My Orchid Experience - Orchid Board

MIKE KLEIN · #1 03-24-2008, 06:10 PM

I have been growing orchids for abour 50 years. My first plants were 12 bare-root species from a place in Laredo, Texas for $10.00 that I grew on the windowsill. As my collection expanded, I built a small fiberglass greenhouse and finally a glass/aluminum house in which I then had over 400 plants.

I now live in a retirement community and have only about 35 orchids. Seven of them are phalaenopsis (now in bloom), others are cattleya, dendrobium, ludisia (also in bloom) and calanthe. They are on my north-facing lanai and are doing well after 9 years in this location.

I water them once a week and fertilize with liquid fertilizer once a month. I would be interested in hearing from others in the same situation.
Mike Klein

tuvoc · #2 03-24-2008, 06:59 PM

Welcome aboard, Mike. You live in a great spot for orchids.I'm sure you'll have a great time here!

Kim

Lagoon · #3 03-24-2008, 07:09 PM

Hi there Mike, welcome to OB, it's great to have you on board

50 years? ~ Wow beautiful, you must love this hobby, can't say I blame ya one bit

Hang out with us Mike, I'm sure you'll enjoy the time you spend here!

Ross · #4 03-24-2008, 08:12 PM

Welcome Mike. Actually we'd be happy to hear about your experiences over the years!

justatypn · #5 03-24-2008, 08:48 PM

Aboard Mike, great that you have found the OB neighborhood. Your experience will be greatly appreciated so don't hesitate to chime in. Sounds like you have a lovely home for your orchids. Being in Fl our weather fairs alike tropically here. Our conditions are most different than our northern (seasonal) hobbist. Sounds with many in bloom you have taken your orchid thumb with you.

We love

s here at the OB, would love to see those bloomers

.

snow · #6 03-24-2008, 10:06 PM

hi mike i.m sure you will have a lot to teach us here at ob, and florida is a paradise for orchids
up here we grow lots of pinetrees

MIKE KLEIN · #7 03-25-2008, 05:38 PM

Thank you all for your kind welcome. I will try to bring some interesting material to the Orchid Board.

Mike

josterha · #8 03-29-2008, 12:47 AM

Hi Mike,

I have been trying to get my phals to bloom in a north-facing window for years now. I finally just constructed a light table because I never could get enough light to rebloom. Almost, at times, but usually they would spike and then the buds would either never form, or fall off. I'm in cold and cloudy Chicago though, not sunny Florida. I guess you're luckier there with northern light. I'm a brand new member myself, but welcome anyway!

John

CoolPhrog · #9 03-29-2008, 11:16 AM

Hi Mike! Welcome to the OB...I can't wait to hear about your experiences.

I'm not sure I could've walked away from a greenhouse with 400 orchids in it though...

I'm still trying to figure out where I can put something like that in my backyard!

MIKE KLEIN · #10 03-29-2008, 06:00 PM

If you are growing the phaels inside, I suspect your humidity is very low causing the bud drop problem. Keep a spray bottle filled with water nearby and spray the plants frequently. That may help.
Mike