Thanks Bob, I appreciate the advice. Hopefully I'll be able to save my
plant. It's rather embarrassing to fail growing an "easy" orchid.

A speaker at our orchid society meeting a few months ago remarked that
he had never killed an orchid. However, he said, some of his plants had
committed suicide. :-)

John

Bob Walsh wrote:
John,

You can throw some orchid mix in with it to keep it looser. Mine looks to be
in a potting mix with a fair amount of small perlite in it. Jay's site:
http://www.orchidspecies.com/ludiscolor.htm
recommends potting soil and 50% bark and also says heavy shade. If the light
is too bright the leaves turn orange and lose their stripes.

Bob

"John DeGood" wrote in message
...

Bob,

I don't dispute your recommendation, but I have ~70 orchids, and Ludisia
discolor is the plant I've had the *least* success with! It's the only
terrestrial in my collection. I'll try repotting what's left of mine
tomorrow in a loose mix as you suggest -- it was in dense soil when I
purchased it 12 months ago at a society auction.

I never cease to be amazed at the range of culture advice I receive. When
I asked for Ludisia discolor help at a recent orchid society meeting I was
told to move it into Cattleya-level light!

John

Bob Walsh wrote:

Vic,

I remembered the easy orchid for you.

It is Ludisia discolor. Grows well in low light, a loose potting mix
(like for your violets), doesn't need food, has beautiful foliage (purple
or burgundy with florescent orange stripes) and it blooms around January
for a couple months. Some don't care for the flowers but I do. It will
get as big as you let it and with low light the leaves get bigger (3"
long x 2" wide) and look luxurious.

If you find it, it should be inexpensive. Go to an Orchid Society meeting
and tell a few people you want one and you will probably connect with at
least a cutting. Yes , there is an orchid that will grow from a cutting.
Put it in a glass of water and pot when it grows roots.

Go to Orchidmall.com to find an Orchid Society near you.

Bob


wrote in message
...


On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 15:16:59 -0400, Rob Halgren
wrote:



wrote:



Actually that's the approach I'm trying to take. I'm trying to trust
my instincts. I look for advice when I think I need it, but since a
lot of it is conflicting, I try to do what I think will work.

Far too many orchids are killed by people who read too many books.
Your approach is the best way to learn how to grow anything, not just
orchids. Observing the plant is the only way to know if it is doing
well. What matters is how a specific plant behaves in your specific
environment. Can't get that information from a book. Sure, you can get
some general ideas, but 'facts on the ground' always trump 'facts in the
book'.



I think the whole obligation to learn about orchids can be
overwhelming. I hate looking at a plant and feeling stupid. That has
never happened with anything else I've ever tried to grow.

Even though I've tried to pick up some hints and tips from the
newsgroup, I don't want to have to devote all my spare time studying
about orchids, but part of me feels that unless I learn all the
terminology and the history and the naming conventions, and everything
else, I'm never going to feel like I could confidently grow these
things, and that's a lot more than I was looking for when I bought a
simple, pretty houseplant.


You aren't under any obligation to learn a darn thing about orchids.
Don't let that stop you. All you need to learn is how to take care of
the plants you have. You don't need to know everything about orchids to
grow an orchid. Just like you don't have to know all of the (very very
many) philodendron species to grow a little green houseplant.
Orchid growing is like riding a bicycle. You can read all you want
about bicycles, and physics, and how asphalt reacts with knees, but
until you actually ride the bike a few times you aren't going to know
how. I know a lot of people who grow orchids that can't even spell
phalaenopsis, much less pronounce it. They do fine. The only time you
need to feel stupid is if you break off a flower spike or kill your
plant, and then only long enough to figure out why it happened and not
to do whatever stupid thing you did again.

Some people like to learn all of the esoterica of the plants they grow
(history, breeding, awards...). I'm one of those. But not everybody
cares that much. If all you want is a pretty flower and a healthy
plant, don't worry about it.

So, don't let an 'expert' talk you out of anything. What counts is
whether you like a flower or not. If you think it is pretty, and an
'expert' hates it, well, so what? If your plants bloom in dark corners,
and some expert says they need light, again, who cares?


How's that for a pep talk? *grin*

Rob
--

Actually it's pretty darned good. :-D

I'm pretty much determined to treat my orchid, just as I do my many
philodendrons. They are absolutely impossible to kill and have never
made me feel inadequate or caused me to run to a newsgroup seeking
advice. ;-) (Of course, I've never actually spent a dime on any of
them.)
--Vic