I first started growing orchids when I bought a dendrobium from Home Depot on the clearance rack 7 years ago and a book about orchids.
When i moved to Germany shortly after this I smuggled this orchid with me (hey I was wreckless teenager back then). Then through the channel tunnel to England. My husband now affectionately calls this orchid "old reliable" as it never ceases to grow and flower every year now 2 long stems of heavily loaded dark pink flowers.
I've had a few failures since then. Once phal. that i bought at a supermarket in Germany did not survive the trip back to England. A Zygo that my husband's grandparent's gave me was killed by my husband while I was back in America for 6 months.
I killed one Masdevallia I got at an orchid show. The guy there thought it sounded like similar conditions I was growing my dendrobium in. Did not get on with that one AT ALL though.
I have half killed one Paph. my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday 2 years ago.
All the plants I have bought now are from a wonderful orchid nursey really near to where I live in the south of England (Orchid Answers).
2 years ago I bought: cymbidium Maureen Carter "chichester" an/rhs (don't know what all that means) but the guy there pointed it out specifically as one of his prides so I bought one. It has reflowered for me almost without me knowing it. I have it on a windowsill with venetian blinds and didn't even notice the 2 very long spikes growing right up against the pane until the buds we about to pop open. I love the pale green of this flower but the flowers are a bit short lived.
At the same time I bought a Colax Jugosus x Zygo Artur Elle. This got some nasty grey things on the leaves that caused all of them to fall off. I've had one new growth now which is very healthy without a reaccurance of this problem when I moved it to isolate it from the other orchids. It seems much happier in my south facing window and had re-flowered already last year.
Because of my enthusiasm in finding this forum I went back and I thought I've have another go with a proper phal. and went back and just bought a lovely Phal. Gene Wentz with red flowers and 2 spikes about to pop open with flowers (it was mother's day here in the Uk, so I thought why not
) It looks very healthy and I HOPE I can suceed with it.
Looking forward to spending some time here. Would LOVE to be Vanda owner someday. Fell in love with those at the botanical garden in Munich. Also would love one of the cymbidiums with the big flowers once we move.