Info about Orchids

[pulcini]

Hello,

This is my first mail in this forum.

I'm living in Milan- Italy .
I have some questions for you.

I got some Orchids at home and I would like take care of them in the best way.

I keep them inside the flat close to a big door-window.

Can you please advice which way I should follow ? your experiences is fundamental ! I'm just a beginner !

Is it necessary change the small vase that always are inside after bought , with a bigger one ?

Sometime the roots are coming out the vase ? How much water should be given ? and from the bottom or the top ?

Which kind ground or other staff is the best to have in the vase for them ? Fertilizing ?

.....

photos ? manual ?

Thanks a lot for your help and useful advices.

[mayres]

Welcome pulcini!
It would be helpful if we knew what kind of orchids you have. Posting a pic or two of them might be helpful too in giving advice - even in the area you are growing them.
It is usually not necessary to repot orchids for awhile after you purchase them. In general most of them prefer to have smaller than larger pots. Roots (air roots) are common with many kinds of orchids as the many of them grow on trees, rocks, etc. and their roots naturally are looking for places to attach themselves. How much water is not as much the question as how often to water - that will depend upon what kind of orchid(s) you have. Most orchids are watered from the top - and flushed really good from the top periodically to reduce mineral accumulations. The kind of media you have your plants planted in varies depending upon what kind of plants you have and what your environment is like. Most orchids need to be fertilized - many home hobby people recommend fertilizing every time you water with weak (1/4 to 1/3 strength) solution after regular watering. There are lots of good books and places on the internet too to learn about orchids - once you tell us what kind you have and some specific questions about yours in particular you will get a lot more information. Enjoy! mike

[Aniko]

Welcome to the forum .
To be able to help, we need to know what kind of orchids you have.
Different orchid types need different care, so please try to identify them. If your orchids have no tag with their name on it, please post pictures as attachments to your text message.
Aniko.

[arleneg]

Hello & welcome to the forum, pulcini! We look forward to seeing what kind of orchids you have.

[pulcini]

Thanks for all of you for yoir feedback !

I'll try to identify them and let you know.

Thanks . Kind Regards
Paolo

[pulcini]

hello,

here the photos :

all three together + at the top (left ,center , rigth)

Thanks a lot

Paolo

[pulcini]

here other two species :



Thanks

Paolo

[mayres]

It is a little hard to tell from your photos, but it appears you may have FIVE different types of orchids there - all of which will need somewhat different care. Right off the bat I can tell you that the orchid with the largest leaves is a phalaenopsis (white flowers) and the first pic of the 2nd post appears to be a paphiopedelum - both of these plants are low light orchids and should have bright INDIRECT light - only early morning or very late afternoon sunshine. The other three on the other hand will want more light. There is so much to say about all five of these plants you might want to start another thread/post and deal with them one orchid at a time. mike

[pulcini]

Thanks Mike for your info !

I'll follow your advice to detail better each of them

Thanks. Paolo

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Left to right:

1. Phalaenopsis. Low light (bright indirect), let get close to dry, but not hard dry. Room temp.

2. Reed stemmed Epidendrum. High light, 50 to 60% of full sun, and full sun while it is cool. wet at the roots. Can be cool to warm. It is the weed of the orchid world.

3. Oncidium complex. Lower light like the Phal, or maybe just a little more. Not completely dry like the Phal. Room temp is OK.

Left to right:

1) Paphiopedilum. Grow like Phal, maybe a little more water.

2)Cymbidium. Keep this one a little wetter than the Phal/Paph. This is a high light plant like the Epidendrum. It would also probably like it a little cooler.

[pulcini]

Dear all ,

i attach here some more photos .(first)

Please if can tell me some info as , type , water , ligth ...

Thanks.

[pulcini]

here the other photos :


3-root (Small).jpg (54.2 KB)
3-flower (Small).jpg (41.2 KB)

4-root (Small).jpg (43.5 KB)
4-flower (Small).jpg (32.2 KB

Thanks

[pulcini]

Here the last 3 photo :

5-pink-flower (Small).jpg (23.3 KB)
5-root (Small).jpg (35.8 KB)
5-white-flower (Small).jpg (25.6 KB)

Thanks to all


Kind Regards

Paolo

[fred]

wow thank you for the pics the plants look realy nice.
I love the orchid bug.
I think you can be proud of yourself.
well done

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

OK, the plants (4 pics) in your first post are Phalaenopsis, which I have given info on before.

In your second post, 3,3 is a Nobile type Dendrobium. This is a high light plant like the Cymbidium. When it is growing, you should not let it sry out completely. But when the last leave comes out of the top of the growth, you should let this one get very dry and water maybe once a month. Also, it needs to be a little cool diuring winter, but I am not an expert on Nobile type Dendrobiums.

Number 4 looks like your Oncidium complex that you show earlier, and the info on that applies.

