Hello from western MA

[billb55]

Hello All,
I live in western Massachusetts and grow about 50 or so orchid plants on my windowsills. I am especially interested in fragrant orchids, and many of my orchids were bought because I liked the way the flowers looked plus they also had a great fragrance. I've passed on buying many orchids I otherwise liked, because they had no fragrance.

I have been growing orchids for about 3 years. I have tried/am trying a variety of different genera and hybrids, figuring that I will find some that do well for me (e.g. Oncidiums, Coelogynes, Zygopetalums, Cymbidiums), some that don't (Phaelanopsis, Phragmapedium, many Dendrobiums), and some that are so-so (Cattleyas). I have made lots of mistakes so far, but also some nice plants that I really like that are doing well.

Most of my plants are in the living room, which is warm during the day and evening, thanks to the woodstove (low to mid 70's) but cool at night (thermostat on 58). Others are in the kitchen--60 night, upper 60's day--and I also have an upstairs room that is in the upper 50's day and night, in another part of the house; no way to heat it in the daytime (my house is really old). That room has the Cymbidiums, Coelogynes, Dendrobium kingianum (which does well for me, though I have killed several other Dendrobiums). Both rooms have all of the windows facing mostly south--lots of sun. Low humidity is my biggest problem, but I spray them with rainwater on many days.

Looking forward to being part of the group,
Bill

[kiki-do]

Hello billb55,
I live just above you in Maine. I too use woodstoves to heat my home and it's a juggling act for the chids. Humidity trays work wonders. I also spray the roots. A small fan is another thing I use.
Dendrobiums are hard to figure out cause they vary so and many need a winter rest.
My favorites are Phals because of the long blooms and their beauty, and Cattleyeas. I love fragrant also.
Welcome to OB!

[Ross]

Welcome Bill. Sounds like you have things well dialed in. When you get around to it, how some pics? We love photos here.

[Chubidubi]

Bill to our lovely orchid community

[magicatt]

Hi Bill! Welcome! I too buy fragrant orchids. After years of african violets and no scent, I upgraded to orchids with fragrance. I have a lot of cattleyas. I do rarely buy one unscented if the flowers have WOW written all over them. I grow mine in my motorhome. I converted a bed bunk into a growing area and my husby hung lights for me. My chids come with me where ever I go.

[greenbean]

Hi Bill, I've been growing for three years too. Unfortunately, I'm still a teen living with my parents and they have severly restricted my purchasing, partly from expense and partly for lack of space. I also amassed a large collection of non-orchids before being bitten by the chid bug, so I have even less space (working on replacing with orchids! ) I manage to pursuade them once in a while though, which has resulted in 7 carefully chosen orchids. One of these days I'll be able to have a larger collection though, full of dwarfs and fragrant orchids! And then....

[dgenovese1]

Hi Bill,

Welcome to the OB...I'm glad that you could join us.