most important items needed?

[OrchidArmyWife]

what is the most important items that are needed to have around to take care of my orchids? There really aren't orchid stores in the area so most items i have to find online but am not sure what is really needed.

[mayres]

Everyone will of course have a must have list. I will give you a short list off the top of my head......
Pots (my current favorites are clear plastic ones - some people prefer the solid plastic, but the clear are especially good for phals), media (as your collection grows you will probably find that you want to mix your own as you become petted to certain combinations - so perlite, coir, sphag moss, bark of different sizes, charcoal, etc.), fertilizer (specially formulated for orchids is easiest - and/or worm tea), white styrofoam pellets (of type that will not react with water - use for bottom of pots - provide good air circulation for roots), good scissor or small pruning shear for trimming (some will also add material for sterilizing them), mister (optional - needed or not some of us like to mist some of our plants with worm tea or other), bamboo skewers (for beginners to verify dampness inside pots deep down), trays filled with pebbles (for increasing humidity in the immediate vicinity of plants), insecticide (I use either bayer rose & flower - worm tea is a good organic non-toxic choice that works in many cases), fungicide (I've not needed but many do - especially if you have greenhouse environment), digital camera, and lots of time and patience! Enjoy! mike

[PhalPal]

Hello OAW- Assuming that your orchids are now potted and not in need of repotting any time soon, the absolute basics for any grower at any stage are small, sharp pruners (or single edged razors) barbeque skewers and something on hand to treat undesirables. You will develop your own sense of which pots and media work in your home. Here are just a few of my favorite supply sites; I am sure some other 'geeks will add some of theirs to the list. I have also added the 'skewer method' sticky; it will explain the need for the barbeque skewers!
www.kkorchids.com
www.repotme.com
www.tindaraorchids.com
www.pharmsolutions.com (I really love this stuff!!)
Skewer use for watering of orchids

[arleneg]

Having both single-edge razors and pruning shears is a good idea. Each one has its own use. For sterilizing the shears' blades, I recommend having a blow torch. No, not an industrial size one. A mini one that's used for caramelizing sugars on creme brulees.

[kmarch]

Wow, some of you guys are hard-core. Is a blow torch really an essential hobbiests' tool? I dont' think most people will really need a blow torch, even a small one. I've grown more than 1000 orchids over the course of 10 years and never used a blow torch.

Here's a list of basic, can't-do-without supplies, for those who have only a few orchids:

1) a humidity tray (an alumininum disposable baking tray would do with some pebbles in the bottom)
2) scissors (large or small depending on the size of your plant)
3) a small assortment of pots (if you only have a few orchids you could buy them as you go)
4) some kind of sterilizing agent like TSP for sterilizing your cutting impliments
5) potting mix
6) possibly a misting bottle if you have mounted orchids.

[pikevi]

wow... that is a pretty good head you have there, mayres

That is an impressive list. I don't think you have missed any thing. Just to annoy you, you missed 'LUCK'...hahahaha

[OrchidArmyWife]

Thanks for all the input, today my husbnd and I went shopping and boy that was fun, I picked up alot of the items that i didn't have plus a ceiling fan for the room. So thanks again.

orchidarmywife

[jerrymeola]

I believe your orchids will like the ceiling fan the most.

I can not emphasize enough the benefits of good air circulation.

I am an expert on that since I still do not have adequate circulation in my greenhouses. That's this fall's project. Everytime I add more circulation and think it is good I find I can do better.

I am buying about 500 orchids a month right now and I do not own 60% of the items listed. Even in my commercial applications I have never used a blow torch to sterilize. I am quicker to trash a diseased orchid rather than try to save it.

I rely heavily on worm tea for insect and fungus control. Pots, potting mix and water is about it. Stakes, plastic twist ties and pot clips are all useful.

[chefatplay]

I keep

worm tea
razor blades
sphag moss
fine sized medium
medium sized medium
cinnamon (to put on plant where I cut it. I consider it an orchid bandaid)

So far, so good for me.

[c.whitcomb]

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

Stakes, plastic twist ties and pot clips are all useful.

Will most garden stores have stakes and clips?

-c

[Tobi]

O.K. If you recommended worm poop, razor blades, grass (moss), and wood
chips as MUST HAVE ITEMS to anyone who is not an Orchidgeek, they
probably would look at you thinking: This person needs serious help!!

[tom499]

I have nether worm tea nor fungicide/bugkiller/orchid defender..

I rely on my bare hands, a magnifying glass and a bottle of white spirit

As for the rest, i use scissors, pots, bark, compost, washing up bucket thing (mind blank) and....stakes for flower stems and fertiliser.

Apart from the bark and fertiliser which i bought everything else is what i can find in my parents garage/greenhouse.

[PhalPal]

I like having a few remedies on hand just in case something pops up. (fingers crossed) I have never had an indoor bug problem since I got rid of all my bark. The stuff I use for just about everything is from PharmSolutions and it makes a great leaf shiner as well, so I use it as prevention once a month or so. Seem to be working as a good prevention also.

[chefatplay]

Phalpal, are you using all sphagnum?

[PhalPal]

chefatplay - No, I am not a fan or sphagum at all. I use a mix similiar to Aussie Gold: coir, dynarock, charcoal and perlite. I just love it and so do all of my orchids.

[Orchidflowerchild]

Originally Posted by c.whitcomb

Will most garden stores have stakes and clips?

-c

You can make them! I've made them out of coathangers and all sorts of wire readily got at home depot or lowes.

Check out the various clips and such on this page. You can easily bend wire into clips and such.

I'm kindof a do-it-yourselfer, I guess. Also, it's a great way to recycle those drycleaner hangers! NO WIRE HANGERS! LOL.

-Cj

[fred]

another thing we all need when growing orchids is a good backup of potting mediums and assorted pot sizes.

[chefatplay]

PhalPal, do you get this mix already made up or do you make it yourself?

[PhalPal]

Ellen - I started with one bag of Aussie Gold just to try it and fell in love with it!! When I re-potted in the Spring I mixed my own. I have included Mayres great tutorial below. We basically use the same mix but I like adding Dynarock (diatomite)to my mix with less perlite (if any). One reason is that it doesn't wash away like perlite and charcoal will. I feel it gives a little more aeration and drainage and also adds some weight to the pot. I use it with my cyms outside, and I have cats inside, so a little extra resistance is a good thing!
Phal Repotting & Media