You misunderstood, African Violets are not orchids.

Mariana


"Mark Handy" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
Thanks Ted. I didn't know the African Violet was an orchid....

Mark


"Ted Byers" wrote in message
.. .

"Mark Handy" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
I'm looking to get our first orchid, but after reading some guidelines
for
care, I'm not too sure. I'm worried about air temp and humidity, since
I'm
in an apartment. Is there a type that is more tolerant, or am I going
to
be
out of luck?

No, you're not out of luck. Some orchids are more delicate than others,
but
there are many that are relatively tough, even in comparison with other
house plants. For example, I have been able to keep most of my orchids
happy, and yet I have yet to get a Sinningia speciosa (florist gloxinia)
or
a cyclamen that I could get to last more than a few weeks. And, I know
their general life cycle, but I have yet to bring one back after
dormancy
has set in. This despite the fact I studied them in several of my books
and
on several websites, and I put the extra effort in because (blasphemy
alert)
I like the Sinningia speciosa flowers better than the flowers of many
orchid
genera (I like them almost as much as I like the flowers produced by
catts).

It is a question of picking something that should do well in your
apartment.
Are you in Toronto? (just a guess based on your email and news server)
If
so, there is a good orchids society that meets on the first Sunday of
each
month except during the summer. You will find a number of good vendors
there from whom you can get god advice on what will do well here.

In any event, I have had good results with cattleyas, dendrobiums and
phalaenopsis. I lost a few during the winter because I couldn't get the
humidity above 35% (I have a few too many to be able to afford getting
an
aquarium that could handle them all - I'll have to make a growth
chamber).

If you have a good southern exposure, you might give the catts a try.
If
humidity is a problem for you, what you might do is get yourself an
aquarium, but instead of filling it with water, put a layer of coarse
gravel
in it, and put in just enough water to come to the top of the gravel,
and
then put some small phals in it (one of the equestris hybrids?). If you
keep the tank covered, and the water level in the gravel up, you will be
able to maintain close to 100% relative humidity around your orchid
regardless of how dry your apartment is.

Something you might do is get a cheap plant, cheap enough you won't be
particularly upset if it dies, from Walmart or Home Depot (in bloom - if
you
see one that is out of bloom there, it is likely under enough stress
that
you'd have a tough time getting it to rebloom). Alternatively, get an
African Violet and try to maintain it for six months. If you can, then
there exists a whole range of orchids you can maintain, and the African
Violet will only cost you a couple dollars.

Cheers,

Ted