Hello,

I don't know where to post this. I recently started growing orchids. I
purchased two plants last year and when we moved into our current house the
previous owner left me some of his orchids as he had too many to move to his
new house. I did lose three last winter in the greenhouse. We finally
closed it up and I installed a heater to keep it from getting below 50
degrees.

My question is one of the orchids has two long flower stems. One is over
three feet long and the other is about two feet give or take. When do the
flowers bloom? They sprouted out for over several weeks ago. Should I go
ahead and stake the stems before the flowers come out or wait until it
starts blooming? I brought it in the house to keep it safe from the cold
weather. I live in Columbus Georgia.

Thank you,

Deborah

Try the rec.gardens.orchids group. There are a lot of knowledgable people
there.

Bonnie

"Patrick Mullins" wrote in message
. com...
Hello,

I don't know where to post this. I recently started growing orchids. I
purchased two plants last year and when we moved into our current house
the
previous owner left me some of his orchids as he had too many to move to
his
new house. I did lose three last winter in the greenhouse. We finally
closed it up and I installed a heater to keep it from getting below 50
degrees.

My question is one of the orchids has two long flower stems. One is over
three feet long and the other is about two feet give or take. When do the
flowers bloom? They sprouted out for over several weeks ago. Should I go
ahead and stake the stems before the flowers come out or wait until it
starts blooming? I brought it in the house to keep it safe from the cold
weather. I live in Columbus Georgia.

Thank you,

Deborah

"BonnieJean" wrote in message
...
Try the rec.gardens.orchids group. There are a lot of knowledgable people
there.

There are knowledgeable people HERE as well. I've grown orchids for many
years.

You most likely have a phalaenopsis (butterfly/moth orchid) or dendrobium.
If the orchid looks like a collection of leathery leaves radiating out from
a center point, and not much height to the plant itself, then its a
phalaenopsis. If the orchid body is like a stalk with upright leaves
growing from the sides then its a dendrobium.

In either event do stake the flower stems. The flowers will begin to bud
and then open, but not very fast. The tradeoff, though, is that the blooms
will last a very long time.

Try to keep the plants at room temperature if you can (60 - 70) and at least
40% humidity.

Hope this helps.

- Dewolla Stepon


Bonnie

"Patrick Mullins" wrote in message
. com...
Hello,

I don't know where to post this. I recently started growing orchids. I
purchased two plants last year and when we moved into our current house
the
previous owner left me some of his orchids as he had too many to move to
his
new house. I did lose three last winter in the greenhouse. We
finally
closed it up and I installed a heater to keep it from getting below 50
degrees.

My question is one of the orchids has two long flower stems. One is
over
three feet long and the other is about two feet give or take. When do
the
flowers bloom? They sprouted out for over several weeks ago. Should I
go
ahead and stake the stems before the flowers come out or wait until it
starts blooming? I brought it in the house to keep it safe from the
cold
weather. I live in Columbus Georgia.

Thank you,

Deborah

"BonnieJean" wrote in message
...
Try the rec.gardens.orchids group. There are a lot of knowledgable people
there.

There are knowledgeable people HERE as well. I've grown orchids for many
years.

You most likely have a phalaenopsis (butterfly/moth orchid) or dendrobium.
If the orchid looks like a collection of leathery leaves radiating out from
a center point, and not much height to the plant itself, then its a
phalaenopsis. If the orchid body is like a stalk with upright leaves
growing from the sides then its a dendrobium.

In either event do stake the flower stems. The flowers will begin to bud
and then open, but not very fast. The tradeoff, though, is that the blooms
will last a very long time.

Try to keep the plants at room temperature if you can (60 - 70) and at least
40% humidity.

Hope this helps.

- Dewolla Stepon


Bonnie

"Patrick Mullins" wrote in message
. com...
Hello,

I don't know where to post this. I recently started growing orchids. I
purchased two plants last year and when we moved into our current house
the
previous owner left me some of his orchids as he had too many to move to
his
new house. I did lose three last winter in the greenhouse. We
finally
closed it up and I installed a heater to keep it from getting below 50
degrees.

My question is one of the orchids has two long flower stems. One is
over
three feet long and the other is about two feet give or take. When do
the
flowers bloom? They sprouted out for over several weeks ago. Should I
go
ahead and stake the stems before the flowers come out or wait until it
starts blooming? I brought it in the house to keep it safe from the
cold
weather. I live in Columbus Georgia.

Thank you,

Deborah

Okay, I think I have a phalaenopsis. On a white stick it says Helen Janet
"Genette". I have looked through several websites and neither name comes up
so I am missing a species name as what I must have is a variety name which
will mean nothing to anyone. I guess I must wait longer before I get
flowers to determine what color they are. I bought some Vanda orchids on
eBay which are a cross between yellow and pink flowers. I know I will have
to wait years before they will bloom as they are very small compared to my
other orchids. All the other orchids are dendrobium orchids and they are in
the greenhouse and doing okay in the 50 degree temp. it is more humid in
the greenhouse with all the rain we have had lately than in the house yet I
do have the humidifier running at night in the baby's room and my room (if
that will help as the plant is in the dining room). I thought about moving
it into the kitchen as it gets more light there but I have my baby vandas on
the shelf.

