Hi from St. Louis - frigid St. Louis!

[JeffreyJ]

Hi to all

I'm new to orchids essentially and always looking for new resources for care and cultivation. Also interested in what you do in your homes to display orchids. I enjoy a bright color and great fragrance and easy maintenance!

In search of the "ghost orchid" but not having much luck. Also looking for people who have had an Orchidarium. What's been your experience? Is the cost worth the investment???

Glad to be a part of the site.

[Ross]

Jeffrey, welcome to the board. I have an Orchidarium (Tank) and so do lots of others here. Ask away. We will try to share our observations with you. I also grow orchids in a bay waindow (south-facing) so have lots of observations regarding that as well.

[kiki-do]

Welcome Jeffrey!
I don't have an Orchidarium, so can't help you there, but I grow many of my orchids in a heated sunroom. It's so wonderful to see blooms when there is snow and gusts of wind outside. Warms the heart. Check out the gallery and you will see some wonderful orchids. Again, welcome! kiki-do

[shakkai]

Welcome Jeffrey! Glad you found Orchid Board!

I've got a small orchidarium (AKA the tank) and a small aquarium that I use as well. Depending on what you want to do with the orchidarium - and which orchids you want to keep in it - it doesn't necessarily have to be a costly venture.

For me, trying to only get orchids that have cultural requirements as close to what my natural conditions are has really helped me a lot. It makes those plants less work and worry, leaving me to just enjoy the flowers when they come.

Display is something I'm still working out - many come into the living room and sit on the mantle while in flower, as for the tank, that's sort of a display in and of itself....

Any specific questions you have - ask away!

[GreggC]

my way!! Oh well, I see that at some time in our immediate future, there is some nice weather. Please send THAT asap. Oh, BTW, welcome!

[jim blanford]

HI Jeffrey.And welcome to the OB. I grow in my basement under lights but when things are blooming we display them in the kitchen bay window. As for the ghost orchid check out Oak Hill Gardens here in Il. I think they them. Jim.

[cb977]

Hi Jeffrey...welcome to the neighborhood

We've got a very diversified group of folks growing a very diversified group of orchids...all around the world!

I put together an Exo-Terra tank a few months back to try growing a few cool-growing Masdavallias here in what is usually hot Florida...expecting 32 tonight and 21 tomorrow night! Brrrrr...... My experiment didn't work, I think I over-compensated but it was a learning experience. Now, the tank is set up with a number of my minis and they're all very happy. The rest of the collection is in a room we had built off the lanai.

Check out our forum called Terrarium Gardening, you'll find lots and lots of information there. A number of us have tanks, either as our main growing area or as an addition.

What types of orchids are you growing now? We'd love to see some

If you need help with anything, let us know

[Tindomul]

Welcome to the Orchid Board. Glad you joined us. Like Ross said, orchidariums are common on this board. It is sort of a fad. hehe. We have a terrarium forum for you to check out, and get ideas. Thanks for joining.

[JeffreyJ]

hi everyone and thanks for the warm welcome and info on your growing experiences.

Right now I have my orchids in a room on the west side of my house. I have them on a baker's type rack and growing under lights. Nothing is coming into bloom at the present and currently I have vandas, phalen, catts, and a brassia nodosa (?). Last summer I had placed about 18-20 orchids outside mostly catts at that time. They were doing great in the heat, humidity, and part shade environment. But then the storm hit! I lost all but five orchids! Needless to say I about cried when I got home! Now I feel like I'm back to the drawing board.

anyway, I'll be re-reading your responses and may contact some of you individually via email if that's acceptable.

Thanks again for the warm welcome!

[cb977]

Jeffrey, it may turn out that some folks are not set up to accept emails...if you have trouble with that, try sending a PM (Private Message). You can reach me, either way, anytime... cb977@orchidboard.com