Calling all OrchidGeeks :)

[orchidlover55]

I am new to orchidgeeks and also to growing orchids. I started about four months ago when I bought my first orchid. Now I have 51 , I just hope I learn fast enough to keep them alive and healthy. Out of all the orchids I bought ,only three have names I have a small green house that I took everything out but my orchids and I cleaned it down good with bleach before I put them in there. But the first lesson I learned the hard way was not to overwater. I have alot of questions and one is can I repot them in just Fir Bark? Another is where can I purchase clear pots? Can orchidgeeks give me some websites for starters . I am really having a hard time and I don't want to quit because they are beautiful and I love them . One nursery I purchased about 12 Cattleya orchids from , all of them has a fungus so I purchased Specticide Fungus spray and sprayed all my Cattleya's down and I have some large Cattleya's. I hope I did the right thing ??? At first some of the pots I started them in was the WRONG Pots, they helt alot of water so I changed to pots. I need all the help I can get Thanks Orchidgeeks!! Your the best Debra

[mayres]

Welcome Debra - sounds like you are hooked good!
I purchase my clear pots for orchids here - Clear Plastic Orchid Pots
Quite a few people on the forum use this site -
orchid pots
Hang in there with all those orchids! YOU CAN DO IT!

[kid a]

Hello! A good reference site that has culture sheets for many types of orchids can be found at AOS | Members Only Area AOS | Members Only Area AOS | Members Only Area AOS | Members Only Area AOS | Members Only Area There s alot of content on there that may be restricted to members only but they do provide culuture sheets/info on some of the most popular orchids Hope that helps Another thing you can do is just do a google search with type of orchids and and the word culture at the end or if you have alot of time on your hands you can read through all the threads here on orchid geeks or use the search tool in the upper right hand corner to help you find things. As always we love answering questions and helping others out! Another great resource is a local orchid society. Here is where ou can look to see if there is American Orchid Society affiliated Society close to you Affiliated Societies Directory The meetings are really fun, and the members usually vary from beginner to people who have been growing for years, you may even have a commercial grower or two in your society and some experts that specialize in certain types of orchids or flasking them etc. They usually have speakers, presentations, activities, plant raffles, auctions, that type of thing. Where I live its only a $10 yearly membership fee to join but I'm sure it varies from society to society. Its also a great way to to make new friends that are local to trade plants with or get locaation specific advice on what seems to work well for growers in your area!

[kid a]

ops i just realized all those link says members only but you should still be able to use them lol.

[patticake]

Debra! It sounds like you're into this full speed! It is addicting! Here's a link to some good info -> AOS | Cattleya
and..->http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/new...f-orchids.html
Besides these links, there's a ton of info in the threads here at Orchidgeeks! Good luck!

[sunshine]

Be very, very careful. These guys are enablers

There is a lot of good info here and good people

[Myxamatosis]

Fir bark is a very common media and has many good properties. Check the culture sheets because every orchid group (catts, oncs, dendros) all have different needs and will require different medias. By no means if fir bark a bad choice to have in a media.

Sam

[CharliesAngel51]

I would say that if you started with your first orchid 4 months ago and already have 51 you don't need us to be enablers, you are already addicted.lol. You will finds lots of good info here. Good luck .

[orchidlover55]

Thanks OrchidGeeks you are great!! I can't wait every night to log on after a days work. It has become a treat for me to look at all the new threads and read as much as I can before I actually fall asleep on the computer LOL. I am looking forward to reading all the information you gave to me. YES!! I am very hooked but what better to be hooked on "LOL" at least it's Orchids . I got a new NOID today from Home Depot. I just couldn't resist they had a mark down table and I know the Manager so he marked a Phal down to 3.00. I still have room in my green house for more too!!

[hulaorchid]

WOW!! and I thought I was addicted!!! LOL

[-k-]

Thats one heck of a collection you have there! Just be careful with new chids from the home depot, I would keep it seperate from the others for a few days as a qaurantine. Make sure it's healthy before you expose it to the others, and of course as to not infect the ones from something from the others. You have multiple varieties which as others have mentioned will require diff potting mediums. Def check out the links from Kid a and Patticake... Great place to start, then cruise through old threads in the forum for releveant topics relating to your issues... Thats what I have done in large and worked great! Good Luck and welcome....

[jay]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

51 orchids in 4 months!? You have found the right place. Looks like you are an addict already.

I look forward to seeing pictures of your orchids and greenhouse.

