Hi there! My name is Sara and I live in a jungle

[SaraJean]

Hello everyone! I live down in New Orleans in a sweet little home that, much to my husband's dismay, I have turned into a jungle. Every square inch of my indoor and outdoor space is covered in plants. At some point, he embraced living amongst all of the greenery... eventually

Something we both love are orchids and I would like to try my hand at growing a few of them again. Making anything grow is so incredibly rewarding! I have only ever had one gorgeous lilac colored Phal that stuck with me for 8 years. That plant and I had some rough times together, but eventually I figured out how to keep her happy and coaxed blooms out, time after time. Then I left her in my parent's care while I looked for a house in a different state for a month. I should have known better. My mother can not even keep air plants or English Ivy alive in her house. She left it on the back patio in full 100degree sun, soaked my poor phal with a garden hose twice a day, re-potted it in a "prettier" pot with some good dirt and flowers around it, and killed it stone dead. I think the dog might have gotten a hold of it too. It made me so sad but I couldn't help but laugh when she tried to pass off my dead orchid as being in a "rejuvenating" state

Now, years later, I am starting fresh. I picked up a paph macabre, miltassia charles m fitch, zygo jumbing jack hybrid, and a oncidium sharry baby. I am super excited and eager to learn all I can about my new babies so I can pamper them properly. They are all blooming size, but not in bloom yet. My thought process was: spend less money on younger non-flowering plants and see if I can keep them alive. We shall see!

[bethmarie]

Ouch! That Phal. died hard! Pleased to meet you. Welcome to Orchid Board.

[Leafmite]

Your mother sounds just like mine! I started collecting plants when I was a child but every summer, when I went off to camp or visiting family, my mother's 'care' would always result in the plants either being dead or nearly so. She could even kill cactus! Quite an amazing black thumb! She does enjoy plants so every year, I replace her favorite houseplants for mother's day and sometimes for Christmas, too.

Hello and welcome! Great to have you join!

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

[No-Pro-mwa]

and welcome to the board. Such a sad story, that poor orchid really did die hard Good luck and read, read, read. So much info on here.

[Mandy2705]

Welcome Sara. Your description of your house reminds me of my little apt lol My fiancé isn't too happy about any of it. He says I buy too many orchids and I need to stop. He will only willing buy me one himself when it's a special holiday . I keep telling him the air quality in our apt must be excellent bc of all my plants and orchids.

[theloyalplum]

My gosh, my mom does the same thing. I send back cattleyas or dendrobiums in flower so my mom can appreciate them. Get them back with no roots and desiccated psb's. I even give explicit, simple care instructions to follow, but somehow..... oi. Some tips on buying, keep in mind how much you're spending. Before long it adds up, even at those smaller prices of 10-15 per (plus shipping of course). It can really do things to your dinners.

[DeaC]

Hi there! Sorry about the plant but I've heard funerals in your parts can be quite a celebration! But better to do so with successes that I'm sure you'll experience now that you're part of a wonderful clique!

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

She does enjoy plants so every year, I replace her favorite houseplants for mother's day and sometimes for Christmas, too.

That is an excellent idea! I could just buy her some nice potted arrangements and treat them like (only slightly) longer lasting cut bouquets
Thank you for the welcome

---------- Post added at 02:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Mandy2705

Welcome Sara. Your description of your house reminds me of my little apt lol My fiancé isn't too happy about any of it. He says I buy too many orchids and I need to stop. He will only willing buy me one himself when it's a special holiday . I keep telling him the air quality in our apt must be excellent bc of all my plants and orchids.

Funny you should mention the air quality thing... That is actually what started the plant obsession in my house. I had read some article about NASA's best air cleaning plants and I started out with a few pothos and philodendrons, and then escalated to full blown jungle territory from there! All of the greenery in my home makes me smile every time I walk though the door

---------- Post added at 03:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:55 PM ----------

Originally Posted by theloyalplum

My gosh, my mom does the same thing. I send back cattleyas or dendrobiums in flower so my mom can appreciate them. Get them back with no roots and desiccated psb's. I even give explicit, simple care instructions to follow, but somehow..... oi. Some tips on buying, keep in mind how much you're spending. Before long it adds up, even at those smaller prices of 10-15 per (plus shipping of course). It can really do things to your dinners.

It seems I am not the only one with a mom that does this then! Her amazing ability to quickly kill every kind of plant has actually been one of my favorite things about her... It's endearing. She tries so hard every year to grow things and every year, a month or two later, is pulling her hair out in frustration. My sister and I got her some raspberry bushes to put behind their house and, shockingly, they are still growing.

You are so right about things adding up... I showed some serious restraint by only purchasing 4 new ones. I have a thing with going to a nursery for just a few little plants for my balcony baskets and walking out with a tree, 3 hibiscuses, 4 new herbs, and 10 new plants for my baskets. oops. I can see this happening with orchids, too. I promised my self that I wouldn't buy any more till I keep these new ones alive and flourishing for 6 months. It is sooooooo hard though!

---------- Post added at 03:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome! I plan on read, read, and re-reading some of these posts on the forum to get some tips and trouble shoot. Then I am going to read some more

[WhiteRabbit]