Hello Everyone ;)

[Kerry78]

I'm a newb to Orchids but so far so good I've not managed
To kill either off

My partner bought me a Pink Stripe Phal for Easter
I was pretty scared as it looked abit posh for my green
Fingers lol but still weeks on and googling vital info and watching videos on YouTube from (Samantha's orchid diary) I think I've done ok so far

2 weeks ago we were at Tesco grocery store and I happened to walk over to there flower section and notice
Lots of Orchids for sale when my partner looked at the larger finest orchids for £15 and said they were reduced to £7.50p that how I ended up he with that big White Phal which came boxed with decorative pot

The Yellow one I picked up at another Tesco for £8 last Thursday, it wasn't in good shape roots dry and it had begun killing of it's buds as one was totally yellow just fortunate luck I decided to pop in and need more bread and milk heh

Btw it's doing great now one bud is opening up which I'm happy at it has lovely big blooms compared with my other 2

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

I'm from the UK, not far from you. Well the other side of Birmingham, but having lived in Great Barr, north of Birmingham for a few years (and hubby grew up there) we still tend to visit Merry Hill when we want a big shopping center.

Anyway, your orchids look great. My first quick tip if you are new to them is don't leave them standing in water. Give lots of water when the roots turn silvery in the bottom of the pot. I either pour lots through or fill the outer pot for 15min or so. Drain after watering and then 15-30min later come back and tip out any drips that have collected so it's not sitting in water.

That watering advise is what got my first orchid through it's first year with not really any other knowledge so I always think it's a good place to start

[Kerry78]

Thanks Rosie

I've lived in K'ford 5 years now before I lived in West Bromwich my mom lives there and wants to move as the area is really horrible now she says lol

She's planning on moving Sutton Coldfield

I know Great Barr I've been a few times but not in years

I have been using rain water collected in a crate outside on the Orchids I normally fill them up in a bowl in the sink and let them soak for 15-20 mins then drain them out and put them back in there places

I would like to maybe re-pot my pinky Stripey Phal eventually, I was advised to leave it for 2 years from another person on another forum I went on but I would love it to get as big as my other 2 and hope it will sprout another spike sometime lol maybe I'm being silly what does everyone here think?!

[RosieC]

Your watering sounds good 2 years is what we advise for fresh bark... but how fresh is the stuff they came in... you don't really know when you buy them, so many people repot as soon as the flowers finish so they know it's fresh.

Some phals are genetically different sizes to others. Also generally I'm afraid when you get home grown spikes you generally get less than they manage to get in the nurseries.

Don't be surprised if after the spikes die back it can take 18months to spike again. Usually new spikes are prompted as the weather gets cooler but the mass market nurseries force them to flower out of season (but controlling temperatures) and that can mean they take 18months or so to get back into a natural pattern.

[Kerry78]

Maybe I should just leave repotting then lol
When I got the pinky it had abit of bark missing so I purchased more and topped it up I think the roots in good
Shape but they are starting to go through the pots holes

there was a incident where it was in the sun and the leave went limp it hasn't been the same since and I notices one end is darkening I guess they loose there bottom leaves after a time anyway

I've noticed there's a bump growing on the side I also noticed when I got it there's was at some point another
Spike as it had been severed shame!

I hope it will again grow me a 2 headed spike even if there's a 18 month wait like my 2 larger ones

[RosieC]

The bump may be a root, they also emerge like that. The roots usually have a rounded tip, the spikes have a mitten like shape. It might need to grow a bit more before you can tell.

[Kerry78]

Thanks Rosie,

I guess it's a mystery bump to be continued lol

Right I best go and sort my cockatiels out and try and make the most of this nice sunshine before the wet stuff
Graces itself on us later

Have a great day x

[RosieC]

Have you got sunshine? It's overcast here, though at least it's dry unlike the last few days.

Have a great day

[Kerry78]

It was sunny this morning but it's been dull
On and off all day it's prob going to rain as usual
Anytime now lol

Do you know anywhere I can purchase any Orchids that are different to Phals (Vandas or anything else)

I've not seen nothing but Phals so getting a different type would be great, I've seen some on eBay but there
In Thailand or other similar countries I never knew it was possible to ship plants from such faraway countries
Lol I bet a lot never get to there location as customs destroy them

[RosieC]

I would usually buy orchids online or go to orchid shows to get them. Shows can be best because you see the plants you are getting.

There is a show coming up in Malvern next month. It's an international show so you get sellers from all over the world (most shows are much smaller). I've not been to the Malvern one before, it started last year replacing one that used to be in Peterborough and I didn't find out about it until afterwards.

Online you can buy from Europe as well as from UK growers. It's best to buy from ones recommended by others so you know they sell quality plants.

This is a really old thread where people posted ones they had liked at the time.
Orchids Vendors in Europe

I have bought from Burnham (and also visited them in Devon) and from Großräschener Orchideen online, and others at shows.