Oh Hal,
Don't go to any orchid society meetings!
Don't use Google to search for the word Orchid!
Don't go to the library or bookstores & browse!
It's too late! You've got orchid fever!
*G*
Welcome, our group is a good start, great people & info.
You sound just like me, I started with 2 & in 1 year, I had 1000!
The 1st most common mistake is overwatering & letting the plant sit in a
saucer with water.
You need sun light (not direct) air & humidity.
My 2 cents..........
Cheers Wendy
"Tessmann" wrote in message
...
|
| I *finally* bought some orchid plants - something I've been wanting to
| do for a long time. I live in Dearborn, MI, which is near Detroit. I
| attended a seminar at a local gardening store and they had phalaenopsis
| in a variety of different colors and patterns. They were buy one get
| one free so I got four, and went back after they got another shipment
| and got six more. My wife questioned my *sudden interest* but has
| decided she likes the colors on several of them.
|
| Most of them had at least one flower open and now they have three or
| four open.
|
| I started reading the orchid newsgroup and decided it's time to ask for
| help.
|
| What are good types (families) for beginners or should I focus on the
| phalaenopsis until I have the hang of this? Anyone have any *baby*
| plants they want to donate or sell?
|
| I'm looking for recommendations on books for a beginning orchid grower.
| Any suggestions will be appreciated. If you have some you've *outgrown*
| and would like to sell, pls send title, price, etc.
|
| Recommendations about fertilizing? At the seminar she said use high
| nitrogen fertilizer in summer and high middle number in fall for
| flowers. Also said use very weak strength and use at every watering.
| When should I switch to fertilizer for flowers? Is it OK to fertilize
| while they're flowering? Some of the hang tags say not to.
|
| What's best growing medium? Most are in moss and two in bark.
|
| Any help, advise, etc. will be appreciated.
|
| P.S. Dan, I saw your posts so I included you in this. JUST GO FOR IT.
| Get some with buds and give it a try.
|
| I saw this in another posting and thought it was funny. After looking
| at his site, I decided it might become an addiction.
|
| Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren
| 1) There is always room for one more orchid
| 2) There is always room for two more orchids
| 2a. See rule 1
| 3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain
| more credit
|
| Hal Tessmann
|
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|
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