What's looking good in December ...

One of my orchids in bloom, pic taken last evening -

 

Lovely Phalaenopsis Kedi.:gnthb:

 

Looking lovely Kedi. :thmb: 02

 

Thanks Strongy and 02, I am quite pleased with it myself. :D

 

lovely kedi very nice colour

 

Great pics Kedi Are they had to grow

 

Hi Kedi, they are so beautiful

 

Thanks Rosa, Nathan and Jazmine.

Orchids are very easy to grow, Nathan, and the less attention you pay to them, the better they do.

The secret is to hardly water them, just about a tablespoon every 3-4 weeks. If you see any water in the pot, tip it away!
Then, don't put them in the sun. Mine live on a west-facing window at the moment, but I sometimes put them on an east-facing one and both are set back under a wide eave.
Mine have never even heard of fertilizer of any sort!

Orchids thrive on neglect.

It is really worth trying them out as the blooms last for weeks, even months.

 

Beautiful photos K-G and thanks for the tips on growing them - I think we must give it a try.

 

Yes I agree with K G they grow well on a West facing window sill, mine are standing on gravel that I try to keep damp, but it very often dry's out.

And they seem to flower for months at a time.

 

I agree that Phalenopsis really do thrive on neglect - when those roots still look green inside that "see through" plastic pot they still don't need watered. I don't even feed mine and they still send out new shoots after I have put them into dormancy for a few months.

A happy orchid sends out loads of those grey roots - so even giving those roots a little mist keeps the orchid growing quite well too. Mine only get alittle water once every 10 days just now when I remember and they don't even need repotted for at least 3 years as they flower better pot bound.

Look for one that has strong leaves - not floppy soft ones. Also the more leaf rosettes on the plant the older the orchid. The older ones tolerate my neglect. Sometimes price is a key to how old the orchid is but thats not always the case as sometimes there are really good orchids that are reasonably cheap. You can buy phalenopsis for £5 these days in garden centres and there are good ones amongst that lot.