Staples for orchids?

[CharliesAngel51]

I am planning a trip to an orchid nursery and I am new to orchids. What supplies do I need to buy . I know cinnamon and cinnamon extract, peroxide, alcohol. I have orchid food 20-20-20, and I have a bag of bark. What else should I put on my list of must haves. I know I will probably see some orchids there that I will think are must haves. With my record with orchids , they may refuse to get in the car with me. Almost certain death.

[markclkk]

Worm tea, dishwasher liquid, seaweed extract, KNO3, bone meal and flowering fertilizer.

[kmarch]

We're talking staples here, right? Essentials?
1) culture sheets/books that tell you how to grow your orchids
2) pots - various sizes according to how big your orchids are now
3) potting mix - bark, charcoal, perelite, possibly things like coir, peat, and sphag depending on what kinds of orchids you have - also the size you get also depends on the orchid
4) name tags
5) possibly some flower stakes, depending on what kind of orchids you have.
6) a good pair of small trimmers/cutters - probably something like TSP to sterilize these
7) possibly a good general mild insecticide like Safer's insecticidal soap
8) possibly a good general mild fungicide like Physan

Cinnamon is useful against rot but not an essential. In more than 10 years of growing orchids, I've never used peroxide or alcohol so I wouldn't call those essentials either but rather optional. Fertilizers can be nice/useful but are not essential. I fertilized for about 5 years than I haven't fertilized since then (5 years and counting). Different insecticides and fungiciedes are useful, both chemical and natural insecticides and fungicides, but until I had about 50-60+ plants I never used them very much. Pretty much everything else is optional. Neither I nor most fo the hobbiests I know use light meters, or any of that expensive stuff. Again some of these things might be helpful to some but they're hardly essentials.

[fred]

also a permanent marker for the name tags
Good post Kevin

[articuno75]

No Fred not permanent marker..... PENCIL and a good block eraser.

I've switched so many names on tags now (due to name changes) that I can barely remember mine!

[CharliesAngel51]

Originally Posted by kmarch

We're talking staples here, right? Essentials?
1) culture sheets/books that tell you how to grow your orchids
2) pots - various sizes according to how big your orchids are now
3) potting mix - bark, charcoal, perelite, possibly things like coir, peat, and sphag depending on what kinds of orchids you have - also the size you get also depends on the orchid
4) name tags
5) possibly some flower stakes, depending on what kind of orchids you have.
6) a good pair of small trimmers/cutters - probably something like TSP to sterilize these
7) possibly a good general mild insecticide like Safer's insecticidal soap
8) possibly a good general mild fungicide like Physan

Cinnamon is useful against rot but not an essential. In more than 10 years of growing orchids, I've never used peroxide or alcohol so I wouldn't call those essentials either but rather optional. Fertilizers can be nice/useful but are not essential. I fertilized for about 5 years than I haven't fertilized since then (5 years and counting). Different insecticides and fungiciedes are useful, both chemical and natural insecticides and fungicides, but until I had about 50-60+ plants I never used them very much. Pretty much everything else is optional. Neither I nor most fo the hobbiests I know use light meters, or any of that expensive stuff. Again some of these things might be helpful to some but they're hardly essentials.

Thanks for the info. I have already printed the culture sheets from AOS for the orchids that I have. Also have ordered some books, Orthos Complete Guide to Orchids, Orchids for Dummies, Easy Orchids, and one by Miracle Gro Can't remember the name. Will have lots of reading to do when they arrive.

[E-Jag]

I would suggest a good friend who doesn't like orchids and who can pick up the things on your list while you wait in the car. It's your only hope.

[evagentry]

I have a CD marker for plant tags, I'm thinking maybe it will last longer on the tags.

[dr_frnkblck]

My advice is to ask people at the nursery what you will need to care for the orchids you buy. If you are going to a orchid specific nursery, they should be able to give you more specific info for your climate.

Also start small and work your way up. I started with 2 Phals, had them for a couple of months and then killed them when i moved. then a couple of months later, I bought a new Phal. A couple months later, my girlfriend gave my another one. After tht I went and bought my first Paph. After about 6 months I bought another Paph. I didn't buy anything else for about a year. With only a couple of "beginner orchids" I learned a lot about my tendacies as a grower. I also was able to go back to my local orchid seller with any questions I had. Now with more confidence in my ability to keep a couple of orchids alive I've been branching out into other orchids. I have about 25 now and haven't lost one yet(knock on wood).

I guess you probably didn't want my orchid growing history but I think it's better to start out slow. I personally only have a 20-20-20 fertilizer, a couple of extra pots, a bag of sphag, a bag of schultz orchid mix, and a pair of pruners. Cinnamon, dish soap, alcohol, Hydrogen peroxide, and markers are all things I have at the house already. Unless you are planning on dividing your plants I don't think name tags are a necessity. A lot of the things above aren't going to be the thing that decides whether your orchid lives or dies and that is the most important thing.

[CharliesAngel51]

Originally Posted by E-Jag

I would suggest a good friend who doesn't like orchids and who can pick up the things on your list while you wait in the car. It's your only hope.

Point well taken. It's hard to resist them. They are so pretty and they seem to know my name. I guess they don't know my reputation as an orchid killer. I am determined to learn to gro them unless it bankrupts me first.

[CharliesAngel51]

Thanks Doc, I certainly don't intend to get a lot of orchids . I have 4 and 2 of them are amost in Orchid heaven. I can't see myself doing this on a large scale. I just want to have the supplies on hand to treat them for rot , insects, etc., and for repotting when necessary. From reading the posts on this forum it seems like they are addicting tho. Will try to control myself when I go to the nursery.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by dr_frnkblck

My advice is to ask people at the nursery what you will need to care for the orchids you buy. If you are going to a orchid specific nursery, they should be able to give you more specific info for your climate.

I agree this is a good idea, and you'll also be able to get some recommendations for growing in yoru specific geographical region. Having said that, i'd also highlight that this applies only if you are going to a nursery that specializes in orchids. Forum members have heard some funny and frightening bits of advice from well-meaning but orchid-ignorant folks at non-orchid nurseries and DYI stores.

You've picked up some good books there. I suspect you'll do fine with your orchids! Be sure to share your orchid success with us!

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by CharliesAngel51

I am planning a trip to an orchid nursery and I am new to orchids. What supplies do I need to buy . I know cinnamon and cinnamon extract, peroxide, alcohol. I have orchid food 20-20-20, and I have a bag of bark. What else should I put on my list of must haves. I know I will probably see some orchids there that I will think are must haves. With my record with orchids , they may refuse to get in the car with me. Almost certain death.

If you are planning a trip to an orchid nursery and you already have media and fertiliser all you really need to buy is more orchids. Some styles of pot eg squat/half pots or net pots may also be more readily available in an orchid nursery than a typical retail nursery. Otherwise tags, pots, stakes, pesticides etc are probably going to be cheaper at a normal nursery or a box store. If you're looking for "home remedy" pesticides, such as cinnamon, peroxide and alcohol, go to your local supermarket/pharmacist. I doubt most orchid nurseries would even carry them.

[CharliesAngel51]

Yes it is an orchid nursery. They grow them , have a store and also sell on line. I don't think they sell any other plants. they are only about 20 miles from me so they should be aware on my climate and growing conditions.

[markclkk]

Originally Posted by CharliesAngel51

Yes it is an orchid nursery. They grow them , have a store and also sell on line. I don't think they sell any other plants. they are only about 20 miles from me so they should be aware on my climate and growing conditions.

Yup, I think that makes things much easier when you getting something known to do well at the same location.