OH NO! Orchids for Valentines day!

[joy2own]

Hi, my name is Joy & I'm from Oregon. I do like to garden and have WAY too many houseplants. I've always wanted to try orchids, and I did happen to get some 4' tall multi stalked & Staked plants today. The blooms are already showing signs of distress, and I am wondering if they were murdered before I got them, or if there is any hope of resurrection.

They are in a tiny pot with no visible roots outside the pot. They have green petals and sepal, with a speckled red & white thingy.

I have pictures, but not the ability to upload them until sometime tomorrow.

Any help???

Thanks!

~Joy

[Aniko]

You can post right now attachments in your text message .Just select clicking the option Go Advanced and than you'll see the button Manage Attachments and upload directly from your computer.
Aniko.

P.S.
Please, edit your profile and let us know where are you living.This is important because different locations require different treatment for orchids.

[Sharyn]

Welcome to the forum Joy. I too am an avid gardener but I had to get rid of the "water the garden" mentality with growing orchids. They require such different watering practices - at least in my part of the country. Get yourself a good starting book. I've listed a link below, and use the forum often - there's great help and information here.
http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/new...ght=good+books

[mayres]

I'm nearly always wrong when guessing - but I live in Oregon too, and what you are describing sounds like cymbidiums? I've seen quite a few available this month colored like that at Costco, Fred Meyers, Safeway, etc. They are quite different than other orchids. "If" I'm correct, you will want to keep them in a relatively cool place while enjoying their blooms, give lots of light, and then sometime mid to late spring put them outside (where they will get lots of light too) until mid fall. Good idea put forth earlier - a book or two on orchids is a great idea. Also culture helps on sites of the internet like this one, orchid vendors, and www.aos.org. Another super place to learn about orchids is attending monthly orchid society meetings - there are a number of societies up and down the Willamette Valley - 5-6 of them! Good luck - mike

[joy2own]

Well, thank you for so many wonderful and helpful replies!! I hope the pictures dont load giant sized.
I only have a few moments to post this. What I am wondering is should this variety be re-potted immediately? Yes, they were from safeway. I always thought Orchids were supposed to be loose rooted with air seeking roots?
These are jammed in this tiny little pot.
I've not watered them, but I have been misting them frequently.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

[mayres]

Hey! For once I guessed right - that is a beautiful cymbidium! Don't worry about moving to a slightly larger pot until after it is completely done blooming later this spring. Then as noted - move it outside when weather permits. I only have one cym myself so am certainly not an expert in these. You will probably get some more good suggestions soon! In the meantime - enjoy all those beautiful blooms! Note: if you live near Portland come to the orchid show in April at the Lloyd Center this year. It will be quite a show compared to any others in the state and it sounds like it will be quite an affair with all kinds of orchid and orchid related vendors - reportedly around 90 in all! This is significant compared to what has been here in the past. mike

[Aniko]

I'm afraid this beautiful Cymbidium will die soon if kept on diet, I mean just misted.I don't have any but
as I know, a Cymbidium should be kept moist all the time, especially now, when is blooming.Until you get an expert advise, please check this link for basic information on how to care of your cym. You'll find here the AOS culture sheets for beginners.
http://orchidweb.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx
Aniko.

[joy2own]

I immediately watered my Cym. (Now I know what it is!) Thanks again for all your help!!! I would love to see the Orchid show, I doubt I will though, as I live in southern Oregon. Now, to my profile!

[mayres]

There are a number of orchid societies in southern Oregon as well - medford, roseburg, etc. I believe there is a small orchid show somewhere in the area in the next few months. It will not be nearly as large as Portland - but would be worth attending if you are nearby - here is a list of societies in Oregon - http://www.oregonorchidsociety.org/n...20societys.htm There are also shows in both Eugene and Salem next month if you are for any reason inclined to come up to my neck of the woods! :-) At any rate, enjoy your cym! Mike