Hello from SC.

[Dalton]

Hey everyone. I just got signed up on this forum. I've been growing plants for years, but I got my first orchid between 6-10 years ago.

It was one of those sad little orchids in a bag. It had plastic wrapped around the pot and rubber banded in place. Then that was dropped into a perforated plastic sleeve, a label stapled it closed and it hung on the shelf for at least 2 weeks before I picked it up. I took my new Miltassia Shelob 'The Weed' home and repotted it out of the completely rotten bark it was in.

It took it 6months to show any growth and 4 years to bloom, but now it puts out 1-2 new bulbs each year and they'll each spike once. Of course, due to my learning curve, I almost killed it a couple-three times.

That wasn't my first plant by a long shot, but it was my first orchid and I haven't managed to kill it. . . yet.

Since then, I've gotten a few phals, being a common orchid around here, but I never see any other types of orchids.

I have gotten into carnivorous plants as well and have a few Nepenthes that I haven't gotten to pitcher yet. To be honest, I haven't gotten them to do much beyond 'not die', and I'm having trouble with that. I do have a Sarracenia that went gangbusters last year and is actually my first flowering CP. My death cube venus flytrap looks like it might be trying to throw up it's first flower spike as well.

I was recently looking for a 'Trichoglottis Pusilla' because I'd run across the flower at random and decided I liked it. I couldn't find it anywhere. After following links that took me all over the place, including Malaysian sites, I ended up finding a place about 45min from me that was supposed to have one. I called the guy up and he thought he did. I rode up and it turns out that he thought he did, but had sold the last one. It was a bummer, but I ended up walking away with 4 orchids. Funny how that happens.

He invited me to the local orchid society meeting and said they were going to have an auction in a couple of weeks. My brother wanted to go, so I went with him. I had no intention of buying any orchids, because I don't really have anymore room. (I'll pause for laughter at the though of not walking away with at least one orchid). I ended up with 4 orchids I got at a criminally cheap price.

So that's all my orchid story. I've recently come into a load of different ones, some mounted (which I've never dealt with), and several species I've never raised and I'm not sure about (looking at you Dendrobium Unicum who hasn't come out of dormancy yet).

Besides orchids I fill my time reading, watching an unhealthy amount of tv, riding horses, spending approx. 4,547 times on the up keep of my horses as I do riding, playing video games, and taking up new and expensive hobbies that I don't really have the time or cash for (*cough*Beekeeping*cough*).

I'm looking forward to learning a lot on this site. I like the relaxed atmosphere I've been seeing on here. I've already got my first question lined up. I'm just waiting till my post count hits 5, so that I can post some pretty pictures. Thanks for the help and the welcome.

Dalton

[cjm3fl]

Hiya and welcome, Dalton.

We all have our "orchid stories" that are all completely different..but always end up the same way.
I did a 'bad thing' 2 weeks ago and doubled the number of orchids I had (and it didn't stop there with purchase of 4 more since).

I recently got my 1st carnivorous plant that I thought was N. alata but I got a proper ID on here and turns out it's a N. ventrata.
Either way I'm happy with mine and hoping to keep it healthy and growing.

Again, welcome to the site.
yeah, get past the 5-post thingie and get some photo's up!

[Dalton]

Thanks, Chuck.

Yeah, I had a guy on another forum who was kind enough to gift me with some extras he had. They were N. Ventrata. So far, they haven't recovered or started growing yet, but I understand they're supposed to be pretty tough.

I also hear that N. Ventrata and N. Alata are close enough to get confused with each other. You should really get yourself a Sarracenia or a Venus Flytrap. I tried for several years to grow a VFT till I found a book called "The Savage Garden". It said to pot them in a mixture of peat and sand (he gives a recipe) and set them in a saucer of water, outside. The soil wicks up the water it needs.

Like I said in my post above, the Sarracenia went gangbusters last year and put out several flower spikes. I've got a couple of pictures I'll post later. It looks like the VFT is spiking this year as well. You just leave them out in full sun and keep that tray full.

I use a slightly taller pot, because that's what they had at the store, but it worked out well. You leave them out during the winter as well, since they require dormancy.

Oh, my bad! I looked at your info and it says you're from Florida. Winter is that time of the year where you can't wear shorts every day. (Shields self from ice spears hurled by people from further north.)

We actually went to see a Canadian Eagles-Tribute Band recently. They poked fun at us, because their show got rescheduled by a couple of months. We got enough snow to stick and it shut everything down. When they started the show, they said "We're really sorry to hear about that bad snow storm you guys got. How many feet?" Hurlarious laughter ensued. They were really good, though.

[Leafmite]

Hello and welcome! Great to have you join us!

Originally Posted by cjm3fl

Hiya and welcome, Dalton.

We all have our "orchid stories" that are all completely different..but always end up the same way.
I did a 'bad thing' 2 weeks ago and doubled the number of orchids I had (and it didn't stop there with purchase of 4 more since).

True. Most of us start with one or two and then end up with quite a few more.

[Dalton]

I imagine orchids are the same as horses. You don't get rid of any, you just build a bigger barn.

[cjm3fl]

LMBO---bigger barn. I like that, for it's visual and it's truth.

In my post about my Monkey Cups, in the last forum here, it was recommended that "good water" would be very helpful. I figured distilled (maybe spring) water would fit the bill and I picked up a gallon.
Only been a few days but so far so good and (not due to my care) a new/second plant is growing.

Snow down here would have the National Guard and FEMA out in force.
Lot's down here can't drive in the rain...or if rain is in the 5-day forecast.

[Dalton]

We usually get at least one snow a year and it shuts down everything. It's usually 3-6 inches and ice covering everything.

People tell me how they love it when it snows. They get to miss work, sleep in late, look out at the pretty snow.

I have to get up early, go feed horses, adjust blankets, make sure the water isn't frozen, break up the grain with rebar and chip it out into pans, slog back inside, trying not to track muddy snow everywhere, then having burning pain in your fingers as they defrost.

But you can look forward to it melting and turning all this pretty red clay we have into a mud pit.

[estación seca]

Welcome! We look forward to photos of all your plants. Here in Arizona we wear shorts all year. Winter means we wear long sleeves at night.

[WhiteRabbit]

[No-Pro-mwa]

Welcome Dalton to the board. I am keeping my horses to the two I have and I'm not going to build a bigger barn. I use to have many more and thankfully I do believe I'm done with that. I only ride the one as my other girl is old and crippled.

I can't wait to see your orchids you will soon have more than you can care for.