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11-22-2007, 06:28 PM
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| Need expert advise.. Hello everyone: I am new....'hi'...need some expert advise...I am thinking of starting a orchid farm in the states where i live....anyone out there know how to start.....please give me some 'tips' PS: I am talking about a 'gentleman orchid farm'      |
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11-22-2007, 07:37 PM
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| I think it is another term for hobby farm. Which is a good term; orchids make good hobbies, not good profits from what i've read on this forum!  From your note, we can't tell if you're experienced with growing orchids. If you're not familiar with growing orchids, it would probably be better to start growing a few first, before you put a ton of money into a large greenhouse and hundreds of plants. And figure out what types of plants would be best for you to grow. What is your location? You should update that in your profile. You're going to have to consider how you'll keep good temperatures, humidity, how to keep bugs away, air circulation, etc. There's a lot that goes into growing orchids when you move away from your windowsill or under a set of lights. Anyhow, I'm no expert. However, I believe that until you give us more information, we might not be able to give too much advice. |
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11-22-2007, 07:57 PM
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| Oh, a hobby farm, that explains it! The beauty of growing orchids commercially is that you don't need a large acreage. A few acres and some decent size green/hot houses is all that is required. Have you any experience in growing orchids? |
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11-22-2007, 08:51 PM
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| Hi yobo1and2 - Can you give some more details about what you are thinking of accomplishing and tell us where in the world you live? If you are thinking a commercial venture there are a few threads on this theme discussed earlier - but others will probably chime in again. Not for the weak of heart. It would be important to be able to find a niche as there are huge growers who have millions invested (and over a million square feet of greenhouse under cover) marketing to the masses. A number of small growers in my area sell to the public with hope of breaking even and supporting their hobby. Even accomplishing this can be a challenge. |
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11-23-2007, 09:06 AM
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| yes darling, Snowballsarebad is right. It is a little 'hobby farm' that I am dreaming about. I have a little more than an acres in Guam. Being retired at now....I just want to 'mingle' around with my favorite plant....'yilan' in chinese is orchid - my name. I was originally born and raised in singapore.....yes and no about the question on growing orchids....I do have a few pots here and there but not enough....I am looking more like 100 - 200 pots now and would love to dip my hands into this venture.....not so much for making $$, but a hobby and a little show off to friends and visitors etc.....BUT I do not know how to start...so I thought I will pull all you experts to help me and who knows one day you guys might be able to come to Guam and visit me and the wonderful 'gentleman farm' that you help set up.......heeeeee!! |
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11-23-2007, 02:44 PM
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| Not knowing much about Guam, can you tell us a little about where you live? Can you grow all your plants outdoors? Can you post a pic or two of your surroundings and give us a little feel for your home (area)? The only times I hear the word Guam used is when I'm watching something about WW2 history. Look forward to hearing more about your orchid growing ventures.......... |
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11-23-2007, 03:42 PM
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| Guam is a little island very close to phillipines. It is US trust. yes I do grow orchids outdoors mostly. A point of reference would be, its like singapore island NOT as busy...we only have about 150,000 in populations...mostly military personnel (30%)...you can check out guam's website in the net.....I live in tuman, vey close to the ocean...its very humid and breezy..... Oh by the way, I was trying to update my profile...BUT for some reason I cannot find the link????? |
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11-23-2007, 03:56 PM
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| you can update your Profile with going to the top of a page and on the left you will see User Settings click that then you can Edit Profile I hope this helps you |
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11-23-2007, 08:53 PM
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| It is nice to find that you have a bit f British influence even though you are amidst US military personnel  .100-200 orchids would NOT constitute a 'farm' . I have more than 175 orchids and the collection is barely noticeable. If you are thinking about a few hundreds I'd suggest just keep adding a few at a time. May be try different varieties and see what suits your conditions and/or meets with your convenience. I assume you will have more interests now since you are retired and may need some time to pursue the others as well.. And you could stop when you reach an optimum number of plants to keep you fully occupied without them seeming to be a burden. If they thrive well and if there is a demand for orchids in your area ( quite doubtful with only 150,000 pop.) you could sell a few for 'peanuts' . That will bring people to look at your collection too! Beside it will be great to let school kids to come and take a tour of the farm. Start with about 25-30 and build it up. It will be a great hobby. Good luck and best wishes.
