New member

[violetta]

Hello everyone!
I'm glad I found this site, it contains useful advice.
I'm new to orchids, I received my first phal as a present a few months ago and I've become addicted ever since
I live in Nicosia, Cyprus, which is a very hot and dry city (basically it's an orchid's nightmare), but I'm trying to do my best!
I now have a phal that's growing a terminal spike, I'll be posting some pictures soon so that you can tell me your opinions.
That's enough for an introduction I think!

[solay]

Hello and welcome. I'm glad you found us too. Wow, just the name of where you live wants me to go on a vacation. I'll wait to see the pics. of the Phal. you have before I make any suggestions. I have one myself that made a keiki.

[christinek]

Hi Violetta! to the forum!!

Hope all is well in Cyprus.. Ti kaneis!

[violetta]

Solay: thank you! are you sure you want to come here for a vacation though? today the temperature was 41° C (~106°F)

christinek: kala eimai, esy?

[christinek]

Matheno.. Kala..

[jay]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I know what you mean when you say hot and dry. It was about the same temp here today, which is cool for us this time of year. It usually is closer to 120° F for us.

So, it is more than possible for us to raise orchids, we just can't pull off the cool growing ones.

[arleneg]

Hi & welcome to the forum! I, too, live in a hot and dry environment. This summer, however, it's been cooler (high 80s to mid 90s) than normal.

I'm with Jay -- avoid cool growing orchids. Intermediate growing orchids will do ok. Warm to hot growing will fair better.

[articuno75]

If you can maintain the moisture levels, you might be able to grow Vandas. It would be hot and bright enought for them.

[violetta]

At the moment I only have Phals, but I'd like to expand my collection. So you suggest Vandas as the next step?

[fred]

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

[kid a]

Hello, welcome to the forum!

[articuno75]

Vandas could be a possibility for you. Here is the culture sheet from the AOS.

[rodbender]

Hi and welcome!! I agree with the Vandas they would probably grow well for you as long as you could maintain the humidity they require

[violetta]

thank you all

[violetta]

sorry about the double post, I just need one more so that I can post the pictures of my Phal

[patticake]

Hi Violetta! I look forward to seeing your photo! It took me a few months to figure out the posting! I hope you'll like it here. Good to meet you.

[brookn]

Hi and welcome! My son is named Cyprus. I read a poem and the line 'Oh Cyprus, my Cyprus' stood out, he loves to hear about your country.

[violetta]

@patticake I posted the photos here:
Phal noid, terminal spike

@brookn wow I had never heard about a non-cypriot being named Cyprus until now

[patticake]

You can get keiki paste and apply a tiny amount to the nodes of the spike if it's one that you really treasure. (the paste is a little pricey) Or you can be patient and wait for the plant to send up a new growth from it's base. Patience is the key word here....
Nice picture BTW- The plant looks really healthy- go for the new growth!