Hello from Belize!

[cl2cayo]

Hi All! I thought I'd introduce myself, because some of my questions may seem odd unless you have some understanding of my situation, which I suspect is a bit different than most.
I moved to Belize from Los Angeles over 2 years ago. When wandering around my property, I saw tons of orchids everywhere (sheesh, it's like these things grow on trees, or something! *laughing*). As a long-time grower of carnivorous plants, I always had a few orchids as companion plants; now that I'm in Orchid Heaven here, I figured I might flip the equation. Lately, I let some of the local folks know that I like orchids, so as they clear their area or chop down trees, they salvage the orchids and bring them to me. (No money or goods are exchanged, so they are not just ripping them out of the jungle! These would have been burned or left to rot and I'm just giving them a home.)
However, unlike LA, I don't have a ready supply of fertilizer, sphagnum moss, bark, or even plant pots. As such, I'm scrambling to find the best way of mounting them, dealing with transplant shock and just in general keeping them happy. So, many of my questions will be of the "how can I make this, if I can't just order the supply" variety.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer some of my upcoming crazy questions!
Good growing,
-cindy

[WhiteRabbit]

Hey Cindy!
I bet it is indeed Orchid heaven in Belize!
I'm sure lots of people here will do their best to help you out

[Tindomul]

omg, doing the good work.
Perhaps you can contact a local botanist in case you ever come across a new species. Yea, mounting I think would be the best way to deal,
Welcome to the Orchid Board, glad you could join us.

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board.

Wow, really does sound like Orchid Heaven and so great that you're taking in the ones others would likely destroy.

[CTB]

Hope you'll enjoy our group of over 14,000 members just waiting to help out. Take a couple of pics of your set up. Those poor poor orchids having to grow in trees. Enjoy!

[VickiC]

Hi Cindy and welcome!!
I know there are many, many people here who will be glad to answer any questions you may have! Everyone has definitely helped me out so much!
Vicki

Originally Posted by cl2cayo

Hi All! I thought I'd introduce myself, because some of my questions may seem odd unless you have some understanding of my situation, which I suspect is a bit different than most.
I moved to Belize from Los Angeles over 2 years ago. When wandering around my property, I saw tons of orchids everywhere (sheesh, it's like these things grow on trees, or something! *laughing*). As a long-time grower of carnivorous plants, I always had a few orchids as companion plants; now that I'm in Orchid Heaven here, I figured I might flip the equation. Lately, I let some of the local folks know that I like orchids, so as they clear their area or chop down trees, they salvage the orchids and bring them to me. (No money or goods are exchanged, so they are not just ripping them out of the jungle! These would have been burned or left to rot and I'm just giving them a home.)
However, unlike LA, I don't have a ready supply of fertilizer, sphagnum moss, bark, or even plant pots. As such, I'm scrambling to find the best way of mounting them, dealing with transplant shock and just in general keeping them happy. So, many of my questions will be of the "how can I make this, if I can't just order the supply" variety.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer some of my upcoming crazy questions!
Good growing,
-cindy

[cl2cayo]

I've started posting pictures in my FB album, if anyone wants to take a look. There aren't many yet, but there will be more to come!Cynthia Sarver's Photos - Native Belizean Orchids | Facebook