Miss Orchid Girl

[SundayGardener]

I've watched quite a few of her videos. I do believe that her primary source of income comes from her YouTube videos. Occasionally she gets free products in exchange for using them and doing a video on them. None of this is unusual nowadays, and I feel that she provides ample disclosures when she gets a product for trial, and about her own qualifications. For instance, she frequently acknowledges that she is not a scientist.

I don't watch her videos much any more, for several reasons. One is that if you delve into the video collection, you find that as she progresses, she changes her opinion. A LOT. This happens usually when she receives new information, or a better understanding, often from commenters. I get the sense that she mostly does her own thing, then makes her conclusions, but does not do a lot of reading or research and sometimes misses critical information. An example would be her journey through semi hydro, where she started beginning with thinking she could leave her orchids untended for a long time as long as they were in LECA and then concluding that LECA was useless. Then she switched everything to seramis, but I think she alienated many of her US supporters, since seramis is difficult and expensive to obtain in the US. Then someone told her about First Rays, and she switched back to LECA.

Which is another reason why I now I watch her videos infrequently and with reserve. She doesn't just change her opinions (which is fine, but you kind of have to be familiar with her history to know it), she also changes her methods pretty frequently. It's interesting to go through someone else's trial and error process, but that's not really what I, personally, am looking for as I need solid foundation information.

She loves experiments and is good at developing intriguing experiments, but as she says, she is not a scientist and her experiments may lack rigor. I often question her conclusions or don't agree with her logic. Some of her commenters have pointed out that her experiments aren't sufficiently controlled (too many differences in the groups that she compares to draw a sound conclusion) and I tend to agree.

All of that said, she has a HUGE library of videos, and many of the early ones where she discusses repotting, how and when, watering,etc. stand the test of time. She is also very aware of criticisms that commenters make and is responsive to them, and she tries hard to accomodate her audience. She seems very committed to what she is doing, and happily shares new knowledge and her adventures in orchids.

On a side note, I recently realized that there is a SundayGardener who has a blog and has blogged on orchids! I am not that SundayGardener. I picked that name for myself because between work and other, I get most of my outdoor gardening done on the weekend. If it's possible, I'll change my OrchidBoard name to prevent confusion.

[Zoren]

I don't mind all the technical info that Ray puts out ('even though I don't understand all of it'), I take the info from Ray and all members on the OB and use what is pertinent to me and my growing conditions. As to Miss Orchid Girl, if she is an expert, has vast knowledge or on the other hand is a 'Fraud', it really makes no difference. She makes interesting videos and she does have a lot of different kinds of orchids which I have been trying to collect over the years (not as successfully as other members or Miss Orchid Girl). I agree with SundayGardner, I have noticed that she changes her opinions, techniques and suggestions quite a bite. I also agree that the videos are probably a source of income for her, videos are a big thing these days. She now lives in Cyprus. As I have said before 'I've been 'keeping' orchids for a number of years, the fact that I haven't been very successful doesn't stop me from trying'. I try to gather as much info as I can, so that "maybe" I can be more successful now and in the future.. Some times I feel that 'I'm wasting my time, trying to grow Orchids'. Anyway again thanks to all of you for your input...Zoren...

[Mountaineer370]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I believe she was in Romania and moved to Cyprus a few years ago.

Yes, this is my understanding from her videos, too.

[Dollythehun]

That comment was not meant as an insult. People are different and that should be understood and celebrated. The fact I received what I believe is TMI, doesn't mean I don't care. It means my brain works differently.

Any teacher will tell you, some students learn best by video (watching) some by reading, some by doing ( hand to brain wiring). Teach me personally the basics and let me dig for the rest if I'm interested. But don't tell me I don't care...

No insults were intended by either of these posts. I am only clarifying how some might think.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I don't know what she recommends the hydrogen peroxide for, but it works well (3% H2O2 that's commonly available) to stop crown rot... What don't you like about it?

She posts too many videos for me to find it, so it is difficult for me to reference. I don't remember how she was specifically using it. It was one of her older videos from maybe about 2 years ago. She may have changed her attitudes from then, I don't know. Like I said, I don't watch her content regularly. I just watch it when I'm bored.

