[Laura L.]

The weather outsight is frightful, but inside the greenhouse is delightful! Wanted to share my excitement - all my November purchased, WalMart, dendrobiums have new growth! Yea! Just when (after blooms) I was wondering if anything would start happening! Curiosity got the better of me, and a month ago or so, I took all of them out of their pots, clipped a few dead roots, divided one (!), gave new medium (Miracle Grow orchid mix), Physan finally arrived (backorder), try not to overwater or underwater, and kept watching them.

The den nobile purchased from a flower shop is getting keikis and maybe another flower!

My current fear, though, is that I have a bad outbreak of aphids on a fuschia, and that they'll get to the orchids. The fuschia is kept in a far corner, but I've tried soap, malathion plus, bug b gone, a systemic (the label said not for potted plants, but I am desperate), and I spend time most every day squishing them by hand. They must be immune because I am following the recommended spraying schedule, and just can't get rid of them.

I am getting sick of using these chemicals, too. Please don't tell me to toss out the plant. Help!