Do you choose orchids wisely?

[s1214215]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

My teeny one is growing 2 bulbs. It's currently in a 4 inch pot. Will I be able to see it grow in my lifetime?

I saw one in Townsville, Australia years ago that was four years old and half that size by then. Feed it well, keep it hot and stand back maybe?

Brett

[Cym Lover]

Well worth trying again, Gin! They need to be potted in a media which is extremly fast draining (mine are in course bark, large charcoal chunks and course grade perlite) and I only water once a week.
As for buying specific hybrids, a place called Buried Treasures has a large range for a US supplier and is supposed to be quite good from what I've read. I got my seeds from Taiwan, they have a great breeder there called Adenium Ko (easiest to check ebay for his range).

[Jerry Delaney]

As for buying specific hybrids, a place called Buried Treasures has a large range for a US supplier and is supposed to be quite good from what I've read. I got my seeds from Taiwan, they have a great breeder there called Adenium Ko (easiest to check ebay for his range).

Thanks so much for this info!! I just finished their web site and Gin, if you haven't seen it yet I can only caution you!! Gee, can I really afford another passion? Absolutely stunning!!

[moogiemama]

I love to take the risk! I started out with "safe" orchids, and they were my confidence builders. Now I attempt many of the more difficult plants, and if they thrive, great! If not, it was quite the learning experience. I know people who claim to be Phal killers, and if I listened to them, I'd have never tried growing them. And the ones that others consider "easy" somehow never seem to do much for me. So, I assess what I have to offer and then see what I can do to tailor the needs to the currrent love-of-my-life orchid! I am always pleasantly surprised, or terribly disappointed.

[vmax3000]

I like to "look" like I know what I am doing, so I buy them with confidence (and too much abandoned according to my spousal unit). I practice image management as often as I can. Living in Waco, Texas, I really have no business having masdevallias, draculas, scaphosepalum and sigmatostalix....but, I do . I learned most of what I know by being really bad at it. I think I am now at mediocre. Here's the thought, if I fill the greenhouse faster than they die, I will always keep up the image! Actually, I do buy too many, but when I fall in love, I have tried to research the plant and it's needs so I can be "prepared". Then, I give myself permission with a seedling (cheapo). If it survives, then I am golden. If not, then I try to do a little more research and decide whether it's worth another try. I just got a Leptotes calodictyon that I will try in my terrarium...this one is the one that has scared me the most . I'll be reading the threads on this one voraciously! Great poll and I loved reading through the posts! OB is fabulous.

[Oscarman]

At a society meeting I saw this great plant, Nanodes medusae! It is completely different from what I grow or have grown (catts, phals, paphs, phrags, den, etc), but had to get one. It will be a while before it flowers, but it's growing!

[vmax3000]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

At a society meeting I saw this great plant, Nanodes medusae! It is completely different from what I grow or have grown (catts, phals, paphs, phrags, den, etc), but had to get one. It will be a while before it flowers, but it's growing!

Dave,
That is a wicked cool plant. Pardon my ignorance, but is that an orchid?!?! I might have to get one, too!

[natasha]

well, i'm quite shallow when it come to buying orchids i buy based on the looks...

i started with dendrobiums, then vandas. now i have some catts, phals, a paph, a gongora, an angraecum, a couple of catasetums, oncidiums, miltoniopsis. try to get some variety in my collection. it would be boring just to see one or type of flower or leaves.

but i never (haven't yet might be more appropriate!) buy cymbidiums. i think i am more adventurous and willing to risk it..

[Angurek]

I take risks. I used to buy plants without any insight to their needs, but nowadays, I try to gather a little info before I jump in. Sometimes my risks pay off, other times they don't.

My worst risk was a "Hawaiiain sunset" Miltonidium that dried up days after I bought it. It wasn't too expensive, but it still died. On the other hand, one success story was a yellow cymbidium, which is actually thriving right now.

My latest risk is a Pescatorea lehmannii. We'll see how it turns out.

[Becky15349]

Its so boring, but I never really take TOO big of a risk because money is tight these days!! I will only take a risk w/ a plant (that would not ordinarily bloom well in my environment) if I make a promise to myself that I will pay special attention to it...then again, sometimes this backfires too, because we all know that orchids thrive on neglect!!