5 looks like two different Cattleya hybrid type plants, unless they are just different ages of the flowers. Cattleyas are high light plants like the Cymbidiums. This plant likes to dry out between watering, but don't leave it dry for more than a few days.

All of these new plants like intermediate temperatures except for the nobile type Dendrobium during winter. If you have mild winters (above 0 C), the Cymbidium and the nobile Dendrobium can be kept outdoors during winter.

[kmarch]

A while back I posted a fairly detailed Paph culture sheet on this forum. Check it out for your Paph care.

[pulcini]

Thanks a lot for all of YOU

Kind Regards

Paolo

[pulcini]

Dear all,


I just come back with my wife and son from Bangkok from some Holidays.

... Bangkok is fantastic for growing the orchids !

... in these day Milan is also under very hot (38 Celsius) and umid temperature too...


In Bangkok infact I bougth some orchids (miniatures) !
Very cheaper as well : about 3 Euro !!!

Here I attached the photos.

Photo 1, 2 , 3 have iron thread to hang with and they are in small vase in ceramic reppresenting small animals. (are they the Cattleya type ?)

The 4 rd in a small argilla vase. (may be a Phalaenopsis ?)

The 5 th in a small plastic vase (may be a Dendrobium ?)

Did I analized correctly

Do you think that I should hang the 1, 2 and 3 and/or change the vases ?
They can continue growing in such vases ?

While the 4 and 5 I also keep in the original vases ?


Thanks a lot for your comments and advices

Kind Regards

Paolo

[sandra]

Quite lovely collection you took home pulcini. Photos 2 and 3 look like a cross between dendobium and cattleya. I know so little about orchids, don't even know if you can cross these 2. The first looks like a catt, #4 looks like a phal, #5, a dendrobium. I'm sure others will post with advice for caring for these; just wanted to give my thoughts here.

Hope you enjoyed your trip. My brother arrives tomorrow from Thailand. He loves it so much there, he built a home. He tells me that orchids are all over the country and indescribe-ably beautiful.

bella fortuna!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

Left to right:

1. Phalaenopsis. Low light (bright indirect), let get close to dry, but not hard dry. Room temp.

2. Reed stemmed Epidendrum. High light, 50 to 60% of full sun, and full sun while it is cool. wet at the roots. Can be cool to warm. It is the weed of the orchid world.

I think you got the first 2 switched around (or perhaps the post was edited and the order changed?) after the photo showing the 3 pots, the next one is the reed-stemmed Epi then the Phal.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by pulcini

Photo 1, 2 , 3 have iron thread to hang with and they are in small vase in ceramic representing small animals. (are they the Cattleya type ?)
The 4 rd in a small argilla vase. (may be a Phalaenopsis ?)
The 5 th in a small plastic vase (may be a Dendrobium ?)

pulcini, You don't have any Cattleyas in this group. The plants in pictures 1, 2, 3, & 5 all look to be Dendrobiums, Phalaenopsis-type Dendrobiums to be more specific. The first looks like it could be Den. biggibum or a hybrid of it. Don't be confused by "Phalaenopsis-type Dendrobiums, they are not Phals. They're only called Phal-type Dendrobiums because the flower somewhat resembles a small Phal flower.

I'm not sure what #4 is. It looks Vandaceous though, like it might be a small Vanda or Ascocentrum. It's not a Phalaenopsis.

Whatever type of pot is used, it must have drainage holes in the bottom to let the excess water run out. Most orchids do not like to sit in water.

You can get culture sheets on all of the orchids you have at www.aos.org. these culture sheets will give you info on the light, temps, potting medium, watering, and more.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The forth one looks like a Rhynchostylis. The leaves are very broad like a Rhynchostylis, and have the same marks and texture..

Kevin, I think my order was based on the first picture only. The single pictures have the first 2 plants reversed compared to the single picture of 3 orchids. I don't know if the single pictures were moved or not. I don't remember there being a confusion factor when posting.

[pulcini]

Thanks a lot to every body we keep in touch

Kind Regards

Paolo

[pulcini]

Dear all,

i want to buy the book (used is appreciated !) , here in attached the photo , do you know the price ? if some of you has , I can buy it


Thanks a lot

Kind Regards

Paolo

P.S: the corispondent in english is fine too ...

[pulcini]

Dear all,

... nobody know about the book or the Authors of the prevoius mail ?

Thanks for your advices.

Kind Regards

Paolo

[kmarch]

Paolo,

I am familiar with the author Rebecca Tyson Northen. She is a well-known author and has written several good orchid books. Have you checked any of the large internet book dealers like Amazon.com?

-K

[pulcini]

Hi Kevin,

thanks for your feedback. Yes I already look but it , but I was thinking the price to higth ... I'll look aroud

Thanks

Kind Regards

Paolo