Pictures of my new orchids

[RosieC]

You can use old yogurt pots (or other small food container) with some holes punched in it. That's a great way to get small pots.

www.orchidaccessories.co.uk also stocks some small pots which I quite like but you have to buy packs of 10. His 7cm ones are pretty tiny. I notice he has a new item of a pot selection of various sizes but it doesn't say how many you get of each. May be worth contacting him if you are interested.

[tree1]

I know this sounds dumb but the size of the pot is simply measured straight across the top, correct? The pot that I'm using at the moment is only 5.5cm across! The Aerangis citrata pot is smaller still.


The Aerangis citrata IS wilting, it's starting to effect all of the petals.

[RosieC]

OK, yes it's a lot lot tinyer than I realised. Not sure where you can find one smaller.

[tree1]

I think I've made a mistake with these particular orchids. I just went for the ones I like the look of.

There is a orchid convention on at the Josephine Butler College in Durham next sunday, I'm going to that and I'm going to see if I can get a couple of beginner orchids. (I assume there will be orchids to buy)

Rosie, you're from the UK, do you have any suggestions on what to keep an eye out for?

[RosieC]

Are you mostly interested in species. I'm afriad I know more hybrids than species, but maybe a phaphiopedilum or Dendrobium (but start with something bigger than a seedling, seedlings of any orchid are tough).

If you are interested in hybrids then I like something like Phal Mini Mark which is quite easy to find in the UK, or Paph Maudiae again easy to find (or similar hybrids) Paph Pinocchio is a great sequential paph (mine has had at least one flower since the summer last year and is still going). Various dendrobiums like Den Polar Fire are quite easy to get and easy to grow as well.

[tree1]

I do like the species more, but I'm by no means against getting a hybrid.

Rosie am I in Zone 8a, too?

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by tree1

Rosie am I in Zone 8a, too?

I think either 8a or 8b, I'm not sure exactly where Darlington is. Here is the map I used to work it out. Most of the UK is zone 8 apart from some of the west cost and some northern central sections.

Plant Cold Hardiness Zone Map of the British Isles

[tree1]

I'm in 8a. Thanks!