New To The Ghost Orchid and I Need Help! - Orchid Board

pixiedust239 · #1 07-12-2008, 08:24 PM

HELLO EVERYBODY I AM NEW TO GHOST ORCHIDS AND I HAVE A FEW COMING IN FLASK I AM VERY NERVES AND DON'T WANT TO KILL THEM EVERYTHING I READ SAY TO TRY TO MAKE IT LIKE FLORIDA I LIVE HERE ALREADY LOL

SO NOW WHAT DO I NEED A terrarium OR GREENHOUSE. LIGHTS HEAT IDK

BUT THEY WILL BE HERE IN A FEW DAYS AND I AM FREAKING OUT. PLEASE ALL THE INFO YOU CAN WOULD BE SO HELPFUL..

I HAVE NOT MET AN ORCHID I DID NOT LOVE: PIXIEDUST239

pixiedust239 · #2 07-12-2008, 08:24 PM

PLEASE HELP NEW TO THE GHOST ORCHID

Roly0217 · #3 07-12-2008, 08:36 PM

pixiedust and

to the OB !!! Here in the forum somebody grows them in an orchidarium but if you can't do that try an aquaterrarium. The point is to try to recreate the swapy conditions of the Everglades. In other words high humidity, high temperatures and intermediate to bright light. If taking them out of the flask I would mount them and try to recreate that type of atmosphere.

pixiedust239 · #4 07-12-2008, 09:29 PM

I ALREADY LIVE IN FLORIDA NEAR THE SWAMPS SO I AM JUST CONCERNED THAT I AM GOING TO MESS SOMETHING UP TAKING ADVISE FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN COLDER CLIMATES. I HAVE A BUNCH OF ORCHID ON MY BACK PATIO RIGHT NOW AND THEY AND THE STAGGHORN FERNS I GROW DO VERY WELL THERE BUT I KNOW THE GHOST IS A HOLE NEW BALL GAME AND I AM HOPING THAT I DON'T KILL THEM. ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID WHEN DEFLASKING THE INVIRMENT HAS TO BE STERLIZED AND ALL THE THINGS YOU USE I AM SO CONFUSED..PLEASE HELP WHERE ARE ALL THE GHOST ORCHID EXPERTS THAT I SEE ON HERE PLEASE HELP ME.

flhiker · #5 07-12-2008, 09:48 PM

Hi pixiedust, I left a post in the advanted forum. I grow and visit them in the wild. What exactly do you need to know?

flhiker · #6 07-12-2008, 09:50 PM

When deflasking I would sterilize your tweezers thats about it.

pixiedust239 · #7 07-13-2008, 12:25 AM

I wanted to know about setting up a terrarium. I'm currently looking for a 75 to 150 gallon tank for this purpose and needed to know about the equipment needed to set it up. I am an extreme novice at this and am taking on a monumental task with the GHOST. I am in the dark as far as lights, heating elements, how to maintain humidity, placement of the terrarium(garage or screened in pool lanai or living room). Also, I wanted a little advice about deflasking. I know these beautiful specimens grow naturally in the wild and the Everglades are anything but sterile. Any advice you are willing to share would be greatly appreciated.

flhiker · #8 07-13-2008, 12:54 AM

OK Its pretty simple actually. Since you are here in Florida I would place your tank outside where it can get natural light (NOT direct sunlight). You can put a tray in the bottom for water, this will provide the added humidity. Also I would getting a good, clean (new) spray bottle for misting your plants. And I use Frist Rays MSU for pure water Fertilizer. I mix it at a ratio of 125 ppm's. and feed my plant once a week. and mist it daily with pure water. As far has deflasking there are a couple ways to go. If your bottle is hard to get into you can use long tweezers and GENTLY pull them out or you can brake the glass. Which ever works best for you. Using pure water I would again gently wash off the AGAR. After that I would the place them on some moist Sphagnum moss or mount the larger ones to wood with a little moss behind them. Thats about it, As long as you use natural light and temps. you don't need any special lights, heaters or fans. I hope I answered your questions. Please let us know how it goes or if you have any other questions. Good luck

Roly0217 · #9 07-13-2008, 01:00 AM

Pixiedust where did you get the flask??? It'll be nice to try to grow some by myself and see how it goes.

flhiker · #10 07-13-2008, 01:03 AM

Hi Rolando, I have seen these on eBay in the past.