Ami, I went out and found a few spots on mine. I don't think it's anything to worry about...but I gave it a misting of Listerine to be on the safe side :D

I've been noticing a lot of comments about the cost of the orchids, packing, shipping, etc. I really want to stay on everyone's good side, but I must comment that people need to make a living. I think it was Dave earlier said that as self-employed, there are expenses lots of people don't realize that have to be made up somehow. I won't belabor this, but I, for one, think the project plant was WELL worth the cost and I didn't even check the shipping. My only ding (and a minor one at that) was use of USPS instaead of a more reliable carrier. But in the end all was well.

I'm asking all the contest entrants to post how they plan to grow their plant under differing conditions. This may prove to be valuable info in the future for a culture sheet?

Here's the proposal, post according to this list and add anything you think I missed or that others may find useful:

1) potted or mounted
2) open or in orchidarium
3) indoors/outdoors
4) approx amount of light (shaded or bright would be good enough)
5) Approx temps
6) Approx humidity
7) watering and fertilizer regime

For mine:

1) potted or mounted - mine is mounted on small ceder stick
2) open or in orchidarium - Mine is in an orchidarium
3) indoors/outdoors - Duh, indoors in orchidarium (basement).
4) approx amount of light (shaded or bright would be good enough) - mine is hung below Dendrobium aberrans (bright light) and above Haraella (shade.)
5) Approx temps - mine gets, right now, lower 70 degrees F during night and low 80 degrees F during day.
6) Approx humidity - mine gets 95%, or so, during day and high 70% range overnight.
7) watering and fertilizer regime - mine gets misted with my MistKing system 4-5 times per day with pure (RO) water for 5 seconds. In addition I dunk it once per day in MSU mix for pure water (at 125ppm Nitrogen).

Additional Info: I have one fan running 24/7 inside tank circulating moist air. In addition I run a through-wall fan circulating fresh, room-temperature, air through the tank via exhaust holes at opposite side. It runs approx 5 hours at night after misters quit.

Ross--

I totally agree.

Mine came by USPS too, but in two days and beautifully packed.

Ami - I bet you are going to outdo us all with your little plant and it's going to be a major winner in the end :):Tup:
Addressing the shipping/handling issue, granted people have to survive but I have had plants much larger shipped for less money. I can understand that it may have to do with the overall cost of running a big or small business. Things aren't the same since the increase in gas prices.
I, like Ross am happy with my little orchid and it's sidekick. :)
and Ross, they sent my DHL and it got here speedy quick so you taught them something ;)
It's all good :D

:biggrin:

Me next! :banana:

1) potted or mounted - Mine is mounted, came that way ;)
2) open or in orchidarium - hanging in the orchid room
3) indoors/outdoors - both, sort :scratchhead:
4) approx amount of light (shaded or bright would be good enough) - about 5 inches to the left of the Cattleya area, close to the Haraella odorata
5) Approx temps - Day...low 90s & Night...mid 80s
6) Approx humidity - I'm in Florida!
7) watering and fertilizer regime - Heavily misted once a day for now. Will be fertilized once a week.

Great idea, Ross...

Next?

I don't mind paying top dollar for quality, but if I paid top dollar and got a plant that looks like Ami's I'd be a little upset too. I also have to wonder how other places just as small can manage to ship plants packed just as nicely for half the cost.

For mine:

1) potted or mounted - potted and hanging in a custom made "slat mount" with spag. moss.
2) open or in orchidarium - open
3) indoors/outdoors - indoors
4) approx amount of light - a bit brighter than usual for Phals.......with my P. Shilleriana
5) Approx temps - home temps. low 60's at night low 70's during the day
6) Approx humidity - depends on the weather from 40% to 80% at this time of year. The dampened spag. surrounding the pot raises the humidity around the plant.
7) watering and fertilizer regime - misted in the a.m. watered when needed. Fert. once weekly/weakly.

1) potted or mounted - potted
2) open or in orchidarium -open with air circulation from fan
3) indoors/outdoors - indoors
4) approx amount of light -same as my phalaenopsis - behind the cattleya alliances - western window/afternoon indirect sun - curtained/dappled
5) Approx temps - Summer Aug -Day-70° to 90°, Night-mid 70's to 80s
6) Approx humidity - 50% or higher - sitting on top of a humidity tray
7) watering and fertilizer regime - first fertilizing upon arrival - moss is moist -will check daily to see condition and adjust accordingly until I determine a schedule