Orchids help

I feel the urge to try my hand at Orchids
Have we an expert on site that can give me any advise on a starter kit?
Hows and how not...whens and when not etc:
I have a South facing conservatory which I feel maybe handy.
Thankyou

 

Robert, orchids do best if you ignore them!

Do NOT put them in your south-facing conservatory, they don't like full sun, give them partial shade or put them well away from a south window.

Do NOT water them too much, they hate wet feet. I only water mine about once every 4-6 weeks! No kidding. Also, mine don't know what any kind of fertilizer is, be it for orchids or anything else.

As said, ignore them - they thrive on neglect.

Good luck with yours if you decide to get one/them.

[hr]
Ah, and when you do water them, be stingy and just dribble it around on the orchid "soil". If anything remains in the overpot / saucer afterwards, discard it.

 

Not an expert by any means Robert, but I have grown Cymbidiums, (I dont have any anymore), and Phalaeonopsis.

Cymbidiums can grow outside in summer and require coolish winter temperatures of around 10C.

Phals, need it much warmer and thrive on a steady temperature all year of min 15C.

I think I'm right in saying there are not many that like full sun under glass and most like it fairly humid, especially in summer.

There are lots available these days and fairly reasonable prices, most of mine come from the sad looking reduced price section in garden centres.
I find orchids are great survivors, in general, and will get through all kinds of neglect.

Just buy a few and try them out.
If they are happy they make good long term pot plants.

 

Sound advis as usual.. thanks guys,

 

Don't know if you fixed yourself up with any orchids or not, but in about four to six weeks the GC's will be looking to offload their Cymbidiums (that have finished flowering) cheap. I have two, one was a fiver and the other six quid!
Both are in spike (two on each) and the first rebloom should happen this weekend.

It means that you'll have to take a punt on the colour though............

 

I have had one cymbidium for 4 yrs and is flowering now, looks lovley.never put in direct sunlight.our temp in the garden room is about 7 oc. the phals have been flowering since august.

 

I guess that my conservatory drops to about 10°c overnight. They live outdoors in a shady spot from May to late October.

 

Kedi has the same growing ideas as me for the Phalaeonopsis.

Mine are on a west facing window sill on a tray of gravel with the net curtain between window and plants.

In Ikea the other day they had 100's of Phalaeonopsis for £4.99, not enough room for any more.

Trevor

 

Living in a tropical country (Thailand) the growing advice is kinda back-to-front.

But experience here indicates that:

a) all orchids need and love water. But only to the point that they become dry and then need to be wetted again. Here it might be every day - not so in the UK. I have an average temp of 30 degrees and with 70% humidity here.

b) It depends on what sort of orchid. As a general rule, whatever way that are potted/sold - keep it like that. If they come in a pot, water only when it gets bone dry - might be 2 or 3 weeks . . .

c) if they come with a tiny container and a ton of aerial roots, spray the roots every day (unless you have low humidity.)

d) make sure they have air around the roots - orchids need oxygen. A coarse mix of wood chips/charcoal provides this . . .

e) avoid direct sunlight: bright light/dappled is fine.

f) the only exception I'm aware of is the Gramm Speciosium. This can be planted in the ground in full sun - but only in tropical climes AFAIK. And it grows like a weed!

g) Be prepared for an inactive plant. They cycle between flowering, dormancy, leaf growth and flowering again. I spent 20 years thinking my orchids were dying, then watering them to death so that they died, then throwing them away. I should have just left them till the leaves were growing again!

Hope this helps a bit,

Rob

 

Ok...My first Orchid is now nicely tucked in on the front window ledge.
Many thanks for all the tips guys.
Got it from Aldi this morning 9.99
A large two stem affair that appears healthy.
Comes with a porcelin pot as well.
Grown in Holland.
Only thing is I have no idea what type it is. Theres no mention on the tag.
I have given it a wee feed and water, drained it and now its enjoying its new home.
Anybody tell me what type it is?

 

Robert well done you have a beautiful phalnaopsis.

Enjoy the wonderful pleasure .

 

Just spent quite awhile reading about phalaenopis. Wondering why I have a two stem version. I suppose its in the breeding.
Thanks Kath I`m sure we shall get on just grand.

 

Robert I now always look for orchids that have 2 stems .

And am now lucky to get reblooms

 

At the risk of bragging, I have a Phal in rebloom mode with five stems!!!

 

Ive recently bought a Dendrobium but being new to Orchids im not quite sure what im doing. Its only a seedling (aprox 2") and its leaves have all turned yellow and dropped bar two which seem to be heading the same way. Its in the warmest, lightest part of the house without being in direct sun light and gets watered once a week. Im now thinking this may be too much. It was bought from Malaysia over the internet. Am I right in thinking that the dropping and yellowing of leaves can also be due to the plant acclimatising to its new home?