Just ordered vandas, cattleya, Phala and Dend's many questions

[Tami Bell]

I was grazing around ebay the other night and came across an orchid store that had incredible deals so I decided to make an order. This is after having killed 7-8 various orchids by not potting them correctly, not watering them correctly, not feeding them correctly, not giving them the correct light for the species, a cat that loved to chew on the leaves and did I mention looking at them wrong?

I also placed the order before finding OrchidBoard and discovering the person I purchased from does not have a good reputation on here. Hint, his first name is Bill and he thinks he’s Royalty from somewhere in Asia. After reading the problems people have had and all they had to do to get his plants to thrive, well I freaked out a bit. More like kicked myself in the rear end.

I should have just gone orchid shopping this weekend, I live in Homestead, FL and you can buy orchids at convenience stores here!! But I digress….

I ordered from him:

Phalaenopsis Ching Ruey's Tiger X -2 Pre-flowering
Oncidium Maureen X Haematochilum X -2 seedling
Vanda Manuvadee 'Blue' FCC – 4 seedling size
Vanda Penang Currency FLOWERING SIZE – 1 seedling size
Dendrobium Bangkok Fancy -2 seedling size
Cattleya LC Maris Song 1 Flowering size

After ordering my plants from him, I did some research and ordered supplies

10 5” round plastic orchid pots
10 4” teak square wood baskets
Superthrive
Dyna-Gro Formula 3-12-6
Dyna-Gro Formula 7-9-5
Hangers, clips etc.

So after this book I’ve written I do have a bunch of questions.

I know from reading on here and having already asked that receiving these plants dry root means I will need to soak them to plump up the roots. I’ve been advised to use filtered water with a few drops of Superthrive. If they come in really bad/dryed out shape, should I add anything else to the soaking liquid?

I read up on the sphag and bag method and will employ that as a last resort. In fact, I attempted the method today on two Phala’s that still had 1-2 roots that looked alive. Keeping my fingers crossed.

My plan is to use baskets for the vanda’s, should I add moss or not?

The Cattley’s Oncidium and phalaenopsis I plan on putting into plastic, should I use regular grow medium (I used better-gro medium before) or should I use moss, a combination of the two or something entirely different.

Aside from using Superthrive in the initial soak, how should I use it and how often?

and finally

with Dyna-Gro, when and how do I use the different formulations.

Who ever decides to take on this thread is a complete angel!!
Thank You!!!!