Welcome to our group Ruth,
I know how you feel, orchids do this to us!
My checkbook hasn't stopped groaning in ten years.
Pester away, someone will answer & you already have some
good advice.
When buying orchids always ask questions & tell the seller how
you are growing? eg. your conditions, window sill, what exposure etc.
I remember reading something about growing phals at an angle so
that when it flowers the spike is more upright. I experimented & the phal's
spike grew straight up?
--
Cheers Wendy
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"RPM1" wrote in message
...
: Greetings fellow orchid lovers!
:
: Last Christmas I bought a lovely little phal. I didn't plan on it. I
: figured I'd go home with a Christmas cactus or somesuch. The
: nursery staff assured me that I could handle caring for the orchid.
: I was skeptical. I bought it anyway. Well, it has yet to drop any
: of the flowers that it came home with on December 23rd! About
: a month later I stopped by the nursery to get orchid fertilizer and
: I ended up coming home with two more plants. Yesterday, I
: was driving by the greenhouse and I saw a big sign "Orchids 50%
: Off!" Well, of course I had to stop in.
:
: So, I now have 6 assorted orchids. Two are going to need some
: sort of trimming (I assume) once they lose their last flower. Would
: you folks recommend a few good books for beginners? Is there a
: newsgroup FAQ link so I don't pester y'all with typical newbie
: questions?
:
: I read somewhere that orchids seek to achieve a 45 degree growth
: angle. Are there pots to accommodate this or do you just keep
: re-potting them and straightening them up. Seems cruel if 45
: degrees is what they really want. Why not give it to them - make
: them really happy?
:
: Ruth CM
: upstate NY
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