NJ Newbie saying HI!

[plasticinium]

Hi -

Looks like you have a great forum here, and I already appreciate some interesting perspectives I've gained as a result.

I've grown tropical plants for years indoors, and even had some fun with bonsai trees. Recently my quiet little hobby has brought friends to my door with their sick house plants, and I've happily helped them out with great results.

This has encouraged my confidence to go ahead and try growing orchids, so I picked up a couple cheap home depot phalaenopsis "experiments" and I'll use these to learn what I can.

I have a hopefully adequate NW facing picture window and maintain a low table full of very healthy and rapidly growing tropical plants at it's sill. The table is 2ft deep x 6ft long, a small tabletop fountain runs continuously providing humidity at a pretty constant 50%-55%, temp ranges from 76F daytime to 65F nighttime according to a hygrometer tucked away among the plants.

So, barring the possibility that I may need to supplement light, I think I have pretty good starting conditions for "low light" orchids (phal, paph and onc) to do well. So we shall see!

Thanks for being here and I will keep everyone posted on my progress.

Wish me luck!

Plastic

[jay]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Looks like you have a pretty good growing area for some low light orchids. As you stated, you might need some additional light to re-bloom, but other conditions sound great. Do you have any pictures? If you have browsed the sight, you know we love pictures.

I do see you are from NJ, but if you could change that in your profile as well it will assist members if you ever have questions about culture in the future. We are from all over the world with very different growing conditions. Glad to have you here.

[exasperatus2002]

Howdy neighbor! Welcome to the forum.

[patticake]

Hi Plastic!! - I'll bet you do just fine! Starting on Home Depot/Loews orchids is a great way to start. That's what I did and did my experimenting with them before shelling out money on more pricey plants. Good luck and keep us posted!!

[solay]

Hi and welcome. Sounds like your off to a good start. Wishing you the best of luck!

[Rocinante]

Hey, Plastic! Welcome to the forum from an eastern neighbor!

[articuno75]

Hi and to the forum !!!

You've come to the right place where there are friendly members and plenty of information.

So, barring the possibility that I may need to supplement light, I think I have pretty good starting conditions for "low light" orchids (phal, paph and onc) to do well. So we shall see!

Most Oncidiums will require higher light levels than Phals and Paphs. You might also be able to do Masdevallias or even Neofinetias. Masdies are no to very low light and Neos can be in the same light levels as Phals

Opportunities are boundless!!!!!

[BunnytheOrchid]

Hi plasticinium!
Welcome to the forum! I hope your phal experiments turn into long-term relationships

[arleneg]

Welcome to the forum, plasticinium!

[BillC]

Hi Plastic, nice to have you on board. Beware the Orchid habit. Once it gets you there is no reprieve. Good luck with your growing.

Bill

[plasticinium]

Thank you everyone for such a warm welcome! I will definitely check out Masdevallias and Neofinetias, I have never even heard of them before...but pics online look really intriguing! (I like wierd / "alien" looking specimens, and these definitely fit the bill, great suggestion! Thanks, Jenny!) So much to learn!!! so much to learn!!!

~Plastic

[11Orchid126]

Hi, plastic. Welcome to the world of orchids. I'm also in New Jersey in a suburb of Trenton. A word of advice. You will read in many books that the orchids should be shaded with a sheer curtain. Here in the light-starved northeast that advice doesn't hold true. Give your orchids as much light as they can handle.

Yes, so much to learn! But that's the fun of it, that's what makes orchid growing so interesting.