Greetings from a newbie - Orchid Board

alyau · #1 02-12-2007, 11:03 PM

Hi folks,

I am Albert and I am new to the hobby. I bought my first orchid (a Phal) 2 months ago from a grocery store and is still blooming. I am hooked and I bought several more including 4 from the SOOS Orchid show in Toronto yesterday. ( 2 Paph, 1 Ctna, 1 Oncidium). These are small and not yet blooming, leaves from 2 to 6 inches.

I grow the orchid on a table right in front of a east facing window. Hopefully this is OK or I can move them to the west facing windows.

Anyway, please to meet you all.

Albert

esungirl · #2 02-12-2007, 11:11 PM

Werlcome Albert,
I have plants infront of an east window too, but the direct sun is filtered by a sheer curtian, they seem to do well with the set-up, but I'm not sure how strong you winter sun is up there, it may be OK. Anyways there are a bunch of northern states and canada people here that could probably give you better advice.
Cheers!

terrestrial_man · #3 02-13-2007, 07:18 AM

Hello Albert! Welcome to THE BOARD!

Hey I saw you enter Chat last night but did not stay???

If you have any problems on handling chat just let us know!!!

Erin is right. Lots of folks from Canada here in this forum so you are not alone. Just make yourself at home and let us know how your interest is growing!!

Tindomul · #4 02-13-2007, 12:01 PM

Welcome to the Orchid Board. Im sure you'll enjoy the place! I grow a few Catts on my east facing window. In the winter they get little direct sun in the mornings, but watch out summers!!!

justatypn · #5 02-13-2007, 07:34 PM

Aboard Albert, it's great to have you join our community. There is a wealth of knowledge awaiting and our members are so helpful. Sounds like your hooked

Just takes one and that's all she wrote...now your addicted. If you can would love to see

s of your collection as well as uploading them into your own personal gallery. Glad your here, pull-up a chair, computer on, click the OB and the fun begins.

cb977 · #6 02-13-2007, 09:22 PM

Hi Albert...welcome to Orchidboard!

Sounds like you're well on your way to a nifty collection

Lots of great people here to answer any questions you may have...just ask away

alyau · #7 02-13-2007, 09:50 PM

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome

I prefer not to upload pictures of my orchids right now as only the 2 Phals I bought from a grocery store are blooming. The orchids I bought from the Orchid show are really small and, according to the vendor, will take at least 6 months before I see any blooms. Instead, I can show you some photos taken from the SOOS show. (please see attached)

Sorry terrestrial_man, I was just clicking around and I probably clicked the chat button and then exit. Will chat with you guys later, probably this week end.

Actually I have some questions and appreciate your advices. I just repotted the plants that I bought from the show because I found that, for 3 of them, the potting media (fine barks) were very dry and loose. Probably they just repotted without soking the media with water. So I soked some orchid potting media in water for 24 hours and repotted all of them. However, for the Oncidium, I found that the roots and the media were packed solid. My understanding is that orchids need to have very good drainage and need good ventilation in the roots. Is Oncidium an exception. I know I should be able to find the info from the Internet but since I am here, may be you guys can help.

I am also investigating the possibility of growing Orchid using artifical lighting. I have some windows facing east and west and lots of bright lights in winter. However, there are also matured trees around my house and provide lots of shades in summer. I might need to go for artifical lighting as I am not sure about the level of lighting in summer. Anyone has experience growing orchids using artifical lightings? Could you please provide some indications on the set ups. I mean, something like, 2X 48" flourcent tube 12" above the plant provide sufficient lighting for, say low light requirement orchids like Phal. Or I need 4 tubes more demanding orchids and so on.

As English is not my mother tongue, forgive me if I made mistakes or not expressing myself fluently.

Again, I am glad to be here and appreciated your advices.

Albert

terrestrial_man · #8 02-14-2007, 06:40 AM

"the Oncidium, I found that the roots and the media were packed solid. My understanding is that orchids need to have very good drainage and need good ventilation in the roots. Is Oncidium an exception."

I would leave the Oncidium as is!
This genus does best when it is root bound. Likes lots of water when in growth but not so much when at rest (not growing). good humidity is a plus, 60%+
and keep warm (16C as a low to 30C as a high).

Sounds like you have a good handle on their care already, Albert!

There are several in-home growers in this forum!!! But depending upon how cool it gets during your late Spring into Fall you could possibly move your orchids outside into a partially shaded spot if such is available to you. The oncidium would definitely love good and high light.

Your English is excellent!

alyau · #9 02-14-2007, 10:21 PM

Actually I repotted the Oncidium before reading your notes. I hope the plant is OK for the disturbance due to repotting. I probably should water a bit more since the new media is quite loose and the pot appears to be quite small relative to the plant.

Not sure when the Oncidium is at rest and when it is in growth. I presume that it rests in winter and growing in summer.... then I should perhaps water less.

Currently I have all the orchids growing on a table in front of a East facing window. I probably should move the Ocidium to a west facing window as there are lots of sun shine. I am in Toronto, currently outside is sub zero all the time. Inside my house I set the temperature to around 70F early morning and late afternoon. Daytime when everyone is out, the temperature will drop to around 64F and night time is 66F. (i.e. varies from 19C to 21C), humidity is 35%. Will try to move the orchids outside when outside temperature is above say 16C at night. I have some mature trees in my backyard, that should provide the shade required.

Right now I am using a 'trial and error' approach. I will move the orchids to receive more light when the leaves turn dark green and less light when turn more yellow.

Thanks again terrestrial_man for your help.

Albert

Ross · #10 02-15-2007, 10:34 AM

Welcome Albert. Yes you can grow orchids under lights - I do. I use what's called T5 tube flourescent lights. I have a fixture with 4 bulbs, 48" long. 3 are 6000K color temperature and one is 3500K. I grow miniatures under these lights. In my south-facing bay window I run 3 55watt compact flourescent bulbs even when the sun is shining. The sun's rays up our way are really quite weak. Check out some of the threads under "Setups and Enclosures". Lights are discussed there a lot.