Orchids

[Plocket]

I'm sure this will have been asked before, and if it has then I'm sorry for not using that thread.

I was given a lovely orchid in October, from M&S, with lovely big oval leaves at the base of the flower stems. It's just about finished flowering now, and I wonder what (if anything) I need to do to keep it going.

I've been watering it about once a week with room temperature rain water - I hope that's right!!!

Thanks for any assistance

[Dutchy]

I am one of those lazy Orchid growers and treat them the same all the year.
No food but they sit in the kitchen window and the damp from the food might contain some nice things for them
I water little but twice a week and drain the pots when I feel there is stagnant water in there.
Next doors is sweet but rather too kind with the can so after holls I have a wet job ;D
You could or perhaps should feed every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer but as said I don't bother and they do well. Phaleanopsis is almost impossible to kill and re flowers real often.
I have ladies slippers in the bathroom that are setting buds now. I treat those mean as well but they do get a little food about a month after finishing flowering and that is it.

Room temp rain water is luxury I'd say.
I don't do it as the aircraft passing over for landing make things too mucky.
I suppose depending on your surroundings you can choose rainwater or tap but tap is always free of bugs, maybe a bit chalky but in general top quality.

p.s. welcome back

[Tig]

I'm a great advocate of cold tea rather than water

My neighbour gave me a pink/purple dendrobium in May last year, it has never been without flowers since I had it. As one dies down another stem with buds on appears.

I have a jewel orchid x dawsonia as well, she also sends out flower spikes and loves a cold cuppa Tetleys

x Tig

[Plocket]

Cold tea? I guess that's without milk then!!!

I think I might try alternating between cold tea and the rain water - our tap water is chlorinated Dutchy so I don't think the orchid will like that.

(And "hello" btw - lovely to see you Dutchy )

[Auricula]

I got a phalathingy for Xmas - it says keep the compost moist at all times...I shall try Tesco's tea ;D

[Plocket]

I've no idea what type of orchid mine is but I don't keep the soil moist - in fact I think it says only to water when the compost is dry. Anyway I've given it a cup of tea and it's not dead yet ;D

[Tig]

Mine loves it - this is what she looks like



x Tig

[Auricula]

I've bought a misting spray and some food for mine - I'm thinking of buying more orchids in different colours.....if I don't kill the one I have!!

[Plocket]

Wow that's beautiful Tig

I saw a beautiful brownish pinkish orchid at the weekend and resisted temptation. I've got to be sure I'm doing ok with the one I've got

[Ladygardener]

What an amazing colour Tig.

[Chuckles]

I've had Orchids in the past but never managed to keep them I have one in the summer house that is looking decidedly sick atm from neglect From what I recall you should use rain water at room temp and stand the pot in the water and let it soak up, you shouldnt let them stand in water for long periods so discard any not taken up. They love being really pot bound and like light but not direct sun. I'm sure there is more to looking after them but thats as much as I know

[maggy]

I have five phalanopsis sp! non of which are in flower at the moment but all very healthy ;D I took notes when I attended a orchid dem; at a local garden centre, you should only water with rain water, I keep a large water bottle in my airing cupboad for this, never leave them stood in water, give them a good drink but be sure to empty he saucer, I usually leave mine for half an hour or so and then empty. Feed once a month with either an orchid feed or a weak solution of tomatoe feed.
Just before the last flower falls cut the stork back to a node on the stem, or if you prefer you can cut it back and another will sprout from the base, be careful not to leave water standing in the cup! that is were the leaves form a cup in the middle. Spray occasionally with a fine spray. Its normal for them to have a rest for a couple or three months before they flower again.






These are a couple of photo,s I found.

[Auricula]

They look great Maggy. Your advice is very similar to the advice booklet which came with the orchids I bought at Eden. I also understand that they should be kept out of direct sunlight, is that correct?

[maggy]

Yes A they need plenty of natural light but not direct sun, I have mine in a west facing bathroom windowsill, if the sun gets too hot there I place some shading behind ! but as my shed is just outside there its not too bad.

