Bought my First Orchid

[Cntry]

I had the just Add Ice Orchid and I used ice and ended up killing it that way. The orchid was my first and was given to me by my son.

So don't use Ice on it at all. Just use water (regular) or rain water if you can collect it.

Welcome to the Orchid Board also and I hope you enjoy the site as much as we all do.

[jwpotter]

I must say, you are being much more careful and intelligent about growing your first orchid then I was!!!!

1 today, I predict a minimum of 10 a year from now, especially if you join your local orchid society, which I highly recommend!

[wintergirl]

Welcome to OrchidBoard, you are doing the best thing to keep your orchid alive- research Happy growing!

[estación seca]

Another fertilizing option is to use a very dilute solution almost every time you water, and flush with pure water every week or two. This is closer to what they experience in habitat. I often can't keep track of when I last fertilized so I prefer the constant very weak fertilization.

[theloyalplum]

No ice! If quantity of water is what you're looking for, just measure the volume of the water of a melted ice cube. Orchids can take a lot of abuse. A lot can go wrong, and you'll learn! Plus there's a lot of experts here, too!

[silken]

Welcome to OrchidBoard

You seem to be on the right track. Knowing how these plants grow in nature will help you understand what they need. Many are epiphytes that grow on trees in tropical locations. So the roots like some air, good water, but then to come close to drying out before being watered again. Fertilizing weakly weekly as suggested, with a once a month flushing of clear water to remove old fertilizer salts works well for many orchid growers.