Entering the hobby of growing orchids

[RosieC]

As I'm pretty much a fellow beginner I will say that I would also adivce some sort of phalaenopsis. I've found it easy to grow if you stick to a couple of simple rules.

My mum bought me one three years ago for my birthday and I was so pleased with how well it was doing, despite my lack of knowledge about what to do with it, that I bought two more this spring.

I quickly spotted that the roots which were running over the surface and then down into the bark would go bright green when watered and then fade to silver/white over the next week. I assumed (correctly I find out later) that I should not water it again until the roots had faded, but that once they faded it was probably due more.

I also found out early on that you should make sure the bark or other medium is well drained and you do not allow it to stand in water for any length of time. If you do the roots can rot, which is what happened to my brother with the one he was given for his birthday the same year as my first.