wall of orchids

[Martin555]

Originally Posted by Roberta

For what it's worth, I was in Sydney rather briefly several years ago, was wandering in a botanical garden, seeing many familiar plants. I had the thought, "I spent 12 hours in an airplane, and it feels like I haven't gone ANYWHERE!"

Lol, plants do very well here, I lived in Byron Bay for a while and plants do super well there with most gardens having super large specimens.

[Diane56Victor]

It seems like some Potinara (Pot.) and or Sophrolaeliocattleya (Slc.) orchids might be worth checking out for your situation.
They are quite small and some bloom more than once a year according to what I've read.
Barrita Orchids had some SVO crosses that have Potinara and Slc. crosses the last time I looked at their website.
Another website to check out would be Red Fox Orchids, I've always had good quality orchids from them.
I've bought some of the Potinara crosses type from Barrita, just small seedlings but they weren't expensive, about $15 from memory.
I grow outside in Victor Harbor, South Australia but Ive kept those little seedlings inside under lights this first autumn and winter to get them bigger before they go out permanently.

[Martin555]

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

It seems like some Potinara (Pot.) and or Sophrolaeliocattleya (Slc.) orchids might be worth checking out for your situation.
They are quite small and some bloom more than once a year according to what I've read.
Barrita Orchids had some SVO crosses that have Potinara and Slc. crosses the last time I looked at their website.
Another website to check out would be Red Fox Orchids, I've always had good quality orchids from them.
I've bought some of the Potinara crosses type from Barrita, just small seedlings but they weren't expensive, about $15 from memory.
I grow outside in Victor Harbor, South Australia but Ive kept those little seedlings inside under lights this first autumn and winter to get them bigger before they go out permanently.

Thank you so much for the clarity, I just bought my first orchids on ebay so I am making small steps, thanks for the reccomendations which are really invaluable, the pots I have ordered from temu are 12cm and I have read it is best to keep the repotting to not so much bigger pots so maybe I need to buy bigger plants, your advice on this issue would great, I would be happy to buy smaller orchids and watching them grow also I grow succulents under lights and put them out to water them in the rain as well as for longer spells of sunny weather and they are doing well and will probably be growing orchids indoors as well once the wall is done, I am thinking the succulents will make great companion plants for the orchids, not sure about spending lots on lights as the cheapish ones I have seem to do very well and maybe led bulbs are all much the same and the frequencies they emit are as well, thanks so much for reading this far and I am looking forwards to more of your advice, btw I lived in adelaide for quite a while in the early 80s and played golf at victor harbour gc.

[Roberta]

If you have outdoor growing space, use it! You live in a great climate for so many orchids. Outdoors, they get the light and air movement that are ideal - and you don't have to work at providing them. Diane56 Victor's suggestion of the small Cattleyas is spot-on. They tolerate heat with a little shading, they tolerate cold down to near frost, can bloom more than once a year, and don't take up much space. Not fussy about water quality. What's not to love???

[Martin555]

Originally Posted by Roberta

If you have outdoor growing space, use it! You live in a great climate for so many orchids. Outdoors, they get the light and air movement that are ideal - and you don't have to work at providing them. Diane56 Victor's suggestion of the small Cattleyas is spot-on. They tolerate heat with a little shading, they tolerate cold down to near frost, can bloom more than once a year, and don't take up much space. Not fussy about water quality. What's not to love???

You people are spoiling me with positive attention, I will be researching cattleyas soon, the name sounds like cowboys slang.

[Roberta]

We're all enablers here.

[Martin555]

Originally Posted by Roberta

We're all enablers here.

I bumped into some real cancel types in a bonsai forum recently you know the types always using their in group status to lord it over others with dogmatic drivel, I cannot wait to get the wall finished and post some photos, I am in the process of screening the whole balcony and then I have to study the lighting patterns, am just varnishing the screens atm, quite a trick to get them all up and secure in very high winds that frequent this area which is near a beach called malabar not quite as ritzy as malibu I bet but still a lovely kind of cove type beach.

[Roberta]

Here you'll find lots of encouragement. Most of us have learned from experience, trial and error, fatalities... Most of us have learned that even when you think you know, the plants may say otherwise... and take a very long time to do it. They can be quite humbling...but when they bloom for the first time, Oh baby! That's how we all got hooked.

[Diane56Victor]

For growing advice you will get excellent advice here by far more experienced growers than I.
If you can put some photos of the area you want to put the plants and give a few more details like prevailing wind, the name of the orchids you have, usual temps it helps a lot.

I've only had orchids for about 5 years and I've had my fair share of losses and disappointments but I just have to accept it as a hard lesson and try to do better next time.
If there is a local orchid club its very beneficial to join, most clubs have a beginners section where questions can be asked. It also puts you in touch with growers in your area who can tell you what will work and what wont. Also a very good source of plants too.

Bunnings have some clear pots in at least two sizes.
I have two sizes and Im happy with them. I always put holes in them using a small soldering iron.

CAUTION
******I always do this outside with a breeze coming from behind me to prevent breathing in any fumes.******

About the grow lights I have two cheap grow lights that clip onto the table I have the seedlings on. Only had the lights just over a weeks but everything seems ok so far.
Hope I haven't just jinxed myself!

Better make sure you have more area to expand to as growing orchids can be a passion that expands rapidly and here on the forum we are all enablers to people thinking about buying yet another orchid!

There is an orchid show in Sydney soon, called Orchids Out West, 17th - 19th May at the Philip Charley Pavilion Hawksbury Showground, Hawsbury Way Clarendon. Opposite the Richmond RAAF Base. They will have displays and sales, will be at least 6 vendors there.
Its run by orchidsocietynsw.com.au/orchids-out-west/2024
$10 entry for adults.
Hopefully its not too far for you, but even if it is a long way it would be worth it to be able to get a lot of information just as you are starting out, could save you some expensive mistakes.

[Martin555]

Bunnings have some clear pots in at least two sizes.
I have two sizes and Im happy with them. I always put holes in them using a small soldering iron.

I checked bunnings out and do use them a lot for my gear they are good at delivering but the clear pots they had were not as nice as these ones from temu https://tinyurl.com/2pnmct6j

Have a look at these they have holes already and are cheap, I saw some really,really wonderful pots at a site called repotme, very exy but you can find their pots on amazon for bit less.

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I have spent half a lifetime sourcing ceramic pots for my succulents, ausgardo are the best bang for buck for succulent pots.

---------- Post added at 02:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 PM ----------

These were my first orchid buys they cost $80 delivered, Cymbidium. Rocky Creek ‘ Got Cha’, Kiwi Midnight And Strathdon ‘cooksbridge’. My first research was about what are the easiest orchids to grow and cymbidium was top of the list and deb something or other ones were second, they look awesome with deep red and purple flowers, bought some 12-18 orchiata bark and mixed that with the perlite and coco peat plus a little scoria which I have for the succulents, I learned straight away that more care is needed when repotting orchids as the roots are a bit brittle.