Hello from Georgia

[Drummer]

Hi,
I'm totally new here. I'm a rose guy or rather used to be. After about ten active years and lots of gorgeous roses I just lost interest a bit. They were lovely, but a fair amount of work, particularly since I live in partial shade and roses need LOTS of sun.

Was in Washington, DC last week visiting my adult son and stumbled into the Orchid Show at the DC Arboretum. Frankly, I was blown away by the varieties, colors and in some cases the fragrances. Now I'd like to know more.

I know nothing about Orchids other than I acquired the book The Orchid Thief several years ago and never read it. I guess now's the time.

Oh, I live north of Atlanta a bit...wonder what will grow here? Thanks for accepting my membership here!

[AndreaK]

Welcome. You will find endless information here. Also, if you have any questions feel free to ask. You will find people very friendly and helpful here. I think you will be hard pressed to get bored with orchids; there are so many to choose from, and such a wide range of cultural needs.

[estación seca]

Welcome! Read a lot here and think about which ones you like best. Find out what they require. Figure out which ones you can keep happy. Then make your selection.

Your challenge will be providing proper temperature, light and humidity in the winter. Many orchids will thrive outdoors in your summer.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Welcome Drummer

I also live in Georgia, conditions similar to yours. I grow indoors under lights in the cold months (November-March) and outdoors in the warm months (April-October) though the plants may need protection from cold periodically in April or October. I grow mostly Cattleya types and Phalaenopsis (common in grocery stores), and a few of many other orchid genera.

What are you interested in growing?

[Drummer]

Thanks for the welcome folks. I'm in the 7b growing zone and have no idea what I want to grow yet...still very new and still doing lots of checking and research.

Thanks again.
Steve

[Leafmite]

Roses are quite a bit of work. You will find orchids much easier.

[Drummer]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Roses are quite a bit of work. You will find orchids much easier.

Thanks, that's encouraging. Especially for my back.

[estación seca]

Ummm... my orchids are a lot more trouble than my roses. But we don't have any diseases here beyond mildew when it's cool & dry, and I can cure that by spraying the underside of the foliage with water. We don't have any troublesome bugs, either.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Hello and welcome to the board. I use to have several roses and I still have 3 but when I moved out to the country I lost most of them do to the cold. We get so much wind here if I don't have very good shelter from the wind most of them don't take it. I even think I lost my climbing one last year even though it was covered. It grew taller than it ever had before but didn't bloom. So I think it died back to its roots and will never bloom again. I gave it another year to see.

Look around and see what kind of orchid interests you then go for it. You will be an addict in no time.

[jmmehler]

At the very least, check out the Fuqua Center at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. You just missed the Atlanta Orchid Show last month. They have a very active orchid society. If you attend one or their meetings. Be sure to seek out Jeannie, and then do everything she says. You will know more about orchids very quickly.