Unpopular Orchid Opinions

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I'd agree that Cyms are pretty hard to kill. But... not necessarily that easy to flower for everyone. The so-called "warmth-tolerant" ones, that don't need a fall cool-down to bloom, are indeed easier for those who have to grow at least part of the year indoors. The other "gotcha" is giving them the light that they need for blooming, a lot more than most other orchids. So growing them is one thing, flowering may be another depending on one's conditions and the parentage of the plant. Where I live, they're as easy to grow and flower as roses, under pretty much the same conditions. But that's not the case for probably the majority of orchid growers, practically everywhere else.

It just occurred to me after reading this that I have several cymbidiums that, while seemingly indestructible, have never bloomed in my care. I completely forgot that getting orchids to flower was part of the ease of growing score. I think I may have just gotten to the point where I think they're easy if they don't die easily

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by BrassavolaStars

It just occurred to me after reading this that I have several cymbidiums that, while seemingly indestructible, have never bloomed in my care. I completely forgot that getting orchids to flower was part of the ease of growing score. I think I may have just gotten to the point where I think they're easy if they don't die easily

Consider growing them outside once danger of frost is past. And leave them out until it becomes a danger again.(Filtered sun at midday, but direct morning and late afternoon sun are fine) So probably use minimum night temps of around 40 deg F/4 deg C as the decision point for moving indoors, to give a small margin for error. If you get a period of warm days and cool nights in the fall, that would be perfect.

[isurus79]

Ha! We've got some more great opinions in this thread! Keep 'em coming!

---------- Post added at 09:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Gardenguru2

On to the bloom booster. Well that again is a clear opinion. I saw an amazing phalaenopsis grown on Facebook this year with over 60 blooms on the one plant. He said his secret was that he used a bloom booster all year.

Actually, switching fertilizers to a bloom booster is probably the most robustly documented orchid myth that i spoke about. The person using bloom booster all year round isn't switching to boost blooms, they're just using it as a normal fertilizer! So it's not an apples to apples comparison.

[Subrosa]

I'm in agreement with everything you mentioned, except I'm not quite as hard on 'Millennium Magic' as you are. I prefer Fdks for black Catasetinae, but I wouldn't use the word "ugly" in reference to 'Millennium Magic'. My own unpopular opinions relate towards wild collection of orchids, particularly North American native terrestrials, which I have no problem with as long as all pertinent laws are followed, and true mycoheterotrophic species aren't taken. And related, but not an opinion is my dislike for the common misinformation about them not surviving transplanting because of the need for mycorrhizae. To refute that I would simply ask those who believe it why digging the orchid is a death sentence, but labs can collect the seed, grow them out and the offspring will do fine if given suitable conditions?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

My own unpopular opinions relate towards wild collection of orchids, particularly North American native terrestrials, which I have no problem with as long as all pertinent laws are followed, and true mycoheterotrophic species aren't taken. And related, but not an opinion is my dislike for the common misinformation about them not surviving transplanting because of the need for mycorrhizae. To refute that I would simply ask those who believe it why digging the orchid is a death sentence, but labs can collect the seed, grow them out and the offspring will do fine if given suitable conditions?

This seems pretty reasonable to me!

[DirtyCoconuts]

i think all opinions that differ from my own are unpopular within my personal sphere of orchid growers (me ) lol

its so funny to hear those of you who dislike certain plants or flowers. i certainly prefer some over others but i dont think i ever met a flower i did not like

now, would i cultivate them all, no.

i think the only things that bother me are ALL and NEVER advice. this is a red flag, no plant follows the rules and most are HIGHLY adaptable and 99% of the people giving the advice habe 0 info about the listener's conditions....

[Leafmite]

My unpopular opinions:

Phaius orchids are the easiest orchid (and perhaps houseplant) to grow/bloom. It is a perfect beginner orchid/houseplant.

Most orchids said to smell like jasmine do not smell like jasmine. And roses...there is a variety of rose fragrance. Do you mean old fashion rose? Or do you mean the roses that have no fragrance at all?

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

My unpopular opinions:

Phaius orchids are the easiest orchid (and perhaps houseplant) to grow/bloom. It is a perfect beginner orchid/houseplant.

Most orchids said to smell like jasmine do not smell like jasmine. And roses...there is a variety of rose fragrance. Do you mean old fashion rose? Or do you mean the roses that have no fragrance at all?

Or that nasty smell that tea roses have!

[Leafmite]

My father grew fragrant tea and Floribunda and his all smelled wonderful. I do not know the names of most but I do remember (tea roses) Fragrant cloud, Mr. Lincoln, and Tropicana. He was very disappointed with the new varieties as they were either not fragrant or, as you have said, not pleasantly fragrant. In his last few years, he began to replace his tea roses with other types of shrubs.

It just annoys me when people compare the fragrances of orchids to the fragrance of flowers or other fragrances that they have clearly never smelled.

Oh and my new Zygopetalum are supposed to smell like hyacinths. I have some of those come up every spring and so we shall see....

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

My unpopular opinions:

Most orchids said to smell like jasmine do not smell like jasmine. And roses...there is a variety of rose fragrance. Do you mean old fashion rose? Or do you mean the roses that have no fragrance at all?

Most orchids I found that were sold to me as smelling like jasmine smell more like library paste or some kind of rubber cement. I agree that rose fragrance is very diverse. I think they mean damask rose scent when rose fragrance is referenced but I could be wrong.

---------- Post added at 03:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:18 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

It just annoys me when people compare the fragrances of orchids to the fragrance of flowers or other fragrances that they have clearly never smelled.

Oh and my new Zygopetalum are supposed to smell like hyacinths. I have some of those come up every spring and so we shall see....

I don’t think I have ever smelled a Zygo that actually smelled like hyacinths, even though they are all marketed that way. To me, they all smell like Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) fruit. The only orchid I have that actually approximates hyacinth to my nose is Den. Comet King ‘Akatsuki’

I do tend to describe orchid fragrances using other plants or foods but, I never use something vague or something I have never smelled before.