Excited to get into orchids! - Orchid Board

PhoenixFlowers · #1 06-01-2019, 01:34 AM

Hi everyone

I have loved orchids for quite some time, and upon purchasing a pahiopedilum that I adore, I've been inspired to convert my room into an orchid room of sorts. I feel as though it would be a good hobby in addition to my fish hobby. Currently I have one paphiopedilum and one phalaenopsis. Literally just started with them. So glad to be here

If anyone has any beginner tips or maybe advice on what to expect, it'd be greatly appreciated. See you around

Ray · #2 06-01-2019, 08:50 AM

Orchid Growing 101, Lesson 1: The first thing you must understand about orchids is they, unlike terrestrial plants, do much of their respiratory gas exchange through their roots, rather than leaves.

That means that the potting medium must be able to retain moisture, but cannot block the airflow pathways to the roots.

Lesson 2: When we water a plant, most pours right through. Some is absorbed immediately by the plant's roots and the potting medium, and some is held in-between the particles by surface tension. If the potting medium is too fine, too compressed, or too decomposed, those spaces are small and plentiful, so hold enough water completely block those "breathing" pathways for the roots, so they suffocate, die and rot. That, by the way, is the origin of the myth that "orchids must dry out between waterings". It's not the plant that must dry out, its the lousy potting medium! If allowed to dry out, those air flow pathways reopen, allowing the roots to breathe.

A better choice is a coarser potting medium; one in which the spaces between the particles are too big for the water to completely bridge them. That will mean you need to water more often though, so you need to consider your growing conditions and how often you can/want to water when you choose a potting medium.

I hope that helps you a bit getting going.

PhoenixFlowers · #3 06-01-2019, 12:31 PM

Thank you for that tip! I live in a Mediterranean climate, so I do believe I may have to consider more water retaining media.

rbarata · #4 06-01-2019, 01:53 PM

Welcome!

Can you tell us where do you live? Even in mediterranean climate there are important variations in the conditions.

PhoenixFlowers · #5 06-01-2019, 01:56 PM

I live in the SoCal area. All year round its usually 70-80s. Summer can get up to 120 and winter can get down to 50, sometimes 35. My paph is currently potted in bark and it dries out pretty quickly (at least the top layer does).

rbarata · #6 06-01-2019, 02:11 PM

And how are the humidity values year round?

PhoenixFlowers · #7 06-01-2019, 02:20 PM

Average seems to be 50-60%. Lately it's been high because it's been really rainy, which is not usual. Inside I'm assuming it's higher because I have a 50 gallon fish tank in this room.

Mountaineer370 · #8 06-01-2019, 03:25 PM

Welcome to the OB! You'll find a lot of friendly people here, willing to help fellow orchid lovers of all experience levels.

ArronOB · #9 06-02-2019, 10:14 AM

Welcome to the board.

If you put your location in your bio (so it appears in each post) then people will be able to provide much better assistance to you down the track.

rbarata · #10 06-02-2019, 10:56 AM

My climate is also like yours, mediterranean but because I live far from the sea my humidity is low in summer (17% at this moment). But the same climate near the sea doesn't have this problem. There's a difference between continental and coastal, mainly in temp extremes and humidity.
This is something one must consider when buying plants, unless there is the possibility to create the required conditions artificially.