Hi from Texas

[luckyducky]

Hmmm maybe pretty typical, I have enjoyed orchids for many years but never tried to grow any. I bought 2 marked down at the grocery store and thought I'd give it a try.

I read a tad on the net and took it to my son's since he has both good light and a newly found green thumb. This was just 4-6 weeks ago. Well, the plants grew new shoots off the spikes and...drumroll...the first one bloomed yesterday.

Well, I could tell I was entranced by the newbie, now I know I'm likely to become a collector. Our local group has a meeting Monday and I will probably be there! I'd like to find out which varieties these are as they are "potluck" the other one has different leaves with a redish stripes but otherwise look much the same.

I'll post pictures as soon as I figure out how, maybe you can help me identify it.

Thanks for being here, I know I will spend many happy times learning about these wonderful plants.


Lucky in Fort Worth

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Be sure to take the plants with you and ask someone knowlegeable about orchids to inspect them for health. Big box stores have a habit of killing the roots, and it is ever so much easier to tell if the plant has a problem in perosn than over the internet. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[luckyducky]

Prescott, do you happen to know a Francie that comes up there for the HOT weekends from Mesa?

Thanks, I didn't get to go to that meeting but will soon. Both plants are doing great, new roots in the pot and above, and lots of them. A healthy new leaf on each. The first one to flower has 6 blooms open now and looking great. The second has 2 spikes but only 3 buds each. Looks like they will either be purple or red, very dark looks like the first buds on each should open in 2-3 days.

Each plant has shed the oldest leaf, I read that's common when an orchid is in flower?

I bought the clay hydxroton pellets to repot them, should I wait to do that until the flowers are gone?

Beth in Fort Worth.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

You can repot now only if you can do so without damaging the roots. If it looks like you will be unable to get the old mix out easily, then just wait. Don't know Francie. Cynthia