Hi everyone;
I joined up the other day and have really been enjoying the forum. Since I rudely jumped in with a first post in another area I thought I'd better introduce myself.
My name is Pam and I live in Ottawa, Canada which is anything but plant-friendly right now (-15 and verrryy cold).
I've been a truly amateur orchid dabbler for the last couple of years and decided it's time that I really try to learn what I'm supposed to be doing. I have about 8 or 9 phals, and have tried a couple of other types of orchids in the last couple of years (some with disastrous results - I have a very sad and dying phrag that I'm going to try to use the 'spag and bag' method as a last-ditch to try to save). My orchids live all fall/winter/early spring on a tile-covered east facing bay window with sheer curtains and 2 standard gooseneck lamps with 65w gro-light floods in them. In the summer I put them on a stand on the north side of the house with a couple of layers of shade fabric around it (this area of the yard gets a bit of early and late afternoon sun).
So far I'm learning lots of new wonderful tidbits of information and all the things that I've been doing wrong
I hope to rectify some of my mistakes by learning from all of you.