitable for orchid culture. Most of my collection spends the summer months just outside the building in the background. My Koi pond is covered in show and the fish are at the bottom just chillin'. I keep the water open with a trough heater. My pump circulates the water so it won't freeze up. My greenhouse is on the other side of the house but still covered with snow. Luckily when I built it many years ago I used a 6"steel I-beam down the center of the roof to support a heavy snow load on the rafters. This is the most snow in a single storm in the recorded history of storms in CT. We had over 2 feet in this one, first time I could not get out of my driveway with my 4x4 ever.

Well one thing you have to deal with when you try to grow orchids in Connecticut is cold weather for several months during the winter. Also, the sun is low in the sky and you get much less light. I have delt with those issues by heating and lighting my greenhouse. I use a propane heater that keeps the place nice and warm.  But, it also dries everything out quickly. Especially those that are hanging from the roof. Some plants I water every day, usually in the morning so they dry out before evening. I also have to watch out for those in the direct line of the hot air blowing from the heater. Too much hot air is just as bad as not enough. I set my thermostat at 60 degrees F. It gives me 3 zones of heat, warmer at the roof and cooler at the floor. Warm growers go to the top (vandas)  and cool growers on the floor (cymbidiums).

I have installed 2 high pressure sodium lights, 400 watts each, and an 8 bulb florescent grow light all on a timer. They are working in two ways to benifit my plants. One, they emit several degrees of heat that cuts down on the propane heater running. Two, the light from the HPS lamps helps the flowering cycle sort of a bloom booster. I have noticed many more flowerings than I ever had without them. My vandas really seem to like them. I get spikes about every 3 to 4 months. Before the lights once a year and never in the winter months.

So, I guess I appreciate the orchids more because of the snow. But it is amazing to see all that snow.

Ok, the following pictures are of some plants in flower today in my greenhouse.

Lc Stephen Oliver Fouraker Élmhurst' HCC/AOS

Aerangis biloba

Beallara Peggy Ruth Carpenter 'Morning Joy' HCC/AOS

Beallara Purple Haze 'Jimi Hendrix'