Article Topics Needed

[Dave]

OrchidGeeks.com will be adding a section for articles in the comming months and would like your suggestions for topics to be covered. Please post below what you would like to see written about. i.e "how often should I water orchids"
"What to do when you have over fertilized your orchid" ect...

Besides having individual articles, several people have suggested a collective faq or quick questions and answers. If anyone has suggestions for an outline too please feel free to post below and let me know.

Many Thanks!

[gerneveyn]

Suggested topics: 1. remedies for pests and diseases 2. how and when to repot.

[greg_s]

Suggested topics: Light levels and how to tell if your plant is getting too much or too little

Other Suggestions: A unit conversion table might be handy too. Like converting teaspoons to tablespoons, lux to footcandles...etc. Just some of the less common units of measurement.

[kbishburg]

How about suggest orchids for new orchid growers or orchids that should not be attempted by a novice and why.

[mayres]

Indoor lighting - I have been doing quite a bit of research and could put something together as a draft if you are interested?

[Dave]

wow all suggestions are great. Keep them comming!
And yes, if you are interested in putting something together as an article that would be wonderful too. I can put your name as the author and make sure you receive credit for it. So the article would be like

Indoor lighting For Orchids
Article written by Mayres (or real name if you wish)

[Aniko]

What about a Glossary - containing a list of words and their definitions, like: monopodial, sympodial, pseudobulb, backbulb, velamen, keiki, etc.
Aniko.

[arleneg]

It would be really nice to have a list of orchid nurseries and supplies, local and on-line ones, and have reviews (and star rating?) available for others to use as reference/source.

[Daniel S. Barrett]

wow! all excellent ideas & suggestions!
suggestion:How about new products to try, or are being tried by members, such as, fertilizers, potting mixes, lighting, etc. I recently started using a fantastic potting medium that stimulates unbelieveable root systems in seedlings!
(a buyer of my seedlings thought was Promix! hahaha!)

[Daniel S. Barrett]

to add on to my last message...also what new products or even old products to avoid, that may be a waste of money, misrepresented, or might even harmful to orchids, humans, and pets.

[latsyrc]

How about an article on how, why, and whether you should mount an orchid?

[Maddy]

Originally Posted by gerneveyn

Suggested topics: 1. remedies for pests and diseases 2. how and when to repot.

Along with repotting, how about root pruning/dividing - how to and when. And maybe a section on the best ways to sterilize tools?

Another idea might be a list of suggested orchids for different environments - the best ones for low light, high light, small spaces, etc.?

[Anton]

What about one on how to get therapy for "orchiditis" and to find any group therapy sessions for people afflicted with this terribly contagious obsessive compulsive condition????

[gerneveyn]

Maybe with repotting include a section on different types of growing media available and which is better for which plants and growers. Other article topics might be on propagation, genetics like ploidy, and judging-what qualities to look for in flowers.

[Dave]

I'm glad I asked for suggestions I would never have thought to include all of these wonderful ideas

[junieg2]

I like the repotting and dividing suggestion......

[christaylor]

Suggest a area that is dedicated to users evaluation of orchid grower/sellers

[kmarch]

I've given a talk several times titled "Easy Orchids for your Windowsill". An article version of that might be useful to someone. it's about how to tell what kinds of orchids will do well in whatever kind of window you happen to have.

[Sharyn]

All great ideas! As a newbie, I too, would like to know what kind of orchids to grow in my environment. Aslo, potting mediums and perhaps more suggested formulas for potting mixtures that fit a particular area of the country.

[fzzdk]

a comparison chart of the different types of orchids (however general it may have to be) and their general care requirements. how to repot, with pictures. recommendations for fertilizer, a primer to identify what type of orchid you have, with pictures of foliage and flowers.

that's all i can think of right now.

[pikevi]

Hi,

I think some articles on how to maintain a collection of different genera/species of orchids in one indoor location may benefit some enthusiasts who have no particular preference for any one kind of orchid.

With such a wide range in requirements for individuals species , your expertise and experience could enable you all to come to a consensus on a set of values for temp. ,humidity, light that will be suitable, but not IDEAL, for such a 'mix' of orchids.

It will definitely help me a lot!!

Thanks

[Buttercup]

Hi Dave,

I know one of the things I am most worried about is how to tell a bad root from an okay root. I cut one off the other day and then when i snapped it it was green inside (even though to me it looked dead). Yikes!!! I am too new to know what good/bad roots are like. Maybe even pictures? This would help me.

Also, I am still unclear about indirect/direct sunlight...filtered/unfiltered...clarifying the type of orchid and the type of sunlight would really help me too.

Thanks from a beginner!!!