Orchids

[Deleted]

Can anyone recommend an easy Orchid please?

I'd love to have one, but not sure which variety to go for, as I understand not all flower every year.

[mickthecactus]

Phaleanopsis. Dead easy. I used to grow mine (in the old house) in the bathroom in an East facing window. Water/spray with rainwater or cold boiled water only and feed occasionally.

Worked fine for me - flowered every year and flower stems last for months.

[Plocket]

Dad grew orchids for a few years but it was more by luck than management because they didn't have labels. I found a picture of a black one recently - that got me interested because I love black flowers but of course it didn't have a name with it and I'd probably end up killing it even if I could find one! I hope you enjoy whatever you get Rita because they are glorious looking flowers.

[Deleted]

Thanks for that Mick - will add one to my Christmas Present list

What colour are the flowers BTW?

[Rosefriend]

Hi Rita

The only houseplants that I have are Orchids - and throughout the years I have had all the normal varieties.

I still come back to Phaleanopsis which as Mick says are so easy and come in all the colours of the rainbow and speckled etc etc.

I am always amazed that such wonderful flowers don't have any scent - what a shame.

A tip if you get one - after they have flowered, normally you cut them off just above one of the lower eyes. Well the higher eye you choose the quicker they flower again, and as Mick says some flower for months. I have a pinky striped speckled one that has flowered 11 months up to now.

Egg cup amount of water each week, spray as Mick says and feed every two weeks - that is all I do and I have had them for years. Oh and no direct sun - as in the South facing window.

Have fun.

Rosefriend

[andy]

Phaelanopsis......will flower for months and months. I had some in flower for over a year.

Cymbidium.....hard as nails but gets big

Zygopetalum......exotic blooms and sweetly scented...hard as nails again.

Those are the three that i have experience with.

www.mcbeansorchids.co.uk/ will help you more. They're only a 2 minute drive from my home !!!

[Spruance]

This Phaleanopsis currently resides on the (west facing) kitchen windowsill, for the winter at least. I suspect the kitchen would be too hot for it in the summer.

[Deleted]

Bootiful, really bootiful (as they would say in Norfolk) Spruance.

I had heard that they should be grown in a transparent pot as the roots need light - is that true?

[Chuckles]

3 years ago a friend bought me a Phaleanopsis, it was in flower when she bought it for me but it didn't flower again until this year Flowers were fab, white with a bright pink centre and they lasted at least 3 months. I use rain water and was told to keep it just moist by sitting the pot in water every now and then. Confess I've never fed it though Not sure on the transparent pot theory but thats what you tend to see them in in the shop. I believe they like to be quite pot bound too. Mine lives in the bathroom window which is east facing.

[Spruance]

rita said:

Bootiful, really bootiful (as they would say in Norfolk) Spruance.

I had heard that they should be grown in a transparent pot as the roots need light - is that true?

Sorry Rita, I have no idea on that. All of ours are in standard pots, and they don't do amiss.

[oldmoleskins]

think I've probably killed ours (overwatering?) and was going to throw it away (replacement already in it's bathroom place) but have now cut it back as instructed to see... does it work when there's no leaves??

OM.

[Rosefriend]

Well - I don't suppose it fell into the bath did it? It really does sound in a sorry state.

If I were you I wouldn't water it at all the moment - I think it may have had enough!!!!! However, what kind of water do you normally use to water it?

The leaves may well come back - it is worth a try - I am all for trying to save any plant I can.

Rosefriend

[oldmoleskins]

no... no bathtime accident, just overwatering is the only thing I can think of that might have reduced it to a sorry crooked stem... the water is probably good - we have well-water here, so it is entirely free of chemical treatment - only UV treated to remove harmfull bugs (if present).
It is (on a tiny scale) relatively high in Nitrates - but that would be good, wouldn't it?

OM.

[Rosefriend]

Yes OM water that is relatively high on Nitrates is great for Orchids. At my GC they once told me that Orchids love about 60% Nitrates and trace minerals.

Another tip with Orchids - instead of buying the expensive Orchid Potting soil, you can use Bark Chippings, just make sure there isn't any Oak in it.

