Any advice for a complete beginner....

[Nanook 2010]

[QUOTE=King_of_orchid_growing;580887]Putting it near a window most likely exposes the Phal to cooler temperatures, not necessarily warmer temperatures, unless you can verify with a thermometer that it actually does subject the Phal to warmth. Drafts get through the cracks of the windows. Some people even open up their windows for fresh air! He lives in the UK.

Avg temp for summer in London is 70C

Besides, he already has it near a window.

I recommended the humidifier because some people on the OB have mentioned that humidity trays are not all that effective. A good humidifier will provide the humidity for certain.

There are other cheaper methods, that coincidentally also has the potential of giving you "cheaper results". He hasn't mentioned any kind of constraints yet, so why not recommend a humidifier and a heating pad?[/QUOTE

He describes himself as a complete beginner. IMO it is not the wisest course of action to purchase what might be unnecessary equipment for success.

No constraints..... Buy a hobbyist greenhouse and I'm sure you'll get much more "expensive" results

James......just try to enjoy and take all "expert" advice for what's its worth!

Good luck

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

[Nanook 2010]

[JamesEG]

To be honest I agree with both of you, the advice given by Philip is obviously by someone I have no doubt knows what he's talking about. So I have to take the advice or at least keep it in mind. But then it would be difficult for me to convince my Mum to buy anything like a heat mat for the orchids, I'll just show her your opinions and leave her to it. Remember that these aren't actually my orchids so unfortunately I can't really do anything about it, it's up to my Mum, I don't have an orchid (yet), I was just interested to know what the problems were so that I'm hopefully less likely to make the same mistakes.

Whenever I buy my orchid I will definitely take more care with it and I will probably consider buying anything like heat mats or humidifiers that I might need. Although I have a serious lack of space in my house, (I live in a bungalow which has window sills only about 2-3 inches wide) and with just a Saturday job and a trip to Morocco for my Gold Duke of Edinburgh award next year I have to try and save money. So that has to be taken into account. I should have mentioned that earlier.

An idea I've just had, would it help to sit the orchid on top of my fish tank? It gets warm from the lights and it might provide some humidity, at least that would help, wouldn't it?

[KrissieLynn]

As a newbie myself, the best advise I can give you is research. Figure out your growing conditions, and then match those conditions to the orchids that are available. If you have to make small changes to your environment, do so. I have most of mine (1 Paph. & 18 Phals) in my dining room near closed windows with eastern light. The temp is always in the low to mid 70s F, with humidity in the 55-65 percent range, thanks to the number of plants I have and to the humidity trays I have the plants resting on. They are all very happy.

Those conditions are not present in another window- SW facing, 75-80 F- where I have a Brassavola nodosa that is doing fantastic.

Every one has their own way and their own set of parameters for successful orchid growing. Each growing space is a little different. Latitude, longitude, and elevation change the growing conditions inside and out - even in the same house! Each person waters different with different water qualities.

No one does the same thing as some one else with the same amount of success, which is why even though the results will be the same, you have so many different ways to get to those results of happy, healthy, beautiful orchids.

I hope you and others find my essay helpful in some way.

---------- Post added at 01:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------

Originally Posted by JamesEG

An idea I've just had, would it help to sit the orchid on top of my fish tank? It gets warm from the lights and it might provide some humidity, at least that would help, wouldn't it?

That would work quite well, as long as they don't decide to take a swim! Plus, you could water them with a little of the fish water (dilute it a little) to get them some nutrition - fish create lots of nitrogen, which orchids need to grow new leaves and roots.

[JamesEG]

Thanks KrissieLynn that is very helpful! I am getting more fond of the idea of getting an Oncidium sphacelatum orchid, I love the look of them, I'm interested to get your opinion on how easy they are to care for. I've done a bit of research (and I'll do much more) and they don't seem very demanding. So they seem good for a beginner such as myself!

Don't worry about the orchids goings for a swim it's a big tank with a heavy wooden like and glass sliders so there's no chance of the orchid dropping in the water. I'll also recommend the fish tank water to my Mum, thanks.

[KrissieLynn]

I've only just started branching out from Phals into the others - the Brassavola, a Paph and a new BLC. Windward Flare are as far as I have gotten.

That being said, I am researching tolumnias, which are part of the oncidium alliance and trying to figure out if one would work in my very bright SW window.

So, if you think the oncidium will work, go for it. If you have second thoughts or aren't sure, wait. It's one that has a name, you can always find it.

[JamesEG]

Thanks, I would go for a Phal as I get a discount at the garden centre where I work but my Mum has a few already and I'd honestly like something different around the house, and to prove her wrong, she says anything other than Phals are far too difficult to keep in a house. Hopefully you can see what I mean!

I forgot to ask before, what are your opinions on ordering orchids over the internet? I've heard that the plants can come in good condition and that online stores can be reliable, but I've also heard many different stories about plants coming damaged or in really bad health. So for my first orchid, would it be okay to trust an online store? The reason I ask is because I have never seen any other orchid apart from Phalaenopsis in a garden centre, and I've been to a LOT of garden centres.

This is the website in question...

Burnham Nurseries Online Orchid Shop - Items - Burnham Nurseries Online Orchid Shop

Oncidium sphacelatum - Detailed item view - Burnham Nurseries Online Orchid Shop

Paphiopedilum barbatum - Detailed item view - Burnham Nurseries Online Orchid Shop

The one problem being that it doesn't provide much information about the orchids. Other than that it doesn't look too bad to me, and it has the Oncidium sphacelatum and Paphiopedilum barbatum orchids, which both seem easy enough for me to look after, and they're in 'flowering size' although I'm not sure if that is entirely accurate. But then I wouldn't mind getting a young plant and looking after it up to it's first bloom. Am I right in thinking that the two orchids mentioned above do not require too much heat and can cope with lower temperatures and light levels?

[KrissieLynn]

Haha- I do a lot to try to prove my mom wrong too!

Others would be best to ask about ordering online- I am fortunate enough to have an expert/vendor within 20 minutes, and have not had to order online yet.

I heard that most of what you can find in garden centers there are phals- the lady who works at the local vendor has a sister who still lives in England, and that sister told me that when she was here on holiday.

Look up the British Orchid Society (OSGB) and click on the Advertisers link. Several of those advertisers have nurseries you can visit, at least according to the descriptions you can... Does that help??

[Silje]

I'm basically doing all my orchid shopping online (apart from the NOID phals that I buy at the local nursery) and my experience is that the plants are generally well-packed and handle the transport very well.

I've had orchids going on a 14 daylong safari (Big Five and all) before they've arrived at my place and they were fine, so for short-distance travelling and DHL/Fedex in Europe at this time of the year, I would have no worries.

The only problem is that there is fair chance that you might end up with a smaller specimen and perhaps (probably) not their very best plant since you're not personally there to make your selection. But if the nursery is a decent one, they will make the effort to make sure that you get an acceptable plant you will not be tempted to return or complain about.

Go for a flowering size plant. This is your first purchase. Get something that might flower for you soon and not something that will test your patience and drive you slowly mad.

Coincidentally, I just purchased my first two paphs a couple of weeks ago and ended up with a paph barbatum myself. Haven't got a clue about paphs so confess it was a bit of a 'close my eyes and point blindly at something in the catalogue'-kinda thing, but well...it's here. Still alive. Although that doesn't say much, I suppose. Talk to me in a year's time or so.