Introduction

[maryvonne]

Hi,
I'm from B.C. Canada and have just started growing orchids. My husband bought me the first one a Phalanopsis for an anniversairy present a year ago and now I'm hooked. I now have a half dozen phals, a couple oncidiums, several cymbidiums, a cattleya and a couple other hybrids. I hope to learn more about orchids and expand my collection. This looks like a friendly place to do that.

Maryvonne

[PennieNH]

I just wanted to ask if you had any problems the first few months you got your phal?? I am very new to this. I do not have any and need lots of advice. Welcome to this site. Isn't it great!!! I am very new, too!

Pennie

[maryvonne]

Hi Pennie,
Welcome to you too. I think this will be a good site.
I had the usual over watering problems with my first Phals that were potted in moss alone. I now pot my Phals in a mixture of moss and bark. This works well for me. I killed a couple in the first year, but now all are doing well and some are re-blooming.

Maryvonne

[Julie]

Hello to you two.

Pennie, if you want additional information on how to grow Phalaenopsis, the most useful information I've been able to find is on the website of the Canadian Orchid Congress (http://www.canadianorchidcongress.ca). They have very useful culture sheets, which are more bulleted lists than descriptive text like the AOS culture sheets.

Good luck.

Julie

[maryvonne]

Thank you Julie.

Pennie,
If you are just wanting to get started growing orchids but want to start with something easy I would suggest trying Cymbidiums. I found them easy to care for, not very expensive and they have lovely blooms that last a long time. Mine go out side in the summer and love it.

Maryvonne

[orchid.gecko]

Maryvonne,

I've always been scared to try cymbidiums because I live in an apartment and may not be able to supply the temperature drop needed to bloom them! How do you grow them, and have you been able to get them to bloom again easily?

Thanks! ^_^

[maryvonne]

Hi Orchid.gecko,

All my cymbidiums have rebloomed nicely. I put them outside through the summer and leave them out untill the threat of frost. We also drop our heat during the night to 60 F. If you have a balcony you could put out there or maybe a cooler bedroom.

Maryvonne

[PennieNH]

I just wanted to say thank you to all again for the information. I went to Wallmart yesterday and saw that they had some phals on clearance ($10.00). They looked healthy, other than they had already flowered. I am wondering if it would by wise to buy 1 or 2? They are in plastic pots and have newspaper stupped over the bark? I am wondering why and if I buy them, what should I do. Should I report immediately, etc. Thanks again..

Pennie

[starwhiz]

Welcome to the forum.
check the roots to make sure they are healthy and, check the leaves. Sometimes due to transport they may get those brown bumps called scales.

[PennieNH]

Thank you all again for your information. I love this site more and more!! It is so nice to have such knowledgable and helpful people.

[phillipinmissouri]

Hi,
could not resist jumpin in,the paper is to keep them moist during transport and to keep the potting medium from falling out.I have a dend I bought from walmart that is wrapped in green net like and onion bag.It works so well I have not removed it.
good luck

[Gin]

Welcome to the forum I am new too .
If you don't have the conditions for standard Cymbids . the warmer growers like Golden Elf . do not require the Temp. change I grow mine in the green house year round .
The important thing for Phals. are roots , a few nicks and dents won't hurt them ,at some point they will lose the lower leaves, while growing new from the top replacing the damaged ones .
Check carefully for insects ( scale) as Starwhiz mentioned . Quarantine away from any other plants for a couple of weeks ( Just in case )
Remove any stuff they have on the pot surface and any plastic wrap they may have the pot covered with . Happy Growing .... Gin

just a clarification ,scale is an insect infestation which may appear as brown bumps, it will require an insecticide or other measures to kill. isolate any plant with scale, dirt plant or orchid from other plants. scale thrives in dry conditions and is often acquired when infested plants are transported to new homes. if you see it remove the "bumps" by spraying and scraping the offender off, then check the orchid every week to be sure they are erradicated.