Orchids

[tunicata]

Anyone here take care of orchids? Like them, grow them, etc?
I'm going to be starting in that hobby and wanted to see if there was anyone on this board that was into it. This site has always been an easy way to connect to other interests.
Would also take suggestions of worthwhile orchid care forums, since you never know what is worthwhile.


What kind of orchids did you start with?

 

[picod]

I think that the orchid is absolutely beautiful...
But I cannot keep one alive for anything. I have had at least a dozen phalaenopsis orchids over the last two years and not one of them made it, and I've given up. I did a lot of research, tried potting them, hanging them in the orchid baskets, even hung four or so of them in my shower for extra humidity and still had no success. I do have one deondrobium orchid (first picture) that I picked up at a plant show in NJ on Valentines Day of 2009, and it is still alive, but only flowered when I bought it.
It is such a shame. They are so beautiful. My garden outside thrives, but I cannot get an orchid to live inside.
I joined an Orchid Club on Staten Island that meets once a month. Probably not too far from Newark if you would like for me to get the details for you. I only went to one meeting, lol, mostly due to my frustration with the hobby! But they had speakers, and little shows, and even do some orchid sale fundraisers.
Good luck- I certainly hope you do better then I have!
danielle

 

[emmanuel]

I finally kept one alive for over a year but it never flowered after it dropped the flowers it came with

 

[tunicata]

Thanks for chatting with me about this today picod. If you have time/if it's not a hassle, would you remember to find out what types of pots you used?


Emmanuel, so far yours and picod's experience (non -flowering) has been the same.
Bites that it takes so long to flower again though....
I haven't finalized where I'll purchase the plants from.

Emmanuel where did you purchase yours?

 

[SevTT]

There're a few types of orchids that grow like weeds in temperate climes, though they all like it somewhat moist. I had one that I got from a friend in California -- it basically grew in peaty dirt and I was constantly dividing it without giving it any real care. It was called a 'grass orchid,' which seems to refer to a group of types of orchid, but that could be a good starting point.

 

[georgelc86]

acidic soil, well draining soil, they don't like wet feet. If I remember correctly, humidity is good....great now I wanna go buy one now. Get it from a true garden center, not from home depot or lowes, I am sure as you have seen that their condition is pretty bad and your already starting off on a bad foot. If your in Brooklyn their are three good places that I recommend. Cant think of them right now. Just woke up.

 

[jayuws]

You just missed the big orchid sales in the flower district in Manhattan. The best time to buy orchids in NYC is just after Valentines and just before Easter/Pass-Over because the demand and supply are both very high at that time. But you can still find a great variety in the flower district. If you're buying more than one, make sure that they lower the price for each as you increase the number you buy. So if one cost $20 each, two such cost $18 each etc. Everything is negotiable.
As far as care: my orchids do the best when I ignore them. I give mine a bath once every two weeks in the winter and every three weeks in the summer. I just fill the sink so that the water is level with the top of the pot. They soak for a couple of hours and then allowed to drain in the sink. After flowering, most orchids go through a period of dormancy before they grow new leaves, shouts, and flowers. This can last for more than a year before you see any growth and this is usually the time when people kill them because they think they'er not taking good enough care of them. I have had my orchids for more than eight years and 50% of that time they look like they're on their way out. Then they come back and 6 months later they look as beautiful as the day I brought them home.
When I first began collecting orchids I've learned that most orchids do not grow in the ground and many live attached to tree limbs high in the air. They get all of their food from rainfall, humidity and parasitosis. This is probably TMI so I'll stop here.

 

[e.muehlbauer]

Orchids are my main hobby. I mainly grow slipper orchids- paphiopedilums and phragmipediums...I also grow cypripediums in the ground outdoors in my yard. They are fantastic. Another great place in NYC to get orchids is a small plant shop on Centre St, just south of Grand St. Blooming stuff is $20-$45, but out of bloom plants are as little as $5...their stuff is very healthy also.

 

[picod]

Hey William!
It was great meeting you yesterday!
As promised, this is the link to the baskets I was telling you about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Botanica-Ltd-6-...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item439eb51d1b
Great to see that MR has some resident orchid experts! Please take their advice, and make 'em bloom and re-bloom...
keeping my fingers crossed for ya!
danielle

 

[tunicata]

Awesome thanks for the feedback folks. All of the information has been helpful. I've been scoping out florists in NJ, Manhattan, India (online), and some green houses within the states (online).

Now, that I see such variety, I'm getting picky! I want BLUE orchids. The ones I see in bloom (in person) are all white, pink, some shade of purple. All are Phalaenopsis types.

I see from online forums that there are quite a few blue strains within Dendrobium.

Just don't know who to trust.
Is it reasonably safe to order a plant in bloom from an online vendor?
(there are a few vendors mentioned as reputable from a big orchid education site, but they are $$$$$. I'd like to grow them myself, but the seedlings, or below blooming size plants may still take 6m to a year to show anything!)