In nature, deciduous orchids in mostly deciduous tropical forests get even more light since the trees and shrubs will have also lost their leaves. Many deciduous orchids won't bloom at all or poorly if their bulbs/canes are shaded during their dormant season. They are expecting brighter light, not dimmer light.

No need to worry about cleaning it off, just let it all melt away. Last year was my first year and I figured why not try the winter sowing? I tell you I'm so glad I did, I was really proud of my accomplishments. I had so much germinate and grow for me that I was literally giving stuff away cause I just didn't have enough room for it! I have a 5 and 6 year old so I usually do my stuff after they have gone to bed or occasionally in the morning till my daughter gets home from Kindergarten. My 5 year old is quite active and I don't get away with doing too much after she comes home from school. I just got 9 more pop bottles ready to sow, so after the kids go to school in the morning maybe I'll get a chance...but then theres that housework stuff. Darn! That just keeps getting in the way of gardening...lol! :o) Anyhow, I'm just a novice at this stuff but I really like it, it gets really addicting. Just have fun! Trish

OK, thanks to both of you. I don't know why I should expect any different just because it's a SAC! lol SAC or not, it still follows those rules I guess :) Cathy

Hi Bessboro. Nice place, Westport. I'm a big fan of the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain -- you've got it all! Except in winter -- because even tho the Champlain Valley is warmer (we call it the "Banana Belt") it can feel colder because of the wind and often there isn't very good snow cover to protect the plants. So I'm happy to live where its a little colder but more protected near Mt. Mansfield. Hi Westbeck, I have an unheated greenhouse with ribs made from home-bent conduit pipe. We used to have a smaller hoop house with PVC pipe ribs but it got crushed by a wet snow like you described. Our new green house has a 5' high stone retaining wall on the north side so the wall provides some thermal mass. Works real well except that I wish the slope of the hoops was steeper so it would shed snow better.