__________________ **** **** " The good person increases the value of every other person whom (s)he influences in any way" **** |
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11-23-2007, 09:22 PM
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| Good luck with the orchid farm Yobo, even if you won't get rich in growing orchids, you will get a lot of pleasure from these magnificent plants. And hey, you can always export them! |
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11-23-2007, 09:58 PM
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| Thks pikevi...I am brough up with the british system...heee...singapore was once under british control....haaha Anyway, guams pop is small....but I fail to report that we have 3 millions japanese tourist that came in and out of guam every year....we even have a little chapel that the younger japs get married and have half american half japanese ceremony almost 5 times a day and guess what they like to use to decorate their chuch.....yup you guess right..ORCHIDS.... A wise saint once said....we know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more that a drop in the ocean....but if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.....So hopefully, I will grow my 100-200 orchids plants into 100-200 orchids farms....
__________________ Flowers are the poetry of earth, as stars are the poetry of heaven.... |
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11-24-2007, 11:55 AM
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| If you are only selling flowers, you will have little problems. But if you want to sell plants to tourists for them to take home, you need to find out about phytosanitary certificates, and export permits. These must be made available to anyone that wants to bring plants back to their home country. If selling plants, you probably want to sell the best native plants you have, but will probably have to start them from seed to get the export permits, but this is a country by country thing, and I don't know about US possessions. These documents are absolutely necessary unless your plan to do things illegally. Don't think you should go that way, as the US is usually a stickler about laws. You might want to try flasks if you haven't already. Start with one, and when you are successful with that, you can do more. I found flasks very difficult over the years, and only succeeded recently when I aggressively treated the plantlets with a systemic fungicide (Thiophanate methyl=Cleary's,3336, OHP6672, bonomyl, Fertilome Halt, ...).
__________________ Cynthia Prescott Orchid Society  |
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11-24-2007, 02:12 PM
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| Thanks cynthia, I can take all and every advise anyone willing to give......No I have no intention of selling plants. and definitely a NO NO of doing anything illegal....I am a febo....definitely not able to survive in any prison cell...haahaa.... I have a dream... (sounds like MLK)....I have a dream of a 'orchid gentleman farm' with a little cafe in it and cather to tourist and local for lunch and dinner and enjoying the beautiful botancial...thats what I am dreaming about....well now I let the cat out....anymor help welcome.....
__________________ Flowers are the poetry of earth, as stars are the poetry of heaven.... |
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11-24-2007, 05:57 PM
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| Now THAT will be a novel idea, yobo1and2. I will vote for that. We had a nice cafe, named 'Rainforest Cafe' just about 10 mins drive from my place but it is closed now. I believe it is very expensive to maintain such an environment here ( almost 6 months of the year is just above freezing or below). There is still one about 1/2 hour away. I am not sure if the franchise is still open. It was more fun to kids than to adults. If I am there I'd visit the place , at least twice a week . With so many tourists it may be a good idea to pursue that line. But do some research.Good luck.
__________________ **** **** " The good person increases the value of every other person whom (s)he influences in any way" **** |
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11-24-2007, 07:35 PM
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| Well, since this thread is seeking "expert advice", that automatically excludes me, sorry yobo1and2. I jumped right into orchids before I ever knew a thing about them and am just now feeling a little more confident. But I'll come eat at your cafe. Build it and they will come.... |
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11-25-2007, 06:33 AM
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| sandra: If I can venture out to give advice on orchid growing why not you? You know more about them than I do. And I don't mind joining you to yobo1and2's "Nature Cafe" but a $2000 dinner puts a dampener on my enthusiasm   Just kidding, yobo1and2. We may all come as group of orchidgeeks 
__________________ **** **** " The good person increases the value of every other person whom (s)he influences in any way" **** |
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11-25-2007, 08:25 AM
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| ..piling the first block.. Quote:
__________________ Flowers are the poetry of earth, as stars are the poetry of heaven.... |
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