I appreciate the information. I know I will learn as I go along just like
you learn about children as you go along.

Deborah


"Dewolla" wrote in message
news:BbELb.8282$nt4.14150@attbi_s51...
"BonnieJean" wrote in message
...
Try the rec.gardens.orchids group. There are a lot of knowledgable
people
there.

There are knowledgeable people HERE as well. I've grown orchids for many
years.

You most likely have a phalaenopsis (butterfly/moth orchid) or dendrobium.
If the orchid looks like a collection of leathery leaves radiating out
from
a center point, and not much height to the plant itself, then its a
phalaenopsis. If the orchid body is like a stalk with upright leaves
growing from the sides then its a dendrobium.

In either event do stake the flower stems. The flowers will begin to bud
and then open, but not very fast. The tradeoff, though, is that the
blooms
will last a very long time.

Try to keep the plants at room temperature if you can (60 - 70) and at
least
40% humidity.

Hope this helps.

- Dewolla Stepon


Bonnie

"Patrick Mullins" wrote in message
. com...
Hello,

I don't know where to post this. I recently started growing orchids.
I
purchased two plants last year and when we moved into our current
house
the
previous owner left me some of his orchids as he had too many to move
to
his
new house. I did lose three last winter in the greenhouse. We
finally
closed it up and I installed a heater to keep it from getting below 50
degrees.

My question is one of the orchids has two long flower stems. One is
over
three feet long and the other is about two feet give or take. When do
the
flowers bloom? They sprouted out for over several weeks ago. Should
I
go
ahead and stake the stems before the flowers come out or wait until it
starts blooming? I brought it in the house to keep it safe from the
cold
weather. I live in Columbus Georgia.

Thank you,

Deborah

"Patrick Mullins" wrote in message
. com...
Okay, I think I have a phalaenopsis. On a white stick it says Helen
Janet
"Genette". I have looked through several websites and neither name comes
up
so I am missing a species name as what I must have is a variety name which
will mean nothing to anyone. I guess I must wait longer before I get
flowers to determine what color they are.

Probably so. Whatever the color, though, moth orchids are very pretty. The
blossoms will open from the bottom of the spike first and last a very long
time.

I do have the humidifier running at night in the baby's room and my room
(if
that will help as the plant is in the dining room). I thought about
moving
it into the kitchen as it gets more light there but I have my baby vandas
on
the shelf.

Make certain the orchids get just indirect light, direct light will sunscald
the leaves. As far as getting enough humidity you may try placing the pots
in a pan filled with gravel and a little water. You can also use a spray
bottle and give the plants a fine misting of water once or twice a day.
Kitchens and bathrooms are two places where indoor orchids do well (indirect
light and humidity).

I appreciate the information. I know I will learn as I go along just like
you learn about children as you go along.

Deborah

Glad I could help, Deborah. You'll do just fine.

- Dewolla Stepon



"Dewolla" wrote in message
news:BbELb.8282$nt4.14150@attbi_s51...
"BonnieJean" wrote in message
...
Try the rec.gardens.orchids group. There are a lot of knowledgable
people
there.

There are knowledgeable people HERE as well. I've grown orchids for
many
years.

You most likely have a phalaenopsis (butterfly/moth orchid) or
dendrobium.
If the orchid looks like a collection of leathery leaves radiating out
from
a center point, and not much height to the plant itself, then its a
phalaenopsis. If the orchid body is like a stalk with upright leaves
growing from the sides then its a dendrobium.

In either event do stake the flower stems. The flowers will begin to
bud
and then open, but not very fast. The tradeoff, though, is that the
blooms
will last a very long time.

Try to keep the plants at room temperature if you can (60 - 70) and at
least
40% humidity.

Hope this helps.

- Dewolla Stepon


Bonnie

"Patrick Mullins" wrote in message
. com...
Hello,

I don't know where to post this. I recently started growing
orchids.
I
purchased two plants last year and when we moved into our current
house
the
previous owner left me some of his orchids as he had too many to
move
to
his
new house. I did lose three last winter in the greenhouse. We
finally
closed it up and I installed a heater to keep it from getting below
50
degrees.

My question is one of the orchids has two long flower stems. One is
over
three feet long and the other is about two feet give or take. When
do
the
flowers bloom? They sprouted out for over several weeks ago.
Should
I
go
ahead and stake the stems before the flowers come out or wait until
it
starts blooming? I brought it in the house to keep it safe from the
cold
weather. I live in Columbus Georgia.

Thank you,

Deborah