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[Bulbofett]

African violets are poo poo headed plants (I can't grow them either)! I've been pretty successful growing orchids though. I have about 20 in my collection (just bought a paph on Ebay though so soon it will be 21 lol).

Lowe's always has discounted orchids on clearance. I'd say to start there, but some members would suggest starting with a healthy plant. I started with a clearance phal and 6 months later it bloomed for me so take it for what you will.

Phals don't need much light at all in order to grow so if you have low light levels it should do fine. You can experiment based on what your plant tells you (this is what I did).

Personally phals are much harder for me to grow than other species :shrug: (whoever said phals are the easiest is a big fat liar!). I started with intermediate light levels and the ones I have had the most success with are dendrobiums.

Btw, Welcome to Orchid Growers Anonymous!

[SnowFalcon]

Originally Posted by Bulbofett

African violets are poo poo headed plants (I can't grow them either)! I've been pretty successful growing orchids though. I have about 20 in my collection (just bought a paph on Ebay though so soon it will be 21 lol).

Lowe's always has discounted orchids on clearance. I'd say to start there, but some members would suggest starting with a healthy plant. I started with a clearance phal and 6 months later it bloomed for me so take it for what you will.

Phals don't need much light at all in order to grow so if you have low light levels it should do fine. You can experiment based on what your plant tells you (this is what I did).

Personally phals are much harder for me to grow than other species :shrug: (whoever said phals are the easiest is a big fat liar!). I started with intermediate light levels and the ones I have had the most success with are dendrobiums.

Btw, Welcome to Orchid Growers Anonymous!

Thanks and nice name, I am guessing you're a sw fan from your name?

My dad always had luck with violets, I think it might be because we left them in the east window shrugs.

I ordered a light meter off amazon last night. Now I'm curious about the light levels in here.

I noticed the violet I moved to the window has sprung something green in the very middle and it doesn't look like a leaf. Maybe just maybe my fingers are crossed.

Thanks for the warm welcomes everyone

[MattWoelfsen]

Hi snowfalcon, you've been duly welcomed to the board by other inmates! I welcome you too. I hope you stay around here long enough, keep this thread in mind, as every one of these posters are all orchid addiction enablers. Sure, some of them claim modesty, i.e., "I can't grow Phals but I grow Dendrobium". And some of them demonstrate a child like glee when new members come on board -- settle down James, don't scare the new member!

In my opinion, if you can grow a Snake plant, African violets, and a large un-identified tropical in your home, you can grow an orchid. We just have to find one that fits. If you tried growing tomatoes and it was "disastrous", that gives us a clue that you should NOT grow Cattleya. You should check out your sister's grow space. See if you can find common conditions in her home where she is growing her orchid then compare your home. You are considering a Moth orchid aka Phalenopsis, that plant would work. If your home is on the cool temperature side, a Masdevallia might be a better plant. Phalaenopsis require warmer temperatures to thrive.

After all is said and done, you now have at least ten people to blame instead of your poor sister! <LOL>

[Polarizeme]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

After all is said and done, you now have at least ten people to blame instead of your poor sister! <LOL>

AMEN!!

[SnowFalcon]

These are the plants in my apartment. I finally figured out how to post pics. This board is a little different from the others I have visited but slowly figuring things out....

[james mickelso]

I vote for phals. From the looks of your space and light they should grow very well for you. But I warn you.......once you get started...... Ok. I warned you. Mwahahahahaaaaa!!!!!!

[SnowFalcon]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

I vote for phals. From the looks of your space and light they should grow very well for you. But I warn you.......once you get started...... Ok. I warned you. Mwahahahahaaaaa!!!!!!

great now I need to figure out how to split expenses between that and my other hobbies, archery, knitting, crocheting, working on a Swedish weave blanket as if I don't have enough addicting hobbies to begin with

[james mickelso]

Ooooooo!!!! Archery!!!! I make abo bows, and arrows, and chip my points out of stone. Make string with sinew. Use crow and turkey feathers. But shoot compound. You been shooting long?

[SnowFalcon]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Ooooooo!!!! Archery!!!! I make abo bows, and arrows, and chip my points out of stone. Make string with sinew. Use crow and turkey feathers. But shoot compound. You been shooting long?

been shooting since 2007 actually. I have a target sight and changed out the arrow rest to use with a finger release and the sight has a level on it, my shooting improved ten fold.

Impressive you do everything yourself

I think the lighting in the photo maybe more from my ceiling fan. It's almost sun down actually so I'll take a photo tomorrow during the brightest hour of the day and turn off artificial lights, that really should give a better idea.



Mind you this is around an hour before sun down. I'll take a photo tomorrow around noon.

[james mickelso]

Phals take very little light compared to most other orchids. I've flowered some in a bathroom facing north with a tree shadowing the window. Very easy to grow.