What I've learned on the Orchid Board

[SydneyH]

I've been on the Orchid Board about a week now and I've learned so much. So I thought I would list a few highlights.

- First I've learned that I hate moss. I don't mind a little moss mixed in with the bark but total moss and rainy weather means the plants don't dry out for weeks. My new Maxillaria Tenufolia can stay in moss since he's got so much new growth he must like it. Everyone else is coming out.

- A baby orchid coming off of the mother orchid is a keiki.

- Even though my orchids are in a very bright room, they could probably use a little more light and moved a little closer to the windows. I've been aiming for nice dark green leaves. That makes healthy leaves but not necessarily flowers.

- It's okay to trim away any dead or rotted roots when you repot. I didn't do that for my first repot. Putting cinnamon on cut roots was also new for me.

- There are fragrant orchids that smell like bacon and others that smell like poo or dead stuff, in addition to the ones that smell nice. I had to laugh at some of the descriptions in the fragrant orchid thread. There's something about a bacon orchid that makes me want one.

Thanks for all of the information and helpful atmosphere here.

Sydney

[RJSquirrel]

yes if you get a phal that smells like bacon be sure to get the one that smells like eggs

[Pelepel]

Now imagine if the leaves smelled like bacon strips. I don't think there would be an orchid left in the world. Orchid and burgers. Orchid n' eggs. Orchid and waffles. Mmm.

[Lana]

Yup, all the useful information and friendly, easy atmosphere is what made me join this forum. I came here 1.5 yrs ago, and not a day goes by without a visit to OrchidBoard ever since. And I learn something new every day!
Oh, and I'll stick to the orchids that smell like flowers

[Bud]

Here is another info for you:

Orchid growers in Singapore have recently began to conduct cooking classes using orchids, introducing stir-fried orchids and orchid sauces. Not only are orchids edible, but also growers say that it is a source of fiber and vitamin C. So what does it taste like? Opinions vary; some say it is somewhat sweet, others say it tastes like tannin or raw chives.

Growers in Hawaii have been making salad dishes, cooking orchids and scallops together or have made sugar coated orchid candies since the 1960s. In reality, orchids are NOT poisonous, hence; all orchids are edible; but orchids grown as food is more desirable, and one month is needed to completely wash off all the pesticides and fertilizers.

[Pelepel]

Wow! Very fascinating, Bud. I have thought about people perhaps cooking with it, but never researched the subject. Thanks for that tidbit.

I also personally learned from OB that you'll have a sudden urge to lick the sap off your orchid, and have a variety of flavors. That always tickled me.

[Sirius]

Vanilla - My Mrs puts it in her baking regularly

[The Mutant]

The things one have learned on this board (and is still learning) is invaluable. The use of cinnamon, Listerine, peroxide - things I normally would never associate with good orchid care!

I would say that it's thanks to this board (and the Swedish one) that my Phals are such happy Phals at the moment. I noticed today that another one of my oldies seems to be working on continuing its spike. I had deemed this one done with its spike so it's a nice development (it had 25 flowers the last time it bloomed - this time there's only seven due to the neglect they all suffered before).

Not only do you enable orchid collections - you make sure that we can care for them properly too.

Thank you!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

There might not be an orchid that smells like eggs, but there is an orchid that has flowers that look like scrambled eggs - Schizodium flexuosum (aka Disa flexuosa).

[RJSquirrel]

heh about eating orchids..our last guest speaker claims that the people aren't the real trouble in the wild jungle with orchids..its MONKEYS.. they eat the bulbs bec they are sweet...so now you learn something else, orchids are edible..Thank goodness God gave us some sense not to eat the flowers too