Hello from Tampa Bay - Orchid Board

greg sytch · #1 12-30-2007, 12:35 PM

Hello from Tampa Bay! I just joined this site so I can learn more about orchids. I am a serious begonia grower (Horticultural Correspondent for ABS for over a decade) and garden writer, and am rather new to orchids. They have been just growing in my shadehouses for a few years. They are sooo easy to grow! Now I am delving more into them, and the spectacular diversity. I am a middle school teacher of reading, so reading up on orchids has come naturally. Living in New Port Richey (about an hour due N of St Pete) my climate is great for orchids other than a few winter chills. I live near the coast so I am rather mild, with heliconia, giner, mangoes, palms, begonias and bromeliads in the landscape, etc. Where do I find the time? Luckily, orchids do not require much care. Anyway, I am more of as lurker, and enjoy reading all the info. If you are in the Pasco county area, feel free to visit! Regards- Greg Sytch

cb977 · #2 12-30-2007, 12:39 PM

Hi Greg

Very nice to have you joining us. We're practically neighbors! I'm in Spring Hill

Your place must look fantastic with all those tropical plants growing! I adore Heliconias! They are stunning and almost as diverse as my true love...orchids

Are you a member of any local societies? Have you visited any of the wonderful growers we have access to?

DebsC · #3 12-31-2007, 12:00 AM

Hi Greg!
Welcome to the Orchid Board! Glad to have you here and I hope you post often.

shakkai · #4 12-31-2007, 05:02 AM

Hi Greg, Welcome to Orchid Board. Looking forward to reading your posts - what a wonderful collection of plants you have! Your garden must be gorgeous!

GreggC · #5 12-31-2007, 10:16 AM

to Greg from Gregg. I think you will like it here.

tuvoc · #6 12-31-2007, 11:08 AM

Welcome aboard, Greg. Jump right in, and have fun.

Kim

greg sytch · #7 12-31-2007, 11:10 AM

Thanks for all the welcomes! I have been busy landscaping and doing yard work this holiday. We do not go back until Jan8th. There is a freeze predicted for Wed and Thur AM lower 30's, but if the wind holds it may not get there. I will have to prepare anyway since I grow in shadehouses in the yard, open, and my landscape is venerable in the 20's. C'est la vie if it happens. They will all come back. Orchids will be protected of course. Spring Hill will freeze hard, not us. It will also be a good chance to prune away damage and clean up. I am so cut up from doing my 40' bromeliad garden the past few days! In case of cold, my gesneriads and orchids are placed on the ground, covered with frost cloth. It has worked to 29F (2003). The larger orchids will come inside because they are just too big. I've left orchids out in light freezes (30-32F) and as long as they are sheltered, there is no damage. My 150+ collection of begonias on the benches will need protection, too, but frost cloth will do the job! I got it cheap at Big Lots a few years ago- $3.00 for 25'! Look forward to learning more on orchids, and growing more varieties. Greg

shaktima · #8 12-31-2007, 11:35 AM

This is my first time on a message board! You all seem really nice! Greg I feel for you during the winter chills. I too have to cover up or bring in. I live in the sunny south and have been growing orchids for 12 years. I have had some success and some failures, which is why I joined today. I have a small space and light is limited, especially when the palms grow too big! In the past I was always separating the large plants. Now my new goal is to pot up and let them grow large. I am looking for someone in my area who would be willing to trade, as I have way too many of some of the same varieties. I look forward to hearing more about your successes as well as problems. I sure have my fair share.