I am concerned people do not understand how hydrogen peroxide works.

I've used hydrogen peroxide in my earlier years of growing orchids as a method to stop diseases from spreading and have done tons more damage than good. This is particularly true if they are used on the roots. The roots pretty much dissolve in minutes if not seconds after application, and this is 3% hydrogen peroxide we're talking about. It is the same effect if you used hydrogen peroxide and let it touch the skin of your hands when you're not using gloves, it makes the tip of your fingers around where the fingernails are located raw. Other parts of the finger that comes into contact with the hydrogen peroxide will also become raw, but not as badly as those areas with softer tissues.

She may not show her face, but she has a nice and pleasant voice. She also does not come across as offensive, pretentious, or self-absorbed. Those are most of the reasons why she's memorable compared to everybody else who posts YouTube videos about orchids. From the perspective of a former entertainer, she'd make a decent living as a voiceover actor.

If I’m not mistaken she has occasionally visited this site in the past as well. Her real name is Dani.

Anyways, I just think some critical thinking should be used with any advice given. As much as we try, some of the advice given may not always apply 100% or we may have a knowledge deficit somewhere.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by SundayGardener

If it's possible, I'll change my OrchidBoard name to prevent confusion.

Good luck with that - I asked to do the same, for similar reasons, about 2 years ago. I still have not received any help.

If you succeed, let me know what worked.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Zoren

I don't mind all the technical info that Ray puts out ('even though I don't understand all of it'), I take the info from Ray and all members on the OB and use what is pertinent to me and my growing conditions. As to Miss Orchid Girl, if she is an expert, has vast knowledge or on the other hand is a 'Fraud', it really makes no difference. She makes interesting videos and she does have a lot of different kinds of orchids which I have been trying to collect over the years (not as successfully as other members or Miss Orchid Girl). I agree with SundayGardner, I have noticed that she changes her opinions, techniques and suggestions quite a bite. I also agree that the videos are probably a source of income for her, videos are a big thing these days. She now lives in Cyprus. As I have said before 'I've been 'keeping' orchids for a number of years, the fact that I haven't been very successful doesn't stop me from trying'. I try to gather as much info as I can, so that "maybe" I can be more successful now and in the future.. Some times I feel that 'I'm wasting my time, trying to grow Orchids'. Anyway again thanks to all of you for your input...Zoren...

Growing orchids is a learning process. Sometimes you succeed. Sometimes you fail real hard. However, you will find out what your limits are or you will eventually break through major barriers. It’s all in the individual’s orchid growing journey.

As long as you try, it is not a waste of time. Somewhere down the line, there will be some wins. Just take those wins and run with it. Sooner or later there will be more wins than losses.

Find your own path. Nobody else is judging your success or failures except for you.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Growing orchids is a learning process. Sometimes you succeed. Sometimes you fail real hard. However, you will find out what your limits are or you will eventually break through major barriers. It’s all in the individual’s orchid growing journey.

As long as you try, it is not a waste of time. Somewhere down the line, there will be some wins. Just take those wins and run with it. Sooner or later there will be more wins than losses.

Find your own path. Nobody else is judging your success or failures except for you.

Adding to what The King said... I have heard a saying that "An expert is someone who has killed 1000 orchids". That number is 'way too low... I have had a lot more fatalities than that over the last 20+ years and I consider myself an only slightly advanced novice. My success rate on the familiar ones has improved quite a bit, but now I push the envelope harder... and hopefully learn from the failures. When I find that I can get away with growing a species that I "shouldn't" be able to grow, it just encourages me to try something new. It's the learning that keeps me coming back for more.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Good luck with that - I asked to do the same, for similar reasons, about 2 years ago. I still have not received any help.

If you succeed, let me know what worked.

The simple explanation is that we don't have ANY active admins anymore. All faded from OB some years ago, and since the owner of OB isn't active either, we never got any replacements. I would like to modify my own username too, but even as a mod I can't do that...

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Adding to what The King said... I have heard a saying that "An expert is someone who has killed 1000 orchids".

When I do presentations at orchid societies and other plant groups, I usually open with "An expert is someone who has killed his weight in orchids. Fortunately for me (patting my stomach) I seem to have room for more 'expertise' every year!"