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#1
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A newbie de-lurks
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 |
#2
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A newbie de-lurks
The Ortho "All About Growing Orchids" is quite good for beginners. Taylor's
Guide to Orchids is also pretty good, with one caveat -- a lot of newbies get caught up in the pretty pics and forget to read the accompanying text. An awful lot of folks show up here with Taylor's in hand looking for Miltoniopsis and other cool-growers that don't do well here in south Florida .... There is another thread floating around [relatively current] about how to access and search the archives from this newsgroup, in which you are likely to find lots of answers to lots of your initial questions, but you are always welcome to post them here. There are always new readers joining us who haven't read those questions and answers before. Welcome aboard, -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com "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 |
#3
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A newbie de-lurks
The Ortho "All About Growing Orchids" is quite good for beginners. Taylor's
Guide to Orchids is also pretty good, with one caveat -- a lot of newbies get caught up in the pretty pics and forget to read the accompanying text. An awful lot of folks show up here with Taylor's in hand looking for Miltoniopsis and other cool-growers that don't do well here in south Florida .... There is another thread floating around [relatively current] about how to access and search the archives from this newsgroup, in which you are likely to find lots of answers to lots of your initial questions, but you are always welcome to post them here. There are always new readers joining us who haven't read those questions and answers before. Welcome aboard, -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com "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 |
#4
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A newbie de-lurks
The Ortho "All About Growing Orchids" is quite good for beginners. Taylor's
Guide to Orchids is also pretty good, with one caveat -- a lot of newbies get caught up in the pretty pics and forget to read the accompanying text. An awful lot of folks show up here with Taylor's in hand looking for Miltoniopsis and other cool-growers that don't do well here in south Florida .... There is another thread floating around [relatively current] about how to access and search the archives from this newsgroup, in which you are likely to find lots of answers to lots of your initial questions, but you are always welcome to post them here. There are always new readers joining us who haven't read those questions and answers before. Welcome aboard, -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com "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 |
#5
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A newbie de-lurks
Welcome Ruth,
Be careful orchids are very addictive. It sounds like you are already an orchid addict, so am I :-) -- and if you are looking for the equivalent of the AA program for orchids, this is definitely not it, since most of us here agree that Rob Halgren's rules are very reasonable (search the archives for them if you have not already seen them here, Rob always puts them at the end of his posts). Feel free to ask questions, this group is very civilized about treating newbies seriously -- that's one of the things I like most about it. In answer to your 45% question, I had not heard any such rule before, and I would be suspicious of any such specific angle claim. It is true however that orchids tend to lean in the pots toward the light. You might consider tilting the pot a bit if that's feasible. Most times that I have observed a professional repotting orchids, they did in fact straighten them out. I wouldn't consider that cruel though, orchids are very forgiving of the faults of us humans, and they are also very determined to follow their own ways no matter what we do to them -- thus for example trying to force aerial roots into the potting medium is generally a loosing battle, but it does not stop many florists from doing just that (personally I love aerial roots going in whatever direction they please). Oh and another thing, staking the orchid spike/inflorescence might be considered us trying to impose on the orchid how to grow too, but very often if one does not stake the spike there is a greater danger that the spike will accidentally break during watering for example plus often an orchid with a well staked spike just aesthetically looks much better to us humans. I am not very talented at staking properly, and so one of my orchids that has a very strong mind of its own is just plotting to bore a hole in the window with its spike sometime in the near future unless I correct the situation soon. Best, Joanna "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 |
#6
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A newbie de-lurks
"J Fortuna"
Be careful orchids are very addictive. It sounds like you are already an orchid addict, so am I :-) -- My bank account will never be the same, I'm afraid. :-) It's weird but I've become, dare I say it, whispers attached to my plants - just the orchids. I can hardly go past the living room without stopping to see how they're doing. In answer to your 45% question, I had not heard any such rule before, and I would be suspicious of any such specific angle claim. I read it here, right in the very beginning: http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/repotting/phalaenopsis/ This grower is not too far from us. I think I'll pop by for a little visit... http://www.orchidsusa.com/intro.html I hear the sound of my checkbook groaning in the other room. Thanks for the response! Ruth CM |
#7
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A newbie de-lurks
Welcome Ruth,
