New in Nebraska, curious of greenhouse plants

[Soozan]

Hi everyone,
I 've collected about 20 Phals (starting easy!) since I can't work outside in my garden anymore after a neck surgery.
I've been reading a lot, and ordered supplies for s/h from Ray that I'm excited to try.

My question: I see photos of others' greenhouses/grow rooms in books and from my viewpoint I see a room full of green plants...but no blooms. Are the photos from the off-season, or do they bring the flowering orchids into the home (and then put the orchids back in the grow room after the flowers are spent)?

I ask because if I enlist the help of my boyfriend to help hang grow lights, etc, he will not be impressed if I have only foliage to show.

[Leafmite]

I think the trick is to research when orchids bloom and then buy orchids that bloom at different times. I did not do this and I really regret it. A few other factors that make my growing spaces very green: 1) I have quite a few younger orchids that are not old enough to bloom 2) many of my orchids bloom at the same time 3) I have a bunch of mini orchids that one needs to get very close to see. 4) I have many non-orchids that must winter inside that won't bloom in the lower indoor light
So, to avoid having green grow space pictures:
1) choose orchids that bloom at different times
2) select orchids that bloom more than once a year
3) buy orchids that are blooming size so that you don't need to wait a few years to see blooms
4) buy orchids that have blooms that show up in pictures of your grow space

Hello and welcome! Glad to have you here as part of our orchid family!

[Soozan]

Thank you for the tips. I know I'll break #4 because I love the mini's!

[brn_thmbs]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I think the trick is to research when orchids bloom and then buy orchids that bloom at different times. I did not do this and I really regret it. A few other factors that make my growing spaces very green: 1) I have quite a few younger orchids that are not old enough to bloom 2) many of my orchids bloom at the same time 3) I have a bunch of mini orchids that one needs to get very close to see. 4) I have many non-orchids that must winter inside that won't bloom in the lower indoor light
So, to avoid having green grow space pictures:
1) choose orchids that bloom at different times
2) select orchids that bloom more than once a year
3) buy orchids that are blooming size so that you don't need to wait a few years to see blooms
4) buy orchids that have blooms that show up in pictures of your grow space

Hello and welcome! Glad to have you here as part of our orchid family!

Let me translate what Leafmite said into layman's terms:
1) buy more orchids
2) buy more orchids
3) buy more orchids
4) buy more orchids

Hello and welcome! Glad to have you here as part of our orchid family!

I'll just add a caveat &
5) you're going to end up buying more orchids

As you'll see, like most members, we started with a few orchids around the house & before you know it you're pillow is damp when you go to bed from the humidifier running 10hrs. a day because your bedroom has the best natural light & you've got to get better culture for your babies & we know we are the best/worst enablers ever! :-)
Welcome to the forums. Let us know when you need help with greenhouse plans :-P
It's a lot of fun! And there's a ton of smart folks with great info to 'help' you (end up buying more orchids).

[Leafmite]

I agree. I really love the small orchids, too.

[Soozan]

Ha - I'm on the right path then, Brn_thmbs! I'm looking to buy something other than a Phal, maybe a Lady Slipper. My addiction has begun.

I'm almost looking forward to when some of them stop blooming so I can repot them and see which medium I will like, and try for more blooms. I've been 2/2 successful for reblooming - let's see if it's just beginners luck...Or my forgetfulness to water was a benefit.

I see healthy roots with those I put in Orchid Bark, but I have to water so often! A salesperson insisted that I only use sphagnum moss, so I tried it and one leaf turned completely yellow in 2 days. I'll still give it a chance, though, since it means less watering.
And then I ordered Ray's PrimeAgra and Pots, just waiting on delivery.

**One more question: For the first orchids I bought, I repotted them directly into orchid ceramic pots (with the holes on the sides). I read somewhere that I shouldn't plant directly into the ceramic pot? That the orchid should be in a plastic container, set inside the ceramic pot. Is this true? It said that the orchid roots would be sensitive to the glaze or something.

I don't mind repotting it that is true.
Thank you!!

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

I didn't pay much attention to buying so that I always had something in bloom but somehow I managed it.

I think sometimes people do move things out to a spot for viewing so greenhouse shots are often the out of season ones. The more you own the more are going to be in flower at a time, unless you stick with just one type, when maybe they will bloom together and have long periods with nothing.

Also flowers often don't show up that much on overall greenhouse shots. Click on this one to expand it. It's mostly green (and not yet full as we were just completing new staging), but there is a big spray of flowers hanging over the edge of the table on the left (which filled the greenhouse with a sweet scent) and there are quite a lot of yellow flowers in the back right corner. There are also flowers on 4 more orchids in there but they are small ones not showing up at the angle of the picture. One with the largest flowers was having one of it's rare rest periods when this was taken.



What I'm saying is often in greenhouse shots the flowers are hiding, or have been moved to somewhere else for the owner to enjoy. However to have flowers year round you do have to buy a lot of them, and try and mix the types you have. As brn_thmbs says... "Buy more orchids"

[Soozan]

Thank you for the photos, Rosie. I was able to zoom in and see the blooms, so I do understand! So I will "allow" this addiction to continue, knowing that I will be enjoying blooms from the plants again.

Today I noticed a new flower stem on an orchid I received as a gift early September - that's a confidence booster. I'll start venturing out into other orchids soon.

[WhiteRabbit]