Good beginning orchid - Orchid Board

clusty · #1 10-06-2013, 09:55 PM

Hey,

I was bitten by the orchid bug about 2 years ago and now have quite a few in my collection.
Problem is my girlfriend tried her hand at a Paph (which I don't own) that died a horrible death.

Since I am constantly checking over mine, I can't tell which species are more tolerant to neglect.

Would you have any species in mind that would thrive in a S-E window and are more tolerant to uneven watering?

jeremyinsf · #2 10-06-2013, 10:01 PM

Was it it moss? If so, it might not have been the plant that was the problem - it might have been the media. You could try a paph again in a bark mix instead of something like sphag moss. Paph's are great for windows, in general. Do you know what kind it was?

Laserbeak · #3 10-06-2013, 10:12 PM

I think Phalaenopsis hybrids are generally considered the easiest beginner orchids.

LadySoren · #4 10-06-2013, 10:20 PM

Totally off topic crusty- but I love your little icon/profile picture/avatar thingy.

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:19 PM ----------

Hahah oops ***CLUSTY.
My phone auto corrected to Crusty! >.<

clusty · #5 10-06-2013, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

Was it it moss? If so, it might not have been the plant that was the problem - it might have been the media. You could try a paph again in a bark mix instead of something like sphag moss. Paph's are great for windows, in general. Do you know what kind it was?

Was moss. After I bought off more stuff from the vender, I noticed most plants had crappy roots, I replanted hers into medium coco chunks but it would not stop rotting. 1 month later it was done for.

I think it might have been some Chamberlanium hybrid.

---------- Post added at 09:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadySoren

Totally off topic crusty- but I love your little icon/profile picture/avatar thingy.

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:19 PM ----------

Hahah oops ***CLUSTY.
My phone auto corrected to Crusty! >.<

Common mistake

Holy grail fan forever...

Leafmite · #6 10-06-2013, 10:29 PM

Burr. Nelly Isler is one I give as gifts and people that have a black thumb seem able to keep it alive. Soph cernua and ascocentrum pumilum are both amazingly tough. I have these two mounted and I confess that they get forgotten. The ascocentrum blooms often (though a magnifying glass helps greatly to enjoy the blooms). I think they are lucky if they get a dose of fertilizer once a year. They are both small, though.

---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 PM ----------

....small enough to be missed and forgotten.

---------- Post added at 09:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 PM ----------

What conditions does your friend have for growing?

jeremyinsf · #7 10-06-2013, 10:35 PM

I'm biased... because slippers are my thing... but I think they are the easiest windowsill growers, they just need to be in the right media! In moss they stay soggy with people who over-water, and rot to death quickly. In a bark mix (or something 'open') they can be watered much more often and the roots can stay healthy.

How often does she 'Have' to water?

clusty · #8 10-06-2013, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

I'm biased... because slippers are my thing... but I think they are the easiest windowsill growers, they just need to be in the right media! In moss they stay soggy with people who over-water, and rot to death quickly. In a bark mix (or something 'open') they can be watered much more often and the roots can stay healthy.

How often does she 'Have' to water?

She has no compulsion to water

Problem is they can go for 2-3 weeks with no water, and then she remembers and overcompensates.