Orchid newbie from Ohio

[Chunky_Punk]

Hi everybody,

Figured I'd finally introduce myself after a month or so of lurking.

I have always enjoyed gardening and inherited a green thumb from my father and mother, but I only recently became orchiddicted. I owe my interest in orchids to the Florida skunk ape legend, I suppose, but that's a long story.

After realizing that I wasn't killing my NoID box store phal as I had feared, and that maybe the orchid thing wasn't as intimidating as I'd led myself to believe, I've spent the past several months prowling the orchid bargain bins of central Ohio. (I just can't resist a $50 orchid marked down to 5 bucks, even if the odds are stacked against me...).

I'm definitely feeling my way, with ample blunders already (Winter plan? What winter plan?). Probably will be posting the latest problem sometime this afternoon, if I get my act together and download the pics.

Anyway, I've already learned a ton from you all, and it's much appreciated. Hopefully at some point I can contribute too...

[wintergirl]

Welcome to OrchidBoard!

[estación seca]

Welcome! Nothing teaches adaptability like the approach of freezing weather.

See whether there's a local orchid society for you to join. It's the best way to learn a lot about growing in your neck of the woods.

[catherinecarney]

Welcome!

Just to feed your addiction: Columbus, Ohio has an active orchid society based out of the Franklin Park Conservatory, and there's also MVOS out of Dayton (so if you're on the west side of Cols it's not too far a trip)....

Couple of nurseries that typically carry some orchids (again, just feeding your addiction)....

Wilson's Greenhouse/Garden Center, east of Newark, Ohio--usually carry some catts, phal type dens, and onc complex hybrids, plants usually have name tags. Oh, and their selection of houseplants and nursery stock is pretty good, too.

Oakland Nursery, Delaware, Ohio--small selection of orchids in the greenhouses summer and fall (not as good as Wilson's), but prices tend to be high; good selection of houseplants and nursery stock as well.

Lowe's--these are pretty hit and miss--some carry the big box phals, and others carry bag babies (near blooming to blooming size orchids) ranging from Max. tenuifolia to catt complex and primary hybrids, to den species. Worth checking when you're in the store anyway....

BTW, I'm about an hour northeast of Columbus, so if you're ever up my way give me a shout.

Catherine

[Chunky_Punk]

Thanks for the welcome!

Catherine, I'm in the Columbus metro area on the east side toward Pickerington. I've checked out the society online but currently have a conflict when they meet...

The Oakland nurseries have been the primary source of my habit. The main nursery on the North Side has had a steady mix of orchids: catts, phals, oncs, brassias. they just got in prob 20 plus paphs and a few vandas.

The Dublin store has a few mounted orchids, a good number of Dens, oncs, some miniatures, a max or two. The New Albany store had a few.

All the stores are definitely pricey, but their past-bloom plants have sometimes been pretty cheap. Fairly thin at the moment, though (thanks to me!)

I've never seen anything but phals at Lowes. I'll have to look closer...I also blundered into some Giant Eagles that are carrying a small selection of non-phals, mostly dens and oncs

I haven't been to Wilson's though. I will check them out sometime. Thanks for the tips! Ted

[catherinecarney]

Hi Ted--

I also have a conflict with Columbus' orchid society, so don't make meetings. Ditto for MVOS. I do check their websites and get to their shows when I can (if you do go, have someone hold your checkbook and wallet the first time).

The selection at Lowes varies greatly from store to store. The Heath location carries bag babies during the summer, my local store rarely even carries phals, so I've gotten in the habit of checking stores when I'm in the area. BTW, Menard's doesn't seem to carry orchids at all and HD is pretty much phals.

If you do look for orchids at Lowes, the bag babies are usually tucked in with the rest of the tropical foliage/house plants, so it's easy to miss them....Also, check their condition carefully--they can be in great shape, but sometimes they're rather rough if they've been there a while (and the Lowes staffs know little to nothing about orchids, so they're either not watered or grossly overwatered). That said, I picked up some NBS plants a couple of weeks ago: B. nodosoa, Bl Yellow Bird, Eplc Volcano Trick 'Paradise', and Epc Charlie Brown for under $15 per plant. Did pass a Maxillaria tenuifolia by since it was very, very dry and the pseudobulbs had shriveled to nothing--pity since the blooms smell like coconut....

My local Kroger stores carry phals, but they're no-ID's, and I've had to become more choosy about plants since my space is finite. I will occasionally find den phals at Kroger, but that's pretty rare.

I'll have to check out the other Oakland locations--though I'm already looking at what's out on the porch and wondering how I'll fit it all back in the house....

Good luck with your orchid hunting. Keep me posted how your plants do!

Catherine

[katrina]

Hi there fellow Central Ohio Buckeye!

Another decent local orchid buying spot is Trader Joe's...both locations in Easton and Dublin. Depending on the season, you can find any number of interesting and varied orchids in their stores and they are usually very reasonably priced.

Almost forgot...also...Franklin Park Conservatory! You can usually find both in bloom and past bloom specials in their gift shop. And their annual "retired orchid sale" happens after the orchid show each year.

And, even though you know about the Central Ohio Orchid Society...I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that our shows and meetings are almost always a great place to pick up some new orchids. Members share divisions and rehome plant with each other plus we have member plant sales as well as our speakers typically bring plants for sale. And, our show each spring is always an orchid addict's paradise.

BTW - Kristen Uthus of New World Orchids will be our speaker in September (the 17th) and she'll be doing a travelogue on her recent trip to Japan for the Orchid Grand Prix back in February plus she'll be discussing the culture for many of the plants. And, of course!, she'll have plants for sale. Hadley Cash of Marriot Orchids will be our speaker in October (the 8th). Just throwing it out there in case you can make it.

[catherinecarney]

Katrina, you are a BAD influence (lol).....Perhaps it's a good thing that I have work commitments that won't let me make the COOS meetings--society members and speakers always seem to have the best plants for sale!

Thanks for all the tips and invite--I hope to at least make the shows this year!

Catherine

[Ray]

Welcome aboard"," Chunky".

If you always keep in mind that because orchids do their "breathing" through their roots, rather than through their leaves like most terrestrial plants, you have to maintain good airflow to the root system while providing enough moisture, then you'll find orchid growing far less intimidating.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by catherinecarney

The selection at Lowes varies greatly from store to store.... I picked up some NBS plants a couple of weeks ago: B. nodosoa, Bl Yellow Bird, Eplc Volcano Trick 'Paradise', and Epc Charlie Brown for under $15 per plant.... Maxillaria tenuifolia....

I suspect enterprising Midwesterners could make a few dollars buying orchids at Lowes and reselling them where stores only carry NOID phals.

I know of one person who photographs plants at cactus and succulent nurseries, places them on E-bay immediately from his phone, and when somebody buys it, he returns to the nursery to buy it and ship it the same day. (No, not I.)

---------- Post added at 08:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:27 AM ----------

Even if you can't go to meetings, it's good to join and befriend society members at shows. Plant lovers enjoy visiting with each other and sharing information.