Hello From Baltimore Maryland

[Cntry]

I just wanted to say hello to everyone as I am a newbie at raising orchids. I have a Phalaenopsis that was given to be that I killed by accident from watering it to much. I recently purchase another one that I am learning to take care of that is why I joined the orchidboard. So far I have made the blooms fall off by pulling all the sphagnum moss out of the orchid and replacing it with a orchid bark mix. I have moved the orchid into my front room where the light shines most bright during the day. I placed it on a dresser with a curtain that is on the thinner side in front of the orchid at the window. I am not sure if this will be to much light or be just right. It gets the light all day long but the brightest is in the late afternoon. I have a ceiling fan that runs most of the time in this room so the air circulates. If I am missing anything could someone please tell me. I was also told to water the orchid every 4 days because its in bark in a slotted pot.

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

[WhiteRabbit]

Which direction does the window face?

[lexusnexus]

Welcome to the boards, Cntry. Just repotting should not have caused the blooms to come off. Did you shake the plant, or put a lot of pressure on the plant repotting it? Another thought would be your watering and feeding cycle.

[Cntry]

It was very hot and I had it in my car, once I got home I repotted it several hours later but had to cut off some of the roots that were dead. I put it into shock for sure as I dropped the pot it come in the car. The pot cracked so I had to find a new pot. Then I changed the medium from moss to bark and then watered it. With in a weeks time all the blooms had fallen off. Its still alive in a new pot with air holes on the bottom and slots on the side. I removed the decretive pot it was in and placed it into the pot I just told you I have it in now.

I was told to water it once every 8 to 10 and let it dry out. Someone else told me it had to be watered every 4 days. I think because of the change in the medium " bark" that I am using instead of the moss that it was in previously.

---------- Post added at 11:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:49 PM ----------

I also water it by filling up a bowl of tap water and placing the pot into it giving it about 15 minutes to absorb anything it can. Then empty what is left and place it back into the room I have it in on the plate. I will also feed it using 10 10 10 or some Orchid fertilizer for orchids, using only 1/4 if the amount that is on the directions and feed it every other week.

---------- Post added 06-12-2014 at 12:00 AM ---------- Previous post was 06-11-2014 at 11:53 PM ----------

WhiteRabit there are two windows in the room I have it in the south side window. The other window is west. I didn't have the curtain there when I first got the orchid that was a sheer one. It was a regular curtain that you opened and closed with blinds. So the Orchid was in Direct light for a few days till I got a sheer curtain up on the window. In the morning I open the west curtain and it lets a lot of light into my room. With also the South sheer curtain in the room I know it gets enough light.

[RNCollins]

Welcome from New York!

Do you have a picture of your orchid?

[Cntry]

HI RNCollins, I guess I should take one and place it here on the board for all to see. My daughter can do that tonight after she gets home from work.

[lexusnexus]

You've surpassed the requisite number of posts (5) to post pictures. I look forward to them as well. Bummer about your orchid. I had one outside several years ago when I was at work. It was toasted when I got back home. Another hard lesson learned for me. Most of us aren't born into the world with expert orchid knowledge. The school of hard knocks is a tough, but effective, method of learning.

[nikkik]

Welcome to the OB!

[Cntry]

Hi Luxus I will be posting a few pictures as I found a new buddy that is full size but is a beautiful noid orchid.

I wish Loews would leave on the names here also so I would know what I have. I also found a few small mini orchids also Phals noids that I picked up yesterday evening. They were on the clearance rack and I don't know what color or anything they are as they have finished blooming and was marked down.

I figured they need a good home to and I will learn using them. I repotted in bark mix with perlite and a bit of moss tossed in. Placed it to soak up some water then placed it in a little glass candle holder from the dollar store. I added some stones on the bottom and around the pot into the candle holder. I also added just a little water to the bottom of the candle holder to give it some humidity.

I also picked up a tester that lets me see the light and moisture and the ph also. So I should make my new little family happy in the coming months by not over watering them.

Nik, thanks for the warm welcome.