Avid gardener new to orchids

[Transcendental topiary]

Hi all. Been browsing the forum and tons of great info!
My name is Becky, im 29 yrs old from central connecticut. (Dont worry if you've never heard of my state, its the most forgotten one :P ) Im a stay at home mom of 2 boys ages 6 &4, except for on sundays when i get to regain my sanity and work outside the home as a cashier at harbor freight tools, I've working for the company in various positions (sales floor, assistant pricing coordinater and now cashier since i cut back my hours now that i have a second child ) going on 6 years now

I've always loved gardening, ever since i was a young child. I have my grandmother to thank for that. My husband and i took a trip down to georgia to visit my mom about 7 years ago and while there we went to the botanical gardens. My husband has always loved orchids and visiting their orchid room was a real treat for him. I've been wanting to grow a few for him but i couldn't meet their needs until now.

I had an old hex tank in the basement that was collecting dust and cat hair that i can use to make a perfect micro climate for orchids. I'd also like to grow a few bromiliads, tillandsias, and spanish moss in the tank. (While in georgia on a separate trip to visit my mom we went to Savanah and i think my heart skipped a beat when i saw the spanish moss growing from the trees)

I've been browsing a bunch of herp/dendro forums getting a feel for how to go about my tank build but I'll undoubtedly get more help here than i was there. I have no intention of adding animals to this tank as of yet but I'd like to make it possible further down the road when my plate isnt so full with two small kids, a dog, 2 cats and my garden of a kitchen.

Looking forward to discussing things in more detail with you all

[Mandy2705]

Hi Becky, we are the same age however only for two more months. I turn 30 in Oct This forum is great, the people are super nice and extremely helpful. A wonderful place to showcase your orchids, share your orchids, and ask questions. I came into this hobby with a lot of house plants and now orchids have taken their place. I still have a few treasured house plants ❤️ In one year I acquired 80 orchids 😁 you are lucky though bc you say your hubby loves them as well and now you two can enjoy them together

[theloyalplum]

Helloooo~ Welcome! Hope you find yourself at home here. I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to teach your kids about orchids and gardening at such a young age. My father had me dividing cymbidiums when I was 7 and... well now I'm here. We must indoctrinate the next generation!... I mean teach!

[wintergirl]

Welcome to OrchidBoard

[Transcendental topiary]

Thanks for such a warm welcome. I turn 30 in december so im right on your tail mandy. I am indeed indoctrinating my oldest boy with a love for plants... the little one doesn't seem to care unless he can eat it so he helps in my veggi garden and eats the dandilions im the yard lol.

My oldest saw a show about carnivorous plants and begged for a venus fly trap. Needless to say we now have one lol. If i can manage to keep it alive thru its winter dormancy i told him I'd set up a vivarium for him with sundews and a pitcher plant.... the things we do for our children

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Transcendental topiary

Thanks for such a warm welcome. I turn 30 in december so im right on your tail mandy. I am indeed indoctrinating my oldest boy with a love for plants... the little one doesn't seem to care unless he can eat it so he helps in my veggi garden and eats the dandilions im the yard lol.

My oldest saw a show about carnivorous plants and begged for a venus fly trap. Needless to say we now have one lol. If i can manage to keep it alive thru its winter dormancy i told him I'd set up a vivarium for him with sundews and a pitcher plant.... the things we do for our children

You're much more likely to have success with Venus Fly Traps and most Sundews if you forgo the vivarium and grow them outdoors. With a winter mulching VFTs are in ground hardy where you live.

[bellini girl]

and to OB

[terracotta7]

Welcome to Orchid Board from a "neighbor" in New York State!

[Transcendental topiary]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

You're much more likely to have success with Venus Fly Traps and most Sundews if you forgo the vivarium and grow them outdoors. With a winter mulching VFTs are in ground hardy where you live.

Yeah when i do get the sundews and pitcher plant it'll be natives so i can just bring them outside to over winter. The vft i have: Dente ( Dionaea Muscipula), grows in zones 6-10 so im hesitant to bring it outside. I thought about late fall early winter for about 3 months might be enough of a dormancy for it outdoors, it didnt get crazy cold around here until late December . Im still debating what to do. The comon practice is fungicide powder it and put it in the fridge for a few months. The sphagnum thats in the jar with it is starting to grow and theres a mistery seedling sprouting so i may try to salvage all that by not having it go dormant with the vft. Decisions, decisions lol.

The problem with growing outdoors full time in my yard is it gets really hot, its full sun, with no trees or bushes to give it some reprieve and its really small, i have a feeling itll get scorched, plus my son likes to look at it so i dont mind the extra work. We tweezer feed it live bugs, it'spretty cool and gives us something to do together

Thanks again for the welcome to all the new welcomers