Be careful orchids are very addictive. It sounds like you are already an orchid addict, so am I :-) -- and if you are looking for the equivalent of the AA program for orchids, this is definitely not it, since most of us here agree that Rob Halgren's rules are very reasonable (search the archives for them if you have not already seen them here, Rob always puts them at the end of his posts). Feel free to ask questions, this group is very civilized about treating newbies seriously -- that's one of the things I like most about it. In answer to your 45% question, I had not heard any such rule before, and I would be suspicious of any such specific angle claim. It is true however that orchids tend to lean in the pots toward the light. You might consider tilting the pot a bit if that's feasible. Most times that I have observed a professional repotting orchids, they did in fact straighten them out. I wouldn't consider that cruel though, orchids are very forgiving of the faults of us humans, and they are also very determined to follow their own ways no matter what we do to them -- thus for example trying to force aerial roots into the potting medium is generally a loosing battle, but it does not stop many florists from doing just that (personally I love aerial roots going in whatever direction they please). Oh and another thing, staking the orchid spike/inflorescence might be considered us trying to impose on the orchid how to grow too, but very often if one does not stake the spike there is a greater danger that the spike will accidentally break during watering for example plus often an orchid with a well staked spike just aesthetically looks much better to us humans. I am not very talented at staking properly, and so one of my orchids that has a very strong mind of its own is just plotting to bore a hole in the window with its spike sometime in the near future unless I correct the situation soon. Best, Joanna "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 |
#8
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A newbie de-lurks
"J Fortuna"
Be careful orchids are very addictive. It sounds like you are already an orchid addict, so am I :-) -- My bank account will never be the same, I'm afraid. :-) It's weird but I've become, dare I say it, whispers attached to my plants - just the orchids. I can hardly go past the living room without stopping to see how they're doing. In answer to your 45% question, I had not heard any such rule before, and I would be suspicious of any such specific angle claim. I read it here, right in the very beginning: http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/repotting/phalaenopsis/ This grower is not too far from us. I think I'll pop by for a little visit... http://www.orchidsusa.com/intro.html I hear the sound of my checkbook groaning in the other room. Thanks for the response! Ruth CM |
#9
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A newbie de-lurks
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 Remove PETERPAN for email reply "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 : : : : |
#10
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A newbie de-lurks
On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 17:05:56 -0800, "Wendy"
wrote: 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? Welcome - About 30 years ago I bought 2 plants when we went in Hausermann's Orchid Range just to enjoy all the cut flower Catts just before Easter. Then I joined an Orchid Society and meet a fellow who liked to adopt newbies. In one weekend, like Wendy I went from 2 to 52. Most of the 50 new ones were back-bulbs from helping repot his Catt collection. You need a mentor. Back to the 45 degrees, I have never read that piece. But I have seen several different articles suggesting tilting Phal pots to make sure the Crown stays dry or drains after watering. I tried it and found it easier to pot on an angle than to tilt the pot on my shelves. SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
#11
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A newbie de-lurks
On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 17:05:56 -0800, "Wendy"
wrote: 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? Welcome - About 30 years ago I bought 2 plants when we went in Hausermann's Orchid Range just to enjoy all the cut flower Catts just before Easter. Then I joined an Orchid Society and meet a fellow who liked to adopt newbies. In one weekend, like Wendy I went from 2 to 52. Most of the 50 new ones were back-bulbs from helping repot his Catt collection. You need a mentor. Back to the 45 degrees, I have never read that piece. But I have seen several different articles suggesting tilting Phal pots to make sure the Crown stays dry or drains after watering. I tried it and found it easier to pot on an angle than to tilt the pot on my shelves. SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
#12
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A newbie de-lurks
Kudos time here...I belong to the same Orchid society as Sue, and I have
noticed she's VERY kind to the newbies (of which I am one) Never to busy to answer my silly questions.Although I'm sure at times she wishes we would all just go away. grin You need to find someone like her near you Ruth. And welcome to the group ) -- Hugs, Molli "Susan Erickson" wrote in message news .. You need a mentor. |
#13
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A newbie de-lurks
On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 20:44:53 -0700, "molli"
wrote: Kudos time here...I belong to the same Orchid society as Sue, and I have noticed she's VERY kind to the newbies (of which I am one) Never to busy to answer my silly questions.Although I'm sure at times she wishes we would all just go away. grin You need to find someone like her near you Ruth. And welcome to the group ) blush Thanks Molli. g It is tempting to agree with you about going away, but actually I teach. It is part of who I am. Also I find I learn from each person I work with no matter what subject or how new they are. SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
#14
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A newbie de-lurks
The "tilting" of phals is for those growing outdoors where the plants get
rained on. It keeps the crown free of puddles. -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com "Wendy" wrote in message news:EbDSb.6546$fD.4924@fed1read02... 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? |
#15
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A newbie de-lurks
Hi, Ruth,
Welcome to Orchanon! tilting Phals, Kenni is right that it's essential for those growing outside, but it doesn't hurt for folks who grow their Phals out of the weather. I grow outside,but my Phals are under cover and out of the rain. Still, unless you're super careful about watering and drying out the crown, you can still get crown rot. For those with controlled greenhouses, the fans take care of it, but for us peons, if we're not careful the moisture still can puddle. Welcome to our little virtual family! Diana |
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