Greetings

[Orchidementia]

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'd always thought that orchids were something you brought home to watch die; that they were hard to grow unless conditions were just right. I have a friend who has what seems like a million healthy, blooming orchids where I'd heard orchids shouldn't be - against glass, getting a lot of light or no light - and she convinced me that they were hard to kill.

So I got one.

And another.

And another... I think I have 12 or so now. Nothing terribly fancy, and I'm pretty sure I've lucked out and picked very hardy orchids. Most are over a year with me, and the Miltonias have grown so much they needed repotting (so much for being slow growers; one you can practically watch grow).

I've been feeding 'weekly/weakly' with Miracid three out of four weeks, and on the fourth week, giving them a good, thorough soaking with plain water. They get misted often - lightly, but often - and the day/night temps here are well within what they're supposed to like, though I've found light preferences really do vary from individual plant to plant, no matter what their 'type' is supposed to prefer.

So far, knock wood, they're doing pretty well. Even out of bloom they're attractive plants ... and very tolerant ones, too.

[fred]

Hi Orchidementia
welcome to the forum
nice to have you with us

orchids are not hard to grow if you provide them with the fright Culture

one good thing about this forum is we have a great caring bunch of members that have heaps of knowledge so ask all the questions that you think you need to and we will all do our best to give you the right advice

[Tobi]

Hi and welcome to the forum Orchidementia. Great people here with lots of information
to help you with. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have.

Fred - Thanks for the little chuckle this AM. I know it was just a innocent typo, but...
"orchids are not hard to grow if you provide them with the fright Culture."

I didn't know you could scare them into growing (LOL)

[brandank]

Welcome to the forum Orchidementia! This place is full of informative orchid geeks that have all the information and pictures you could every need to take care of your chids'. But be careful time can just disappear reading and looking at all the posts.

[solay]

Yes, time goes fly when your having fun. I've developed a stiff neck from being on the site so much. Hee! Hee! Welcome Orchidementia. Sounds like you have a green thumb with orchids!

[Orchidementia]

Thanks for all the nice welcomes!

Solay, I think I have cast-iron orchids with a strong will to live.

[patticake]

Hi!! Welcome to the gang. Looking forward to chatting with you in the future about your "chids"!
You mention that you use Miracid... Maybe an orchid formula without urea might be better... Does Miracid work well for you?
Good to have you with us!

[Orchidementia]

Originally Posted by patticake

Hi!! Welcome to the gang. Looking forward to chatting with you in the future about your "chids"!
You mention that you use Miracid... Maybe an orchid formula without urea might be better... Does Miracid work well for you?
Good to have you with us!

It seems to work in that I have new growth and nothing is dying (I'm knocking wood so loud the neighbors just said, "Come in!"). I started with Schultz's, but they really didn't seem to like that (no growth, dropped leaves). I use Miracid on my fuchsias, and once I figured out that orchids are acid-loving, I tried it ... so tell me: what's better??