Best plants for beginners? - Page 2 - Orchid Board

Amanda L · #11 05-21-2009, 06:13 PM

Surprisingly the ones I haven't had any trouble with are my paphs. I've gotten the hang of phals and dens are still up in the air, so are catts. All of the dens and catts I have were in horrible condition when I got them, so I really don't know if I can grow them or not. It really depends on the growing area. A good investment would be a temp/humidity gauge. I found one at a Big Box store for around $8. This should help you get a clearer picture of your growing area. A light meter would be a good thing to have too, but I haven't relied on one, since I don't have one. Find an orchid you like, look up it's growing needs and see if those needs can be provided in your grow area. Orchids are a trial and error thing and many people have learned the hard way that they can't grow certain orchids in the conditions they have. You could also try to mimic the conditions that your orchids need with humidifiers and lights. Don't be discouraged if you kill a few, we have all done it. Sometimes it's not the growing area, but the grower that kills orchids.

Keltera · #12 05-21-2009, 08:35 PM

thats everyone for your suggestions and help! i picked up a book today and hopefully it will help me a bit too

ive got a fourth flower on my phal too! ^_^

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #13 05-24-2009, 11:28 AM

Have you tried orchids that may be native to your area?

Perhaps certain species of Cypripediums. Maybe you can grow these outdoors with the greatest of ease. And bring indoors when there's frost. These are native to woodlands.

Keltera · #14 05-24-2009, 04:04 PM

Oh wow! that led me to discover that there is an orchid native to ONTARIO! ill have to see if i can get my hands on one!

Ram's Head Lady Slipper
its such a pretty one!

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #15 05-24-2009, 07:17 PM

I don't know if you'd be able to get a hold of Cypripedium arietinum (Ram's Head Lady's Slipper).

I looked at the major places that sell Cypripediums, and none of them carry this particular species.

However...there is Cypripedium reginae! Which in my opinion is also a nice one that has traditionally done fairly well for many Cypripedium growers.

gutchin · #16 05-26-2009, 11:01 PM

I need help quickly. I am in South Florida, where it has been raining nonstop for over a week. All of a sudden my phals have developed what looks like sooty mold on the blooms. I have no place to protect them from the rain. I also have a resident gecko that runs among them. Will the lizard spread the mold? Should I cut off the infected blooms? HELP!

natasha · #17 05-26-2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gutchin

I need help quickly. I am in South Florida, where it has been raining nonstop for over a week. All of a sudden my phals have developed what looks like sooty mold on the blooms. I have no place to protect them from the rain. I also have a resident gecko that runs among them. Will the lizard spread the mold? Should I cut off the infected blooms? HELP!

hi there... you should consider building temporary shelter or bring in the chids. i live in the tropics when sometimes it rains too much. i only put my fast draining vanda outside, and the rest under the shelter of the car porch. the gecko shouldn't be any problem unless you have cats. i have a few living in my garden, they are good distraction to the cats

natasha · #18 05-26-2009, 11:34 PM

hi keltera, maybe you should buy some cheap chids too as test subjects. i have killed many, phals, two vanda, dens. easiest chids depend on the habit of the grower and the environment they are in. i tend to water a lot when i do, that is what usually kill my phals. so now i try to change my habit to check my plants first.