Basic Orchid Supplies- What's missing?
 

Started pondering on this earlier today.

I'm wondering if there's anything I should add to my "Orchid Toolkit." :hmm:

You know, the stuff anyone growing orchids should have.
This would be for just a basic, amateur grower with a modest, easy collection of plants.
read that as- doesn't/can't have a grow room, supplemental lights, orchidarium, or greenhouse.

So here we go, here are my supplies:

Better-Gro fertilizer endorsed by AOS
Superthrive
Cinnamon/Iso-alcohol solution
bleach solution
Neem Oil
Systemic- Bayer 3in1

Med./Lg. bark mix with sponge rock and charcoal
Med. CHC mix with charcoal
Fine bark mix with perlite

Misc. pots and stakes
Bucket, mister, watering can strictly for orchid use.


Anything to add? I'm sure I've left some things out that didn't seem absolutely essential

Bah, perhaps this would have been better in Parts and Equipment. Sorry mods!

Cutters that you don't mind either cold sterilizing or heat sterilizing.

If your fertilizer is urea free, then it's fine.

Some wires to keep handy.

IDK. You have some very easy orchids to grow that don't really need too much special attention or specialized care.

I think for the most part you're good. In the meantime if something does come up, I'm sure you can think of how to handle the situation on the fly.

See, told you I forgot something. Yup, got some sharp clippers that are quite used to bleach now.

And the fertilizer is urea free, with other mineral concentrations similar to MSU.

Will your plants be going outside during the summer?

I have an L. anceps, C. intermedia, and a small Potinara that I'm thinking of summering outside- under an umbrella on our patio where they would get bright southern shade, and a temperature drop at night (as well as higher humidity) that I think they will like.

(I don't think my phals, den. aggregatum, or small oncidiums would like it, not sure.)

forgot- I have an Epi. ibaguense that I've been thinking of having outside as well, since it's a warm/hot grower.

If anyone in the house drinks coffee then slugs and snails will be easy to control.

You're talking to a true coffee connoisseur, no worries there.

:rofl:

:biggrin:

Being in an enclosed patio, we rarely have a problem with snails and slugs. More often we get the flying insects and the occasional grasshopper.
Once had monarch caterpillars take over a parsley plant. Random.

hydrogen peroxide is never far from my potting bench, and i love my physan 20......

Do you use the peroxide when potting?

I don't have access to physan 20 and can't afford to buy online, so I use the bleach solution.

I have a few syringes and tubing for mixing fertilizer precisely, and also for siphoning when there is too much water in the drip trays. I am a doctor so they're easy for me to come by- I don't keep needles at home though. I also keep a lot of drip trays aka humidity trays but they don't seem to work very well for supplying humidity. Also 2 ultrasonic mist type humidifiers, and a variety of metal wire type shelves.
Oh, and one very understanding husband, an accessory I highly recommend.

:rofl: That'll take a few years, but give me some time... :evil:
Got gravel trays....

I remembered a similar thread a while ago, took some time but I found it: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...aphenalia.html

I don't think it included an understanding husband though! I fully agree it sure makes things easier. My husband is now as interested in purchasing orchids as I am (took a while) but he leaves taking care of the babies to me.

You're a better searcher than I, I couldn't find anything comparable.

Actually the only reason I found it was because I cut and pasted a summary of the post in a word document that I saved for myself--and luckily I had the title of the post so I was able to narrow down the search :)

That's handy! I can't count how many bookmarks I have, I'd save posts and orchid documents but I don't have that kind of memory!

Hi Izzie, Safer Soap is a good chemical to have around. It works alone and in combination with neem or alcohol to kill sucking insects. I've seen it or equivalent products at Lowe's and Home Depot around where I live.

Wire and a pair of pliers/wire cutter are super useful, for stakes and supports, rhizome clips, hangers, etc. Great thread idea!

--Nat

Bayer?
 

Okay...so I think I'm about to learn something cool here! By the way....what a great thread! SO....I give up! What's the Bayer 3in1 for? :blushing:

Bayer 3in1 is a systemic- basically, an insecticide/fungicide/whatever that is stored in the plant's tissues- makes it taste awful to bugs, and resistant to disease and infection.

Oh yeah! I have Bayer's insecticide spray, I think it's similar.

Basic orchid supplies
 

Izzy: Don't you have a Lowe's nearby. They sell Physan20. I got a bottle there last fall.
Recently I used it when starting some Clivia seeds. The directions recommended rinsing the seeds in a very dilute solution of water/physan20 before planting.
Beverly A.

:shock: Seriously?! I've never seen it, guess I'll have to ask! Maybe the wouldn't carry it in a state where orchids aren't as common?
Thanks for the tip!

Tender loving care.

Quite right.
I've been known to sit and whisper sweet nothings to my plants. And give them long pep-talks.

Had a long discussion with my pouting stuartiana the other day and she has since begun to get over herself and perk up.

Basic Orchid supplies
 

Izzie: Frankly, I had to ask. It comes in a rather inconspicuous translucent white bottle.
Beverly A.

Fishing line, raffia, or panty hose all come in handy when a plant needs to be tied to a support or mounted. Panty hose is my preference because it doesn't cut the plant tissue.

Driftwood, grapewood, cork slabs, cactus skeletons etc., are nice to have if you are inclined to experiment with mounting. Petsmart usually has nice selections at reasonable prices. Look in the reptile section.;)

$$ A wallet.....preferably with some money in it...to buy more orchids! $$

:rofl:

Perhaps a small 2 quart pump sprayer for foliar feeding or an insecticide for use on both sides of the leaves.

coffee?
 

How does coffee drinking control slugs and snails? My imagination is working overtime here......:shock:
Carol

I believe they are referring to putting coffee ground down on the soil/mulch/bark to help prevent slugs/snails from eating your plants.

For anyone who is not a coffee drinker Starbucks as well as other coffee houses usually bag up and give away grounds.

So I looked at the Orchid paraphernalia thread, and they mention an understanding boyfriend- so Izzie, start with the boyfriend-:lol: