Hello from Illinois side of the St. Louis metro-east

[Linda K716]

Hello, I currently have 6 phalaenopsis from Walmart and the like. I've managed to keep my first alive 3 or 4 yrs...though I think it's 4. Nearly killing her once or twice just following the very generic orchid care links I found online. I don't think my oldest one will bloom this year. That's ok. This fall I had a month where none of my plants got enough care and they have all been set back.

Confession: I've never fertilized my orchids and it scares me. lol I'm terrified of burning them I guess and I have a Walmart purchased orchid food that is just sitting there. I thought that like my outdoor plants there is a good time to fertilize and a bad time and I was never certain.

I'm planning to get a couple phapiopedilums, Tainia speciosa, and possibly a miltoniopsis...and then I need to impatiently wait until I have those figured out before acquiring any more...painful.

I have plenty of other houseplants. I've purchased new orchid equipment/fertilizer and have more on my shopping list. Based on what I'm learning it may be pure dumb luck that I haven't killed my 6 phals. I'm learning lots already and now that I"m investing more than $10 a plant I'm getting scared.lol I'm sure many of you will be able to help me on this journey.