Orchid Care - Page 2 - Orchid Board

gmdiaz · #11 11-05-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

Well unless I load the software on my work computer, I don't think I can use the software because I have a Mac....and I refuse to get rid of it!

Might have a mac version. . .did you check?

quiltergal · #12 11-05-2007, 11:33 PM

I only have 31 if I count the ancient neglected Ludisia discolor in my office (which is in bud BTW). I just gave a big white NOID phal away to a friend of mine, so there were 32. I work full time (for about 5 more years then I'm running like hell

). I do my "big" water and once over on Sunday mornings. I too have to carry everything to the kitchen sink to water. I have humidity trays, and have found it very handy to lug the whole thing to the sink rather than make 15-20 trips. The only trick there is to not slosh water on the floor as you're carrying it. It takes me about 2 hours to water everything. I water with plain tap water first to flush out any salt buildup, and then water with MSU I've mixed in a one gallon milk jug. Some of them get a mid week water depending on how their potted. I find the slotted pots dry out quicker so those guys usually get a quick drink on Wednesday morning as I'm trying to get out the door to work. The only deviation from this scheme is the sensitive chids. They get watered with MSU mixed in a gallon of distilled water. I really should figure out a way to collect rainwater.

I'm lucky in that my son also grows orchids, so when we go on vacation he house/dog/orchid sits for us. He's a little lighter waterer than I am and sometimes things are a little dry when I come home, but still alive.

Becca · #13 11-05-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

Might have a mac version. . .did you check?

I think I will stick with conning a friend into misting for me...but it is a great idea.

I tried looking to see of Cattleya Log supports Mac OSX operating systems and they only mention the window's operating systems. I have found this with other orchid tracking software as well. I'll find some way to get around it though...I have a spare computer in the basement that we never ever use....I could fire it up...just what my hubby wants...me sitting in the basement working on more orchid stuff...lol.

kiki-do · #14 11-06-2007, 12:03 AM

I have a 3-ringed notebook and use protector sheets for the write-ups I find when I purchase any of my orchids. If it isn't bloomed, or is a young plant, I try to include a bloomed picture of the orchid that I may find off the internet. So I try to include one picture of what it will look like, a culture sheet for how to care for it (besides the individual cheat sheets), an area of blank space where I add personalized info, such as the purchase date, whether it's bloomed yet or not, whether it's a mature plant, etc. And I usually take a pic of it at the time of purchase and when it first blossoms. My notebook is getting very fat! So far that notebook has been very helpful for me as I forget who needs what sometimes.

Thanks for all the input. It's alot of fun to hear from other orchid crazies.

LOL kiki-do

cb977 · #15 11-06-2007, 11:49 AM

Great thread! You guys are too funny

On Cattleya Log 3...I have it and it's great. The only regret I have is not getting it when the collection was not as large. Now, I'm trying to enter a few at a time and it's a daunting task! Lots of folks use a simple spreadsheet setup and they're all satisfied with that.

As for the 'chids...in the summer here, everything gets heavily misted at least once a day and the vandas and mounts definitely get a second go-round. In the cooler weather, it's just the once a day. They get fed once a week but now that the cooler temps are here, I plan on extending that time to every two weeks. Somebody I know, whom I trust implicitly feeds their 'chids once every twelve days and for winter changes that to every 21 days. I can't quite bring myself to those numbers but I'm going to try the idea

There is no doubt about it...the vandas are the most work. The stuff in pots can miss a day if I'm not feeling up to the task but the vandas don't allow for slacking off. I've promised myself I won't buy any more vandas that can't be potted...we'll see how long that lasts

All in all, standard everyday care takes about 2 1/2 hrs in summer and about 1 /2 hrs in winter. When I start the repotting (which doesn't have to be done very often since I use aliflor and it doesn't break down

) and general maintenance, I could lose myself out there for a few hours...a few times a week

The terrarium inside is the easiest of course...keep a small container filled with water, the fan always running, the light is on about 8 hrs per day and the 3 mounted plants get misted twice a day.

kiki-do · #16 11-06-2007, 02:01 PM

Hi Suzanne! Do you work outside the home too? You must have quite a collection if it takes 2 1/hours each day. What do you do if you need to take some days to go somewhere?
As for feeding.... where I am, most of my orchids are spiking and showing new growth. I have been feeding them more often than I did in the spring and summer when they seemed to be in a rest from winter blooms. Your Florida temps must make everything the opposite from me???? I have had great cool nights where my sunroom is down to 60 and everything is responding! I will have a happy Xmas!

Thanks for sharing. kiki-do

cb977 · #17 11-06-2007, 02:24 PM

I'm home all day most of the time. If we go away for a few days, my neighbor comes over to mist the plants and my MIL takes the dog

At present count, there are just under 300 'chids in the family

We're having a "cold front" (don't laugh) right now and the night temps are going down into the low 50s. With all of the windows and doors to the room closed, the temps in there have been about 55 when I check in the morning. In true winter, I have a portable heater with a thermostat that I set for 49 degrees so if the temps go lower than that it kicks on. Worked well last year, we don't get that many nights with those temps and the length of time that it's cold isn't a whole lot.

Phantasm · #18 11-06-2007, 02:55 PM

I have a 32' x 15' greenhouse, and spend less than a half hour a day taking care of the plants. Of course making time for repotting, hybridizing and dealing with pests will add time, mostly on the weekends. As long as my cooler, heater, watering system and electricity are functioning, everything is good.

Watering is a seasonable thing, much more in the summer than the winter and the temperatures float with the outside weather. Fertilizer is much more pronounced in the growing season and almost eliminated in the winter.

The primary issues are algae build up, cleaning the glass inside and out, dealing with slugs and snails and occaisional scale and mealybug, keeping the dead foliage picked up to avoid fungal problems, and putting up/taking down the shadecloth. The key is to deal with problems immediately!

Ross · #19 11-06-2007, 03:27 PM

Well, as most everyone knows I grow under two situations - an upstairs box-bay window which fluctuates with house temps and humidity

and my rather large, custom designed orchidarium which is in the basement

The upstairs grow area can run from high 80s in summer to high 60s in winter. I don't try to control it. About 1/3 of those plants are mounts that dry quickly under the 24/7 fans. I water by submerging the mounts in fertilizer solution every day. The pots get watered more frequently in summer than winter. A couple Dens don't get watered or fertilized all winter. When I'm gone, my son does the watering and he has learned a lot during these stints and hopes to start growing indoors in his apartment this winter.

The orchidarium really can take care of itself for weeks at a time. Everything is automated. I do fertilize the mounts every other day all year and while gone from home my son takes care of that as well. The temps are more moderated in the basement being in low 80s during summer down to mid 70s during winter.

camille1585 · #20 11-06-2007, 05:21 PM

Great thread! Makes me really really wish that my nomadic student life could hurry up and finish so that I can settle down and get down to some serious growing! My little collection of 7 orchids (hopefully getting another one this weekend!!) is kind of pathetic compared to your collections!.
My sole goal in life: Have a big greenhouse crammed with orchids

At least I can pick up tons of info here until that time comes!