| Reeses |
08-31-2014 04:38 PM |
My Orchid Journey
Hey guys, I've been hanging around the board a bit recently, and I can't tell you how much I've learned already. I just wanted to write a quick piece about how I succumbed to my orchid addiction :)
Growing up, my mom always had orchids around the house, but she, like many people, kept them for the blooms, and thought they had died when the blooms were spent. Once I went off to college, I decided I wanted one, and bought a "teacup orchid" from Kroger, which I promptly killed. A few others I bought barely held on for the several months I had them. I was a chronic under-water-er, because I had read how over-watering was the No. 1 cause of orchid death. Needless to say, my poor plants died of thirst.
I was determined to keep one alive, though, and I started researching orchid care. I didn't realize I had opened Pandora's Box. I just wanted to find a better pot, or better medium. Instead, I learned that what I had known for years as an "orchid" was in fact only one species. I had had no idea that anything other than Phals. existed, and now I needed to know about all these other kinds. I NEEDED to :lol:
I went to my first orchid show in February (2014) and got a Hwra. Lava Burst "Puanani," which passed away this week. But since then, I've gotten a DTPS from Hausermann's, a mini NOID Phal. from Trader Joe's, an Oncidium Twinkle "Pink Profusion," a Paph. Olivia "TooGooDoo" x self, and a Zygo. Advance Australia. I've discovered semi-hydroponics, bought a humidity tray, a heat mat, and a portable R/O system.
I guess there really isn't a point to this, except to say that when the orchid bug bit me, it got me HARD. This all happened within the last year. I am so glad to have found this forum, and to find all you wonderful orchid nuts to learn with! <3
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