As far as the transparent pots are concerned - I asked at a GC and a women there said that it was because they are cheaper to make.
I will ask somewhere else when I can........

Rosefriend

[Chuckles]

As previously mentioned I got mine as a present and after it flowered I cut the flower stem right down, maybe thats why it didn't flower again for nearly 3 years ? ? ?

[andy]

Many orchids do require certain criteria to get them to flower again. Some need night temps of around 7c with day temps of 15c.....some require constant temps and some require feeding from june to september.

As i've said before, have a look at the McBeans orchids website....they give out some useful info

A

[Deleted]

Thanks Andy

Think I will wait until we've moved house before buying one though

[Chuckles]

Bought these today, the one on the right is scented they should have been £14.99 each, paid £7.99 each.

[Deleted]

Humph!!!

What varieties?

[Chuckles]

As usual, no info on the pots. All I can tell you is the larger flower (white with pink spots) is a Cambria and the smaller dark flower one is scented but only slightly. Have just scanned through some web sites but can't find anything that looks like them

Have even looked on thier web site www.sonatural.nl/ there are some beautiful ones.

Anyone any ideas

[Rosefriend]

I think that they could be Odontoglossum and/or Oncidium - hope someone can help more.

Rosefriend

[Alicat]

Hi busy Bee

I bought my first Orchid Just before Christmas also no name on the pot. After doing a lot of googling I found this site:- Images of 'Odontoglossum Orchids.

www.slipperorchid.com/gallery_oncidiums.asp

And this site:-

home.flash.net/~cameron/orchids/orchids.htm

I don’t know if your plants are there but there are some beautiful pictures.

Hope it is of some help.

Alicat.

[Deleted]

Not sure what mine are, some ffrom Ikea, they have all flowered again, and one someone gave me at my Mum's funeral, it has flowered the 3 years since, September each time but this year the flowers are still there! It looks like a cymbidium. Just in the fron room with lots of bits & pieces wintering indoors.

[MamIDdau]

We had some at work, discounted down now to get rid. Think they are the phaelonwhatsits. £2.50, not bad...

[Chuckles]

Thanks for the web sites, found one definate ID

My Photo


Web Photo - oncidium (ornithorhyncum) sharry baby 'yellow flash'

[Chuckles]

Whoopy think I've ID'd the other now

My photo



Web Photo = Beallara Tahoma Glacier

[Alicat]

Glad you identified them.

Have you looked up about their care.? - mine seems to be a bit fussy.

[Deleted]

Are they in transparent pots Busy Bee?

[Alicat]

Hi Rita

A While ago my mum was having trouble with her orchid flowering. She was talking to someone in passing and the lady asked mum if it was in a transparent pot or a terracotta pot. Mum said both. The lady then advised mum to take it out of the terracotta pot and just sit it on a saucer. - According to the lady some orchids like light on their roots. Like in their natural habitats.
As soon as mum got home she did as the lady said and after a short time buds started to form and finally flowered.

I tried to confirm this on google while looking for a name for my orchid. - But it wasn’t very conclusive.

Some websites said Yes it is true that some orchids like light on their roots. Other sites said it was so you could see how the roots are doing - if they are healthy, if they need watering etc.

This is one site I found:-

www.hrt.msu.edu/faculty/Runkle/Orchids%20part%202.pdf

If you scroll down to page 72( past a great block of grey and about 4 lines down ) it gives their explanation.

I also found this site which makes for interesting reading.
www.capefearorchid.org/Dec06tips.htm


There are loads more sites that I found by asking the question in google “ Why are orchids planted in clear pots.” But I didn’t have time to read all of them. A lot were just selling clear pots.

Hope it is of some help.

Alicat. x

[Chuckles]

alicat said:

Glad you identified them.

Have you looked up about their care.? - mine seems to be a bit fussy.

Got to do some reading on care. Will have a look a those sites you posted alicat....thanks for those .

rita said:

Are they in transparent pots Busy Bee?

My original is in a clear plastic pot but the 2 new ones are in white plastic. I put the plastic pots inside glazed pots so they look better. Seems there are some differences in opinions, I'll leave mine in the plastic pots I think.