I am New here, my intro

[Dame]

Hello
I am new to this board.

I have about a dozen orchid plants on my kitchen and bathroom window sills which I have gathered from supermarkets, mostly in the half dead reduced section , and some from the full bloom lots of money sections . (gathered over the last year and all except 2 have survived... so far)

I want to know more about them, even what sorts I have would be a good start.

I can tell you I have about half a dozen with small spoon shaped leaves, a couple with lots of long leaves, and 2 with almost bamboo shaped leaves as well as a couple with fat bottom bits and skinny long leaves... as that description might tell you... I am a bit of a begginer at this lark

I am a keen gardener and can tell you all about whats in the garden, but Orchids are a real blank for me, well until now that is.

I am hoping somebody can point me in the right direction to find a book for begginers, to first identify what I actualy have, and second, to tell me how to look after them all properly, and eventually, how to keep them flowering and maybe even propogate them... Ok so I may be looking at way into the future here, but I am keen to learn.

I live in the UK, no greenhouse or conservatory, just an unheated kitchen and a small bathroom with a radiator but the Orchids do seem to be ok in there so far.

I am not even sure how to water or feed these pretty creatures, I just give them a sip when they look thirsty, maybe once or twice a week and thats it so far.

Any help would be gratfully accepted

best wishes
Dame