Let's make these orchid forums more newb friendly
 

Everybody is a newb at some time and in different areas of orchid growing.

While I regard myself as experienced in growing cooler climate Australian Dendrobiums and a bit competent at growing Cymbidiums, Cattleya alliance and Sarcochilus I recently purchased my first Brassia (species) and an Oncidium (hybrid).

I searched these forums for hours trying to find a forum indicating cultural/ growing requirements with no luck. Eventually I found what I was looking for elsewhere.

I'm not sure how stickies get created but we could all certainly do with sticky about culture/ growing for each alliance/ genus.

I think stickies with links would be great (they do already exist for some alliances/genus), but I don't think we need to repeat information that's already available elsewhere. I find this forum very useful for odds and ends about particular plants: do a search on the name and you often find several threads with real experiences of growing it. Eg before getting my Cycnodes Wine Delight I read that several people have found the smell (cherry cough syrup) so strong they can't bear to have it in the house. I decided to risk it... but that's the sort of tip which might influence a buying decision but which you don't get from the standard culture notes.

AOS has some culture sheets by genera AOS Culture Sheets

There were some care sheets available here, but I'm not able to find them now.

Our old friend Dorothy:tombstone: created this sticky that links to all the care sheets. It's a sticky on this beginner section.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...chid-care.html

We can add more stickies, but if this one in the beginner section is not obvious then I'm not sure any others would be :dunno:

I know it's often commented on forums generally that things are made a sticky to be seen by more people, but so many people just ignore the sickies at the top that actually the opposite happens. It's a known phenomenon :(

Anyway, if anyone thinks that making stickies with these links elsewhere in the forum would be seen more than this one then let us know where and it will be done. :D

I've bumped the sticky with the links to try and help. Also going to add a link to it in my signature in the hope that will help :)

Most beginners start off with Phals. The largest ongoing sticky is the one about Phals.

If you want a sticky about other genera, it can be done, but the info will still be general though. Each species within each genera can have vastly different care requirements from one another.

Which particular genus or section within a genus were you thinking of having stickies for?

What I find slightly frustrating is the terms. Maybe a sticky with all the odd things for new people. Like terms we may find confusing. Also add things that people do after being new that I can't seem to find info easily on, like different growing techniques, the use of cinnamon and other things etc...

In the species sections it seems to be mostly photos, which is awesome, but maybe stickies there for more detailed growing info, not just the generic care sheets. Like personal stories of how people grow their plants.

I could add more to this, but will need time to organize everything I have questions about and have been searching for answers without much luck.