First timer from Iowa.
 

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to go ahead and put myself out there. I'm Evan, born and raised in southern Iowa and completely new to the Orchid game. I bought my first orchid for my wife on valentines day and it just "blossomed" from there.

I will admit I did purchase that one and my newest one from Wal-Mart and from some research I've done on other sites some would condemn me to death for it. But hey, we all gotta start somewhere right?

With that said I feel as though I've sufficiently broke the ice and I hope to learn much, much more about these wonderful little creatures we call Orchids.

- Evan

Hi Evan! Welcome to the orchid board. Do you work for UNP? NFS? Doesn't matter, just curious <S>. I bought my first Phalenopsis from Walmart too. I could not see paying over US$25 from a florist when I did not know anything about this plant. I still thought paying $12.00 was a lot of money but if I killed it no big deal. You said you have two now? You'll enjoy this board, but be careful, almost every one on here is going to try to turn you into orchid fanatic!

Welcome aboard, Evan.

Don't let idiots that would "condemn" you get in your way at all. A few years ago, my local Lowes had a wide range of paphiopedilums that nobody wanted, so I snapped 'em all up for a song, and got some really nice plants - including a couple of species - out of the deal.

Welcome to OB Evan!

It doesn't matter where you start off getting your plants from as long as they provide you enjoyment. I wouldn't say we will turn you into an orchid fanatic. But many of us are.... I started growing quite a few years ago and never lost the passion for this diverse group of plants.

Hey Even,

Glad you came to join us. I myself am just getting started in this wonderful hobby. You will find this to be a great forum, with lots of info and friendly folks, always willing to help. You may want to start making room now for more orchids because they are sure to come. Once the orchid bug hits there is no getting away from it.

:welcome: Glad you could join us. Yep, we're all a little orchid crazy here but I could think of worse addictions.

:welcomeflowers:

I'm sure many of us not only started with an orchid from a box store/farmers market/grocery store, but will still now and again do the same when one particularly catches the eye ;)

Welcome to Orchid Board :welcomeflowers:

My first orchids came from Sainsburys which is a big food supermarket in the UK. Even recently I have bought a couple from Asda (which is a UK supermarket owned by Walmart) to go in my office as I don't have the best conditions there and don't want to put any of my named ones in there. It's a great way to start :)

Orchid Icons with Names??

This is to ask why 6 of the people in this very thread have got Orchid Icons underneath their names?

How do you get these?

What do they represent?

Why has Lucky RosieC got one that changes and morphs into purple??!! (Dead jealous) Hee heee

Why are some yellowish and some pinkish and some whitish?

Thanks for the info. I only ask because I am new here.

Lorna
x x x

The white or yellow ones represent the number of posts you have made. I can't remember if this is right or not, I worked it out once a long time ago but I think its...

50+ posts = 1 star
100+ posts = 2 stars
500+ posts = 3 stars
1000+ posts = 4 stars
5000+ posts = 5 stars (this is the maximum).

The flowers are yellow for a standard user, and white for a moderator. There is one moderator who has both the white and the yellow flowers and so has 10. That's a mistake on our site owner's part when he set her up as a moderator. I had the same for a while but got him to change it.

I've not seen pinkish ones. Who has those?

Ah... now that one is special. It means I'm a forum supporter which means I donate each month to help support the running of the servers this forum is running on. It takes quite a lot to keep them running and anyone can help in this way, either as a one off donation or as a regular donation.

See here for details. There are a couple of other perks involved like less adverts (that's probably the best part). The access to the 'VIP Lounge' part is a bit pointless as it's very rare anyone posts in there. Some of the other perks are good though.
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...embership.html

Oh My!

You are like a shadow on me today RosieC. How on earth did you find these two posts out of all of them on here. Maybe you're psychic!!

I am impressed with you - faster than the speed of light! Woa!!

I'll go look at the Forum Supporter stuff Ma'am.

Lorna
x x x

Actually it's just that I end up reading most stuff on here. That's why my title just below my name is 'OrchidBoard addict' ;) When I have time I read as much of it as I can :)

By the way putting your own title is another of the forum supporter perks :)

Bloomin eck! You are psychic!

You've answered and you're not even on-line!

Scarey.

Lornie
x x x

:coverlaugh:

Logged off just after answering. Back now :)

---------- Post added at 01:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:19 PM ----------

Actually just realised that even though I nipped out the computer stayed logged in to OB. But there is a setting you can set in your options to hide whether you are online or not. Only moderators and forum supporters can see if you are online if you set that.

Me too!
 

I'm also located in southern Iowa and actually bought a phal from walmart as well about 2 months ago. Believe it or not that bad boy is STILL in bloom and is looking much better than some of my other orchids that I have purchased recently.

WELCOME ABOARD!

You are lucky you bought your plant at Walmart....My first orchid was a Phal NOID I got from the trash....I was completely ignorant about orchids then...I was attracted to the colorful plastic butterflies attached to the spike and the blue and white porcelain cache pot....leaves was still green so I was able to save it.

Hi Evan and Welcome!!! First off..BEWARE>>EVERYONE ON HERE IS AN ENABLER!! It starts innocently enough... then before you know it..you're in deep.. With that said..I buy whatever I like from wherever..I have lots of rescues too.. Big box orchids need love too!! I have a great relationship with a couple managers and sometimes get some really great orchids at a discount price because no one wants that "bag baby"..or that Dendrobium with no bloom!! Some really nice orchids and some poor souls needing saving and a good home! I have lots of "collection" plants also.. my collection consists of what strikes my fancy and what grows well for me..Most importantly, Enjoy yourself and your hobby and your orchids!!