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Great to hear that you have fostered interest in orchids in someone new. :)
It is difficult to get new people interested in orchids...or even plants in general. I give Phals away as gifts. Most of the Phals are doing well years later but they remain the lone orchid and, usually, the only houseplant. :|

I just explained as simply as possible the technique of using a clear pot and watching the roots. He'd failed before, found the method intriguing and said it was worth a shot.

It used to be true that orchids were for the older or well off folks. Prices were such that a young person was unlikely to have the capital necessary for such extravagance. Although prices have dropped markedly for orchids, I still run into many who find them pricey -- and orchids are when compared to cheap, easily propagated plants like African violets.

The fact that many folks get their first plant from a BBS or supermarket doesn't help. The media such plants are in and the directions that come with them are so often not conducive to the plant's long term survival in the hands of a beginner. When said plant dies, folks tend to assume orchids are too difficult and expensive to keep trying.

One of the most common issues I run into when I give advice to people about growing their orchid(s) is that they want a hard and fast set of rules -- ex. water the plant with X amount water every Tuesday. Problem is that it doesn't work that way. In reality, it doesn't work well that way for most plants ... only for the people taking care of them. Explaining what they can try given their conditions requires a willingness on their part to be educated. I find it is often easier to get the idea across to gardeners that growing conditions can vary considerably from one home to another. Many gardeners have seen first hand where plants in one area may grow fabulously while a patch of the exact same plants in another, similar seeming environment do not do as well and may even struggle or die. Micro climates abound.

Personally, I find it rather amusing when I run into African violet people who try to tell me orchids are difficult. I tend to shock them when I tell them that I find orchids far easier than AVs. I give them a lot of credit for being able to grow a nice AV. Unless I grow the AV in a terrarium, they die on me in no time.

I put the orchids into red lava rock before I give them away. Then I tell them to water whenever and give them the basic rules like 'indirect bright light, don't get water on the leaves, don't leave water sit in the outer pot, etc. Seems to work very well.
My oldest daughter does have two Phals with her at college. I thought she wouldn't want the one I gave her but now she has two...and an aloe plant. My second daughter just told me that her roommate wants to try an orchid so I might look for one for her. :)

To bring the topic back to Oak Hill, they are still sending out the monthly newsletter. I do like reading it, but it mostly a sales ad now.

I haven't purchased from them in awhile, but that is mainly because I am focusing on growing what I have at the moment with very few new additions.

4823 Hwy. Q
Waunakee, WI 53597
Ph. 608-831-4700
M-F: 9-5, Sat: 9-4, Sun: 11-3 CST
Oak Hill Gardens
email: orchids@chorus.net

I don't think Oak Hill is still sending out newsletter any longer. I haven't received it since October 1st.

I haven't gotten one since then, either. :(

I am still bummed about this one. I wish they would have posted that so we could have ordered like crazy before they stopped shipping! lol

Yeah, me too. I did a group order with my OS that went in just a day or two before their orchid site went down. If I had known, I would have ordered a bunch more.

They were having crazy sales before they shut the website down. All mounted orchids $10, 50% off most of their smaller potted orchids, not to mention all their bareroot and economy specials. I also am seriously regretting not buying something while they were still selling.