New to Orchid WebSites

[roambb]

Hello all,
I purchased my first Phal about two years at my wife's request, and now I have, and try to care for about six. I was into growing fish & corals for many years of my life, but sold all of my equipment about four years ago. Orchids have certainly been a pleasure since I began. I think I had some beginners luck early on, because I have recently begun to have problems. I lost my first Orchid a few days ago to a slow, and agonizing death. It survived three moves, long roadtrips in the car, and finally croaked before it could settle in its hopefully last home for a while. We now live in Atlanta Georgia, and I can hopefully begin to have more success with the plants that I still have. I have made the mistake however, of being cheap and purchasing plants from the BIG BOX hardware stores, and find that most of the roots are rotten at the time of purchase. So, I really want to purchase some nicer plants, from growers, but I want to get my conditions right before I invest. So, you will probably hear from me in the future with many questions.
Other interests are gardening/landscaping, backpacking, rock & ice climbing, and mountain biking. Basicly, anything outdoors, or that involves growing things.

Take Care, and thanks in advance for all the help and advice.

[roambb]

Sorry, my name is Patrick Barnett

[Kathy]

Was it from Lowe's? I purchased one from there this past summer and the roots are like nothing there and the plant only lasted a short period of time. I am with you, I guess it does not pay to get them from there, but they look so nice when they have them and it is so tempting to get one from them.

[roambb]

Hello Kathy,
It was from Lowes. I've tried a few. The nice thing is that they do guarantee the plant for a year. So hopefully you kept your reciept. I think that the plants are stressed to grow quickly, then way overwatered when the get to Lowes. I tried to pick the driest ones that I could find, but they were still ruined. I will not buy again from any place like that, it is too disturbing to watch a plant die. If anyone has any ideas on how I can rescue the root systems, please let me know.

Patrick

Years ago my whole collection of orchids became infected with bulb mites, which were eating the roots. All forty of them. After eradicating the pests, I was left with forty plants with top growth but nothing below. They were all falling over in their pots. I know a lot of people suggest sphag and bag, but with so many affected plants, here's what I did. First of all I got smaller pots, because the pots the plants were in would hold too much water for the non-existant root ball. Then I used a small bark mix and then I tucked the plants into the mix and secured them there with wires bent into 'U' shapes, or with florist pins, or even with hair pins. Anything to secure the plants to the medium. If a plant tended to fall over, I held it upright with one or more plant stakes. I tried to keep them as humid as possible. Very gradually the plants started to grow roots, and most of them were saved.