Want to Learn More

[akuck554]

Hi,

I am a college studnet. I am working on a project and reseraching orchid growing as a hobby. After doing some Hi,

I am a college student. I am working on a project and researching orchid growing as a hobby. After doing some research I thought I could really lean a lot more about it by talking to someone who grows orchids themselves. I have many questions about orchid growing. The more I learned the more interesting it got.

My first question or orchid growers would be: How did you get started in growing orchids?

I have many more questions, and if anyone would want to I would like to ask some more questions. Perhaps we could send some messages back and forth or keep it open here.

Thanks,
Amy

[jkofferdahl]

Amy, I also started growing orchids when in college. I began my college career intending to be a biology major, and though my interest was more in wildlife I also took a real interest in botany. The botany interest stayed strong. I was fascinated by the orchid family of plants, and so decided to try a couple. It's grown, severely, since then.

[camille1585]

I started orchids in my first year of college. I was studying horticulture then and had developed an interest in wild alpine orchids, so that's how I got into the cultivated orchids!After getting one, I got another, and another and another.... Now I have nearly 30 orchids (thanks to OB), and I am now doing a master degree in plant breeding and plant pathology. I hope to work in an orchid breeding company one day, that would be really fun.

[bellini girl]

Amy. I caught the bug about 5 years ago when someone bought me a Phalenopsis orchid as a gift. Got seriously obsessed about 2 years ago after having some success at reblooming. The addiction has intensified and blossomed (pun intended..) since joining the board. Alas there is no turning back. I have learned sooooooooo much from the folk here.

Lecent

[sucuz]

Hi Amy,
As a plant geek, I volunteer at a botanical gardens in our area. My main job is to tend to the orchid display there. Discovered that when I was out there messing with the orchids, visitors expected me to know something about them . They kept asking questions that I could not answer, so I got a crash course in Orchid 101. Then I was given my first orchid. Count is now 30-something and holding. Orchid board has certainly increased my knowledge, understanding, and enthuiasm about these fascinating plants.

[ronaldhanko]

I started with orchids nearly thirty years ago and have never lost my fascination with them. I started when a friend who was the caretaker for Mrs. Vincent Astor on her estate in Tarrytown gave me some old Cymbidium, Paphiopedilum and Cattleya hybrids and species. Became a member of the local orchid society (North Jersey) and have been involved with orchids ever since.

[gehentogo]

My wife started buying orchids a couple years ago from the big box stores. She knows a little about them, but had limited success. We live in separate apartments due to our careers, and I inherited two that were growing keikis, and came to the orchid board for advice. Now I'm hooked.

[Ray]

I started while in college, too - volunteering at the public greenhouses in Piedmont Park - now the Atlanta Botanical Garden. It's been 35 years since then, and the only time I have been without orchids in that time was when a heater failure on a 7°F night killed my 20-year collection. Within a month, I was back...

[jimjim]

I always loved plants and gardening since i was 5, but i just started growing orchids last august. I got so mesmerized when i saw a beautiful orchid display at a festival here and from then on i was hooked. I am interested in Philippine orchid species particularly our native paphiopedilums..Check out my blog

[lily99]

I fell in love with orchids when I was a child and saw some in a local botanical garden. When I was in High school, I tried growing a phalenopsis, but I didn't water it enough and it died. Now that I have my own house and can control growing conditions I mostly grow Cattleya alliance plants. These were always my favorites because of the shape of the flowers and the beautiful colors. Also, they don't mind so much when I forget to water them.