Your worst orchid care Failures that led to your greatest Successes later

[KokeshiHappyGreen]

Been debating for awhile whether to start this thread...but I thought it might be Really Helpful for others...especially us newbies!

So if you're up for it, especially you really Experienced growers:

What were your worst Failures that later translated into your most wonderful Successes in caring for your orchids? And what specific steps did you take in transforming your mistakes and failures into those successes?

A lot of times we'll hear that, "Oh, I've killed lots of orchids too, esp as a beginner"...but not hear the whats, whys, and wherefors..or how it was transformed into awesome Orchid care. I thought positive outcomes from what initially seemed sad or stressful would be really helpful and encouraging to us! 🌞

Thanks!

[rbarata]

I never killed an orchid so that makes me a beginner.

[Salixx]

My first orchid every was a Den. phal I got at Kmart. I potted it in peat moss in a glazed, 6'' pot and put it in a dark corner of my bedroom. I read somewhere they hated being moved around, so I left it there. I also read that they liked being watered with a spray bottle, so I misted the peat moss, essentially soil, every day.

As you may have guess, the plant died in pretty short order. My next two orchids were a NoID Phal and NoID Oncidium. They'be been through a lot of poor care and are somehow still here with me fifteen years later. The Phal bloomed this last fall for the first time in about ten years. The Oncidium hasn't bloomed for about the same amount of time. I have a colored pencil drawing I did of it when it last bloomed which is the only reason I have any idea what it looks like at this point.

[KokeshiHappyGreen]

"I never killed an orchid so that makes me a beginner."

Amazing!

"They've been through a lot of poor care and are somehow still here with me fifteen years later."

Benign neglect? I've heard that can sometimes work..and I've been accused of loving things to death before. Hmm.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by KokeshiHappyGreen

"I never killed an orchid so that makes me a beginner."

Amazing!

"They've been through a lot of poor care and are somehow still here with me fifteen years later."

Not so much! Several reasons contributed to it:
- I've started growing orchids 4 years ago.
- My collection is relatively small (30 plants)
- Most important! Since the beginning I got good advise from several sources, being this forum the most important.

[Dollythehun]

We were commenting today that orchids are never perfect. It's not a far stretch then, to see how a perfectionist could kill them.
I've only killed a couple. They were not suited to my conditions. Pick what you can safely grow first, then branch out was my lesson.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Benign neglect is almost always what I tell people when they ask me the secret to orchid growing.

There are some types that are more finicky. But the usual Phals, Cattleyas, Oncidiums, etc. will grow easily enough if not pampered too much. The next trick, blooming, is usually a matter of providing the right light level for the type of plant. Fertilizer, etc. are extras that can help if not overdone, and hurt if you provide too much.

I sometimes still lose a plant here and there, usually because I can't meet the conditions that a new plant requires, or a disease process gets started in a plant that I just can't arrest before the disease progresses too far. Fortunately the latter is a pretty rare occurrence now.

[KokeshiHappyGreen]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Not so much! Several reasons contributed to it:
- I've started growing orchids 4 years ago.
- My collection is relatively small (30 plants)
- Most important! Since the beginning I got good advise from several sources, being this forum the most important.

I would agree esp on that Last reason. Wish I'd found out about this board Before I killed Any myself. (Overzealous and trying to find that "perfect" set of parameters....all the while not clued in that that was the Opposite of what the orchids needed to survive. Now, with my B little stars, it's in a Traditional media and I'm staying as hands off as possible. And it's doing great! Do, there ya go &#128540

---------- Post added at 03:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:09 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Pick what you can safely grow first, then branch out was my lesson.

Very good advice 👍🏻
Go by the Plant's needs...Not our eyes or desires only.

Thanks

---------- Post added at 03:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:12 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Benign neglect is almost always what I tell people when they ask me the secret to orchid growing.

There are some types that are more finicky. But the usual Phals, Cattleyas, Oncidiums, etc. will grow easily enough if not pampered too much. The next trick, blooming, is usually a matter of providing the right light level for the type of plant. Fertilizer, etc. are extras that can help if not overdone, and hurt if you provide too much.

I sometimes still lose a plant here and there, usually because I can't meet the conditions that a new plant requires, or a disease process gets started in a plant that I just can't arrest before the disease progresses too far. Fortunately the latter is a pretty rare occurrence now.

I'm seeing a theme, and learned it myself now: benign neglect. (Meet the orchids' needs but don't fiddle and refinegle and try to "perfect" because we can't possibly make things perfect and can cause damage trying to.

Glad you haven't lost too many orchids. That's a huge plus 😬

[CJ Green]

Benign neglect had always been my approach in the past and it mostly worked. The only orchids I've outright killed were two Paphs--heretofore my favorite type of orchid. They just slowly wasted away. I didn't have the right conditions for them. I was lucky with all my others, up to a point; I had some Phals that did OK and an Oncidium that always flowered very well. Earlier this year I finally decided to figure out which orchids would grow best for me and what they needed, and it's become a true hobby, not just a "I guess I'll water these plants on my windowsill every once in awhile." The potential downside is that I might now be one of those people who fusses around too much with her plants. I think I need to find a balance between taking care of my orchids and just letting them do their thing. But my main takeaway from those slipper orchids dying was that there are so many gorgeous orchids out there, I could find plenty of new favorites to get excited about. Also, it's fun to see what you can grow within the parameters set by your home conditions.

[Dollythehun]

I love those floofy Catts. My experience with Catts was too little light. As I hung around the OB, and got good advice, I realized I could stick my toe in that water again. (I gave the last ones away). I now have three, two rescues and a purchase that are doing well. Researching and asking before you buy, that's the smart way to go.