Hello from Norfolk, Virginia!
 

Hello everyone!

I'm new here and a new orchid grower! I am a student of Marine Biology at Old Dominion University. My love affair with orchids started as a child. My mother was from the Philippines and Orchids were one of her favorites so we had many around the house growing up. After she passed, my dad donated her orchids to the Orchid Conservatory at ODU. This spurred me to buy my first (a yellow phal) a couple years later while visiting a friend in Florida. I brought it home to Virginia cradling it in my arms on the plane ride haha. I have had her for 3 or 4 years, and since then she has given me a keiki! I also bought 2 more (pink) phals along the years.

I'm up to 4 phals but am looking to expand my collection! Any advice you can provide a novice grower like me would be much appreciated!

Happy growing!
Natalie

Welcome to the Orchid Board! We look forward to hearing about your plants.

:hello Welcome to Orchid Board. You'll soon have a lot more orchids and different types if you hang around here for awhile :) Read posts from the different orchid genus categories on the board here and this is a link to AOS culture tips for many different types of orchids. AOS Culture Sheets It's good to know what you can provide good conditions for and then you can expand your horizons.

Welcome to Orchid Board :welcome:

Welcome from a fellow Tidewater resident!

Welcome to OrchidBoard :)

:welcomeflowers:

Welcome! I used to live near Hampton Blvd. and Little Creek Rd. (Years ago before the ODU orchid collection).

Welcome to the board. Tell us what other kinds of orchids are you may be interested in other then Phals.

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

Silken, great tips thank you!

Orchidgirl83, do you know of any reputable nurseries in the area? I was thinking I would visit Smithfield orchid and nature co. They don't have a website so I thought I'd just go for it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I found several in the Richmond and Northern VA area but I'd like to buy from someone in my community, or as close as I can get.

Chris17, if you're ever in the area again, you must stop by ODU and check out the conservatory, it's breathtaking!

Cntry, I would love to get my hands on some sympodials I love the way the pseudobulbs grow horizontally! And I'm really after some fragrant orchids- I've read oncidiums and brassavolas have a lovely fragrance and of course being that I am an avid baker my dream is to have any type of vanilla orchid! Paphs are also just lovely! Basically, if it's an orchid- I want it!

I look forward to learning a lot from you all, and again, thanks so much for the welcome- I feel at home already.

Natalie, welcome and I am up on the peninsula in Yorktown. Have not been out to Smithfield Orchid. Sounds like a ride opportunity for what looks like a beautiful fall Saturday.

Based on what you are saying, strongly recommend trying Oncidium Sharry Baby. They grow well here. Carter & Holmes have a special on a Sharry Baby hybrid which I just picked up. Yes, they are not as local but they have become my "go to" place for orchids. That, and I get to visit them when I go to see my Dad in Charlotte.

Enjoy!

sruther4d, thanks so much for the tip! I will be sure to check them out! I find myself up and down the East Coast often so I may even be able to pop in- I'll be sure to mention you sent me.

Glad you popped in! I would suggest you determine what orchids you'd like to grow,look up their culture and requirements then decide if you have an area that can meet their needs.Success is more attainable when you can provide what they would get in nature.Challenges are fun but not to the point of becoming frustrated. There are plenty to choose from to grow so good luck and keep posting.

Hello everyone! I am so excited- I just got my first oncidium! I think it might be a sharry baby- it smells divine, almost like cocoa butter! I found it at my local fresh market- they had 3 so I grabbed 2, one for me and one for my twin sister as our birthday is tomorrow. She doesn't have any orchids of her own and I think this fragrant beauty will have her hooked! Here is a picture of her, maybe someone can tell me if they know what she is for sure. (I'm not too sure how to share a pic, so I hope I do this right!)

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...cture11881.jpg

Hi,

I tried to go to Smithfield Orchid once, drove all the way out, and they weren't open apparently. I tried calling them, and never got an answer back. I like to go to McDonalds nursery (I go to Hampton). You have to go to one of their year-round brick and mortar stores to find orchids. They have a pretty good selection of different types.
@sruther4d - I am in Yorktown too!!

Orchidgirl83, thank you! I'll definitely make sure to call first and if there's no answer I'll try McDonalds nursery.

@nhiggins14 - Yes, looks like a Sharry Baby. They are relatively easy to grow and I have found flowers to last 4-6 weeks. Last year one of mine bloomed over thanksgiving and the other during Christmas. My girlfriend insists I bring them to her house to enjoy while they are in bloom as they are her favorites.

I will also second @Orchidgirl83's recommendation on McDonald's. Definitely better than Anderson's. My dad was in town the end of Sept. and we spent some time there. He had his own orchid small business for over 25 years in Delaware so he enjoyed the display there and talking with the staff. I have picked up a couple "orphans" there to provide a new home.

Hey there! I got a bunch of new chids for my bday! Here are my new babies!

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...cture11901.jpg

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...cture11902.jpg

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...cture11903.jpg

anyone know how to rotate these pics? It's driving me crazy!

---------- Post added at 10:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:24 AM ----------

sruther4d and orchidgirl83, I got these at McDonald's garden center! They had a great selection thanks so much for telling me about them!

Hello and welcome! Nice to have you here!

Wow what a birthday present. They are just beautiful. How did you twin sister like hers?
Also Happy Birthday to you both.

Great choices!