Hello from New York!

[fairywhiz]

Im Ashley and Im from NY.
Ive been interested in orchids for a really long time now and am hopefully getting one of my own soon!
I think its a miniature Phal. but fail identification is fail at the place.
Its already flowering and has a ton of flowers on the spike and is still budding!

Anyone else in the area or know any orchid groups on Long Island?
I would love to learn a bit about how other LIers or people who live in zone 7 keep their plants before I get one of my own.

Nice to meet you all!
Ashley (or fairy or fairywhiz)

[CTB]

Welcome to the Orchid Board. Collecting orchids becomes an addiction real quick like. We have over 15,000 members willing to help you with any problem that might come up.

Most orchids die from too much water. So get a couple of good orchid books and read up before deciding what type of orchid you want to collect. We are going into Fall and soon Winter, so those are things to consider also. Sometimes you wait all year for that one bloom that makes it all worthwhile.. Good Luck and Good Growing!!!

[fairywhiz]

Thank you! Ive read at least three books so far, acctually.
I have one sitting right next to me right now! Haha. xD

So many good things are easy to get addicted to. Like fudge and ABJDs.
Both of which im also addicted to.

I think Ill be fine with watering because I have 4 different cacti and have had them happy and healthy for years now.

I love all the diffent types of orchids so I have no clue where to start.
The one I am looking at right now is a miniature though. It has like 15 open flowers and additional unopened buds on the little 3, 3 1/2 inch spike so Im not sure if thats at all weird.

Any recomendations of first time orchids?

[RosieC]

Hi Ashley and welcome to Orchid Board

[fairywhiz]

Thank you!

[CTB]

The best way is get a name when you purchase. There are so many types, sizes, colors, it's too hard to name them. Sometimes by the leaf you can decide what family it belongs to, which will help you with its care.

[fairywhiz]

Im pretty sure that its a Phalaenopsis because of the way the base and leaf shape is.

[billc]

Hi and welcome from Upstate. I can't find any links to L.I. societies, but if you're in Nassau Co. you may want to try the S.I group.
http://www.siosonline.com/Newsletters/2010-06.pdf

Bill

[rangiku]

Hi, Ashley, welcome to the boards. I hear phals are a good orchid to start with, and as CTB said, don't overwater it. I'm sure you will do just fine with the extremely helpful and knowledgeable people here.

[fairywhiz]

Thank you very much for looking!
Sadly Im in suffolk.
I did find a page for a long island group but the next meeting is undetermined.