Michelle from Ontario

[mica28]

Hi Everyone,

I just joined today. Here's a little about how my interest in orchids came to be:

My orchid journey: I've been growing Phals for about 1.5-2 years or so. My first one was a birthday gift but it died after a year or so due to using incorrect media. I have made a lot of mistakes with my Phals but I learned from them and now they grow really well in my current set up. I thought I'd learned enough to get other types of orchids but I didn't realize the care for each type of orchid was so different (even within the same genus).

My current set-up: the Phals, Dendrobiums and 1 Oncidium all grow in a mix of bark and LECA pebbles in plastic pots with air holes. I put them on a shelving unit by a south-facing window and they get a lot of light during the day, but I don't know what kind of grow lights to buy for the fall and winter this year. I just don't want to spend a lot. The clip on one you see in the picture I got when I had all my Phals sitting on a table. The Vandas have been so picky I honestly don't even know what to do...

On a side note: Why can't newbies post images? It's harder for readers to detect what's wrong with our plants.

[Bayard]

Welcome!
You should be able to grow those plants all year with that exposure. My sister grows Phals and Paphs in her sunroom all year. The windows face south and east and they are right on the sills.

[mica28]

Thanks! What's your set up like?

[WaterWitchin]

Mica!

Yes, there sure is a learning curve to growing different orchids. At least you're over that hump of not knowing. That helps quite a bit to know you don't know until you research the particular plant.

Most can't post pictures until five posts in. Just give a few comments here and there, and then you can commence. I think maybe it was from a back in the day thing about spam, etc., but not sure.

Yes, growing Vanda in Canada is a challenge. I grow six months out of the year in my basement with a drain, so easy access for me to dunk or water. Not so easy on shelving, so I'll let someone else who perhaps grows in vase culture to chime in.

For supplemental light, I don't do anything fancy. LED shoplights on sale are my normal go-to. I don't do a lot of bells and whistles with the lights.