hooked and (happily) in over my head!

[rallygirl]

hello everybody!

as a newbie i wanted to say it's really great that a lot of effort is put in to make us feel welcome....

that said, i may turn out to be a bit of a nuisance. i have a bunch of sad little plants that i got as long term projects and i am keen to help them grow. i had planned on doing a lot of reading and maybe getting some tips from my local (small) orchid club, but now that i have been surfing here i realize how much there is to know and that i probably need the help of experienced orchidists to keep these ones alive.

i have been interested in orchids for a few years, attending shows in eastern canada mostly. i had been moving so often during the last few years so i didn't invest in my own orchid until i was going to be in one place for more than a few months. i finally got my first phal at a hardware store last summer and i have had my nose in orchid books ever since. i figured growing might be better learning than reading, so i got an alicera and just recently these seedlings. (is that the right term if a plant is tiny?)

i posted some photos in the gallery... not sure if that is okay since all the other photos i have seen are well photographed plants in their blooming glories, and mine are the opposite! i thought they might be good reference for any help anyone might be willing to offer.

thanks for the info i have received already - i was even misnaming a couple of my plants!! recently i was advised to repot one of the orchids, which i never thought of, so i thought i would post the photos in case i am making other simple newbie mistakes (size/medium). i'll be reading up on growing conditions and everything else, and i totally appreciate any guidance or words of wisdom....

i've started a couple of threads regarding the individual plants and i hope this is the best way to go. i think i've been pretty thorough in scouring the web for growing tips, but if there are other good resources for the plants i have please let me know.

here they are:

Alaticaulia trochilus
Angraecum sesquipedale
Gongora quinquenervis
Jumellea arachnantha
Masdevallia schroderiana
Specklinia citrina
Stanhopea jenischiana
Stelis gemma
Trigonidium obtusum

if one of these might be a special favourite, it would be awesome to get some tips. i hope this doesn't seem completely ridiculous; i know this project is a lot for a new orchid lover, but i am so excited to give this a try and hopefully watch these orchids grow for many years.

i gave the plants a decent watering when i got them home (we had to fly so i kept them dry in case it got cold) and everything went immediately mouldy. battling the mould and making repotting decisions will be my first challenges....

whew, this post is turning into a novel! thanks for reading and i have really enjoyed seeing and reading about the amazing flowering orchids that members have grown. maybe someday i will too.

rallygirl

[smartie2000]

Cool plant list there! You have some very interesting plants to start with

[rallygirl]

i just looked closer - the stanhopea, the orphan (?den) and the mas. schrod all have visible new growths! yay!

[cb977]

Hi rallygirl Welcome to Orchidboard

Well, you've jumped the first hurdle: don't be afraid to try new things!

You've definitely got yourself an uncommon beginner's list I like it

The only way to learn is to read all you can possibly find, ask all your questions and then...make the decision that works for you, in your own conditions.

I haven't grown any of the 'chids you've listed but I'm sure our members will be able to help you along

Good luck...I'm sure you'll do well

[Ludisia]

to the OB Rallygirl
Nice to have you here.

[Shadow]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Good luck with your project. And congratulations on the new growths!

[Tindomul]

Welcome to the board and great introduction! Hope you find all the help you need here, and have fun with it as well.

[justatypn]

Aboard rallygirl...what a starter list, much braver than I Sounds like you have found your way around the OB. Glad you have joined

[Frdemetr]

Wellcome Rallygirl! I have two of your plants (Stan jenischiana and Gongora quinquenervis) and I can certify they are easy growers (well, at least in my conditions!). Trigonidium is very easy also. Congrats for the new growths!

[Lagoon]

Bonjour Rallygirl, welcome aboard
Brave list for a beginner, but wonderful and different group of orchids. It's gonna be great to watch you grow and flourish just as your orchids will.
Happy Growing....!!