[orchidlover55]

Hey Everyone I was wondering about the Shultz orchid mix with all the charcoal in it, is that good? There is so much charcoal in the mix that it actually makes the roots black . I guess that is why I like the Firbark so much it is so clean. I really enjoyed the links that Kid a gave me. Some of the information couldn't be given out except to a member but there was alot that I could read and learn from. Tonight I am going to order some clear pots off of the site that mayres gave to me. I get real worried about learning all this , it almost seems like you have to go to school to learn how to raise orchids. I have to give it to the orchidgeeks you have alot of knowledge about orchids to have such beautiful orchids. It isn't as easy as raising other houseplants. I have raised all kinds of other plants and had some nice gardens but when it comes to orchids that is completely different. I am not giving up on them though, I will soak in all the knowledge you can give to me. Thanks for the BIG welcome Patti and the great links you gave me. Most of the plants I have is Cattleya's so that helps me alot. Sunshine you are so funny at this point I do need alot of humor LOL and yes like Margaret, -k-,jacqui ,mayres and jay I think I am addicted already, I have went overboard with buying orchids. My husband has cancer and he is taking kemo at a hospital in Birmingham and when we go we pass a real nice Lowes and they have a table that they put plants on and the orchids that loose the flowers before they are purchased go on the table OPPS!! then Debra comes along and can't resist the purchase. LOL It is so much fun though. Thanks everyone Goodnight

[mayres]

Another word......for what it is worth...........
The more you delve in the world of orchids the more you will find that there is no ONE WAY to grow/care for them. What works for one person doesn't always work for another. Of course all the media types and mixes and pots are for OUR benefit - out in the wild most of them live attached to trees, rocks, and such and have no media per se. We all live in different climates - some growing outside, some in greenhouses, some on windowsills in our homes, some under artificial lights, etc. Half the fun is the learning process of finding what works for YOU. Enjoy the journey and the miracle of life in your orchids!

[dtje2000]

Debra, Mike (mayers) is clearly too modest to mention it, but he has a phal mix that quite a few geeks have tried and like... I don't know how to link, but I believe it is a sticky on the culture and care page.

Going from 1 to 51 in a few short months...you'll probably want to find yourself a mix recipe and make your own, as opposed to buying the premixed. The bucks you save will buy you orchid 52, and 53, and 54...

[NancyG]

Welcome!

Post some pictures when you get a chance. Lots of good info here. I'm always trying new things. The folks on the forum have great advice.

[orchidlover55]

Thanks Everyone I will look at Mikes Phal mix and try it. I have all my orchids in the greenhouse except one beautiful snow white Phal, she is beautiful so I had to keep her in my Livingroom for everyone to adore. The problem I am concerned about is Alabama gets real hot in the summer. I don't have an air condition in the greenhouse but I do have fans going, but right now it has been in the 70's the past few weeks. I have so many tall trees in my yard but I may have to hang something in the top to keep out the bright sun. My Cattleya's have really started growing in the past two weeks since I put them in the greenhouse so they must like it . But at first I really started making mistakes right from the start. I was watering them beautiful Cattleya's until the mix was soaking wet. I know if I lost them I would have cried .... But thanks to the Orchidgeeks they are alive.

[tizzycat]

No more advice to give Debra, you have it all above, but would like to wish you the best of luck with your collection.

Sounds as if you're already off the blocks and running.

Be warned there is no cure and we geeks will only encourage you.

[rl42]

It did not take you long to aquire 51 orchid's I only have 4 now in a few months I am sure I will get more. I will see how I do with these first.. There is so much to learn about them. My concern was watering and feeding them. I just did not want to over do it, because I have a habit of overwatering plant.

I did read the thread with the BBQ Skewers and that sounds fool proof. So welcome as I am new here myself.

Ray

[orchidlover55]

My husband has to go to the hospital every Wednesday for Kemo and we stop by Lowes on the way back home. Lowes usually has a discount table with several plants along with four or five orchids for under five dollars. I can't resist the deal Then I have a friend that owns a Nursery and they have so many Cattleya's that are in desperate need of a home. He has around 100 Cattleya's that have grown out of the pots and the roots are going every where. He never goes into this certain house they are in . I was so happy when he offered a good price to me for some of them. I thought I found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow Then when we went back by Lowes Wednesday I got six phals and one Den I was so happy . I am addicted now

[orchidlover55]

I took some pics of my orchids and I wanted to post one of them. I have some new blooms about to come out and these will be the Patrick blooms the first ones that have bloomed out for me YEAH!! I am going to the Nursery tomorrow I will look at the Cattleya's they have to see if I can add another one to my collection. I get so excited. I need some help too on this site if you can help me. I can't post a new thread can anyone help me? Thank you

[Ron]

Hi Orchidlover 55.
Very nice setup, the orchids look happy.
Best of luck
Ron

[Brooke]

Orchidlover55 - Click on any of the sections you want to post - Orchid Care or Orchid Pests or Orchid Mounts - whichever is appropriate. On the left side of the page you will find "New Thread" - click on that and you are good to go.

Brooke