[Plocket]

I've been thinking of moving mine into the spare bedroom which is north facing, but can't help worrying that the cold window and the radiator below could cause problems

[Tig]

Mine lives on the dining room windowsill during the day (north facing), but I move it onto the table once I close the curtains so it doesn't get too cold.

[isabella]

I have a few Orchids - mainly Phalaenopsis and they live on a north facing windowsill. I have them standing on a tray of those clay pebbly thingies and I must admit they get a bit neglected sometimes i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/embarassed.gif I water them with cooled boiled water from the kettle or rainwater and top up the tray with water occasionally to create a bit of humidity round the plants. Most of my plants are more than 6 years old and they have never been repotted - just fed rarely with weak baby bio. I never cut the stems off Phalaenopsis unless they look dead because they do sprout again from the same stem i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif

[maggy]

They will be fine on the N side windowsill plocket as long as you dont close the curtains as Tig said, they dont need very high temps; but would suffer if it drops to low, I wouldnt dream of putting one in my cold conservatory at the moment for example.
Ive re-potted mine when they get congested Ive split the plants, you can get orchid compost which is mostly bark, but you wont have to worry about that for a couple of years.
If you dont trim the stork it will only dry up and look withered and it does no harm at all to cut it about half down to a bud its a bump on the stem ! you will probably get a stork branching off from it.

[maggy]

Jan 5, 2010 19:41:01 GMT Tig said:

I'm a great advocate of cold tea rather than water

My neighbour gave me a pink/purple dendrobium in May last year, it has never been without flowers since I had it. As one dies down another stem with buds on appears.

I have a jewel orchid x dawsonia as well, she also sends out flower spikes and loves a cold cuppa Tetleys

x Tig

Ive just had a look at the Dendrobium Orchid Tig ;D they are really lovely arent they? and scented I will have to keep my eyes open for one of those! but they are more expensive than the phalanopsis, so I might have to go around with my hat.

[carolann]

Oh Maggy those are beautiful pic's and a friend bought of the same type, it is the most goergous Pinky/Purple and it has 2 new flower buds about to open. I had no idea how to look after it but I do now, thanks ;D

[Cheerypeabrain]

I had my first orchid this Mothers' Day from my son and DiL...a phal I think.



I bought a couple of little ones last week too...

[chickadeedeedee]

Did battle with Photobucket ... Here's a few of our current bloomers :

Tolumnia Genting 'Sunray'





Lockhartia linifera



Masd. tonduzi





Den. rigidum x Sib.

[Ladygardener]

We've not seen you for such a long time CDDD. Hope all is well. Your Orchids are beautiful.

[Jasmine]

Jan 16, 2010 13:44:00 GMT Tig said:

Mine loves it - this is what she looks like



x Tig

Your dendrobium is smashing Tig - have you got it to re-flower?

[Jasmine]

Gorgeous orchids C3D.


These are my rescue orchids, this must have been taken about 4 or 5 weeks ago now i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/undecided.gif They aren't being drip fed anymore.



Sadly the little phalaenopsis second from left is not very well at all now.
The miltonia on the left didn't have flowers when bought it so that will be a surprise if and when it flowers.

[Auricula]

Lovely picture Jas, and well enhanced by the trainers and cereals in the background ;D ;D

[Ladygardener]

They're looking great Jasmine.

[Jasmine]

Dec 15, 2010 0:03:17 GMT Auricula said:

Lovely picture Jas, and well enhanced by the trainers and cereals in the background ;D ;D

Thank you ladies! But you missed the dirty paw towel to the right of the skanky trainers Auricula!

[Auricula]

;D ;D Do you have Shreddies?....I lurrrve Shreddies ;D ;D

[carolann]

I bought daughter one of those on the left Jas but sadly its not with us anymore think they need a bit more experience growing that type than either of us has. Some people cut the flowering stem back to the second bud from the bottom on the Phal types but I just let mine get on with it and they have not let me down yet, I did re-pot 2, 1 was for a friend and the other was mine as the roots had cracked the pots so I bought some food for them when I did them and they seem to be thriving now, I only feed them once a month and water when the pot is dry and I just use the tap water which has been in a jug overnight. My tiny/miniture one has 2 new flower buds on it and its the same colour as the middle pic of CPB's