Hello - Phalaenopsis Propagation and Transpanting Questions

[No-Pro-mwa]

Congrats on the first re-pot, re-bloom. That's a very exiting time indeed. I well remember it. But if you still kill a few don't get too mad at yourself, I just killed one of my favorites that I have had about the longest. Still trying to find the gun to put it to my head and pull........"Shannon, let it go, let it go"

Any whooo, where was I, oh as fun as it sounds to grow a vanilla orchid do read the posts but I would try some others before I delved into that one. There is another small orchid that they say you can also make vanilla out of. I want to get it badly, I can't think of the name right now,lep something.

I can look it up if you are interested or if some one with much more knowledge than I can jump in.

[gitano]

Thanks for the encouragement, Shannon. I appreciate the comments regarding "killing more".

I picked up another one at the store from which I bought this one, and carried it around the store while I shopped for my groceries. I put it back before I checked out. The reason being that "everyone" bad-mouths these "grocery store" orchids so I thought that before I grabbed another one, I would see if I could find one here or elsewhere on-line that might be 1) better in the context of long-term survival, and 2) less expensive ($25).

With respect to Vanilla sp. I was doing precisely what you suggest. It wouldn't be the first time I have my eyes on growing something that was better left to more appropriate climes and more experience. I can wait a bit on Vanilla. I would indeed be interested in the "alternative" species you mention.

Thanks again,
Paul

---------- Post added at 07:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:26 AM ----------

For those that might be wondering about the timeliness of my responses, all I can say is that it isn't completely my fault.

I have been informed by the powers that be at the Orchid Board that as of recently their software does not support notifications to "Outlook" email addresses. It was suggested that I change my email server if I wanted to get notifications of responses to threads that I am subscribed to. That ain't gonna happen.

I check on this thread now and then and respond as I find new posts. That's about the best I can do short of changing my email server, which as I said, ain't gonna happen just so I can receive notifications from one forum.

Paul

---------- Post added at 07:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:33 AM ----------

So that I do not appear unfair (I am trying to be fair), here is the text of the email I received:

Hi gitano,

It has come to our attention that our email notifications are not being received by users with hotmail accounts (including Live.com and outlook.com email addresses).

We have submitted requests for them to allow us to send our emails to their customers, but it will take some time for that to be done.

If you have another email address and wish to receive notifications from us could we ask that you update your account to use that instead (I can help if you need help with how to do that). When you change you will receive an email to your new address to reactivate your account with the new email address, just click on the link in that email and you are all done.

Rosie Coller
Orchid Board Administrator

Paul

[estación seca]

Hi Paul, It's not Orchid Board causing the problem, it's Microsoft/Hotmail refusing to accept notifications from Orchid Board.

Vanilla isn't hard to grow, but you're unlikely to see flowers in a human house. It's a large vine that tends to bloom when it gets into the sun above the trees, or at the roof of the greenhouse.

[Cntry]

Hi Paul, I would purchase what ever type of orchid you like and from what ever store you can find one in. Just look at the roots the best you can. Look on the top and bottom of the leaves for any signs of insects or disease. Just enjoy the orchid and have fun growing it.

[estación seca]

The other species is Leptotes bicolor. I've read people where the plant is native use the seed pods as vanilla, but I've never seen a seed pod. My seedling hasn't flowered yet. There's a discussion about it going on here now.

It occurred to me you might not have seen this trick... if you click on Quick Links in the top maroon menu, then Today's Posts, you get a list of all the threads active in the last 24 hours.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I too think you should get whatever orchid you like. The only reason I think that some people don't get the store ones is because they are not named they are a no ID orchid and you will never know the parentage of it. I have several of them and I still like them. And if I see one I really want I will still buy it.....hint....you save money on shipping that way.

Also that it was at least earlier one could only get mostly Phalaenopsis, but things are changing on that front as well. So I say go back and get it but just make sure you look closely that it looks very healthy and has a good root system. It is sometimes hard to tell. I have had good luck with most of the ones I have bought that way.

Also like estacion seca says and find the thread on the Leptotes bicolor it is a really cute orchid. And if you do a search there was someone on here that I think had maybe made or was going to vanilla from theirs. I can't remember whom it was. I guess I will go look it up.

Good luck and if you get your new orchid do post pictures.

---------- Post added at 01:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:15 PM ----------

So I went and found the thread and gave it a bump in the Cattleya alliance. It was Bud that started the post.

[Becky15349]

Nice job with the phal rebloom! I've been growing for many years but still keep tons of phals because they are such reliable bloomers.

I wanted to comment on the vanilla plantifolia question: I've had many, many orchid friends, who are excellent growers, try to successfully grow and bloom vanilla plantifolia in their grow rooms without success. There is something about this plant that just does not lend itself to small-scale cultivation by a hobby grower. And not for nothing, but vanilla is a vine - it has to grow LONG LONG LONG before it will ever bloom, and have the most perfect of conditions...the only one I have ever seen in bloom was in the garfiend conservatory in Chicago, in a greenhouse, and it was something like 50 years old and covered a gazebo structure. THATS how huge it was...so I don't mean to be a downer, but vanilla is a huge pain the butt, and I'm just not sure its worth the effort. There are so many other awesome orchid types out there that you will be successful with before a vanilla. That's my 2 cents

[AnonYMouse]

*I'm gonna get a push back*

Get whatever you like. There is no beginner plant. Big Box Store NoID Phalaenopsis tend to be the first plants for many simply because of it's accessibility. But if you don't like them, you're not going to enjoy the experience.

Look around, read how people grow a particular plant (and there is no one correct method), be willing to fail. I don't believe in graduating to a harder plant, I don't believe in hard or easy plants. I believe our limitations are based on environment, resources and our willingness to try.

And even if you have everything sorted, sometimes you still kill a few.

The internet gives you the world for a price.

[Kevinator]

Just pick anything that can fit your conditions. There are an extreme variety of orchids with all different growing conditions. Some even come from deserts! It just depends on your desire to grow the plant and your available resources.

Leptotes bicolor is a very easygoing plant as long as it gets bright light. Try one out! They're relatively common and cheap.

Vanilla, on the other hand, is easy to grow in warm conditions only if they can be kept moist. This may be easy initially, but the plant may rot naturally at the base and continue to climb up its support. If no roots grow into the medium, you will have to find a way to wet the whole plant as its only source of moisture will come from the roots growing from the nodes on the stem. What is worse is that they are not tolerant of bad quality water in my experience so hosing the plant down with most tap water is not be an option. If you have a lot of pure water on hand, a warm environment, and a reasonably large climbing structure, it can be grown.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Becky15349

...the only [Vanilla] I have ever seen in bloom was in the garfiend conservatory in Chicago, in a greenhouse, and it was something like 50 years old and covered a gazebo structure. THATS how huge it was....

Garfield Conservatory on the west side of Chicago is huge and amazing. Everybody here who visits Chicago needs to see it. More people are familiar with the Lincoln Park Conservatory because it's next to the wonderful Chicago Zoo on the lake shore, but Garfield is much, much bigger. It's in a sketchy part of town, but the Green elevated train stops right in front of the Conservatory.

Garfield Park Conservatory