Orchids
- Thread starter scotkat
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I would love to know the answer to that question as well, because as fellow members of Gardening Forum, I'd be looking for a nice discount. I have two Orchids at home but I've not found a way to duplicate them. I've not tried to root a piece of the Orchid but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try. I have plans to purchase a couple more Orchids because they grow so slow, at least mine do. I have one, a Phalaenopsis Orchid, that has been blooming for the last 4-5 months, which is a little unusual.. one set of blooms fell off but there were several growing as the others were dying, once they fell off, the others bloomed in a matter of a few days. The other orchid (the white, Moth Orchid in the picture) has bloomed only once since I bought it, a little over a two years ago. It was in full bloom when I bought it, they lasted for a couple months, about a year later it bloomed again (that's about the time this picture was taken) but nothing since then. I need to re-pot both and put them in an Orchid-type pot, with lots of holes, because I think the Orchids like to breathe and can actually grow quite nicely without being in a pot .. as you've probably seen, many actually grow on the side of trees ..
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There are a couple of threads on growing Orchids here. I grow orchids. However, at the moment my orchids seem to be going through a dormant phase. I love orchids. My Phalaenopsis Orchid was in bloom continuously for about seven months.. Never had one doing that before. I think I had two flower stems which produced six or seven sets of flowers each. The others have flowered on and off.. I have no complaints.
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I have a couple of orchids that are doing well at the moment, I've had lots of flowers off both. Here is a picture of one of them:
It lost those flowers recently, but a load more have now bloomed.
I'll try and get some photos of the other one soon! I water them about once a week and give them a good misting too, and that seems to keep them happy. Do you use specialist food?
It lost those flowers recently, but a load more have now bloomed.
I'll try and get some photos of the other one soon! I water them about once a week and give them a good misting too, and that seems to keep them happy. Do you use specialist food?
I currently have seven phalaenopsis blooming in an east-facing window. Most were rescues from the garden centre (finished blooming) but two or three were gifts. The longest one plant has been in continuous bloom was nine months! Love 'em!!
John
John
I've never dared to buy an orchid because I thought they were difficult plants. I know someone who buys them regularly, then when one finishes blooming she throws it away and buys another one. I hate that - I could never throw away a living plant. I even hate killing weeds.
I do have an orchid plant that I was given as a present. I suspect it was recently grown from seed as it's still very small. I've had it for several months now. Initially I kept it outside under shade net, then when our weather got cold I moved it into my greenhouse. It's doing okay, producing lots of aerial roots, but no signs of flowers yet. I don't know if it's too young to bloom or if I'm doing something wrong. I don't even know what kind of orchid it is.
I do have an orchid plant that I was given as a present. I suspect it was recently grown from seed as it's still very small. I've had it for several months now. Initially I kept it outside under shade net, then when our weather got cold I moved it into my greenhouse. It's doing okay, producing lots of aerial roots, but no signs of flowers yet. I don't know if it's too young to bloom or if I'm doing something wrong. I don't even know what kind of orchid it is.
I'm also intimidated by orchids and think they look like difficult plants to care for. They're beautiful plants and I agree that it's wrong of your friend to throw them away when they're not in bloom. Good luck with taking care of your new orchid.
Thanks. I wish I knew enough about it to know what it really needs. There are so many different kinds of orchids and I haven't a clue how to identify it. All the orchids I see for sale seem to have much bigger leaves than mine has.
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I currently have two. I'm not handy with delicate plants but it would appear that these are relatively hardy. We bought the large one we have at WalMart last year and it was labelled only "Ice cube plant" because it's care instructions call simply for watering it with three ice cubes once a week. It had two stems blossoming at that point....and ended up with 16 blossoms all together which stayed vibrant for at least a couple of months. They were GORGEOUS! When the stems dried out I clipped them back. I was told I should fertilize them but never did...just kept with the 3 ice cubes each week, all winter long. This year only one flowering stem grew but it has nine gorgeous blossoms on it, which have been showing for several weeks now. I love it!!
I also have a mini orchid which was given to me as a gift last summer. It only blossomed briefly but has remained healthy and grown new leaves. Two days ago I transplanted it into a larger pot as it had roots growing out over the edge. It seems to be happy so far. I'm hoping it'll blossom for me in its new home.
I also have a mini orchid which was given to me as a gift last summer. It only blossomed briefly but has remained healthy and grown new leaves. Two days ago I transplanted it into a larger pot as it had roots growing out over the edge. It seems to be happy so far. I'm hoping it'll blossom for me in its new home.
I feed them when they are in growth only and when they are in bloom.
Two different type of Orchid feed.This is what i have used and still use for yrs now.
Works for me no extra work .
http://www.vitax.co.uk/home-garden/vitax-orchid-growth-feed/
Two different type of Orchid feed.This is what i have used and still use for yrs now.
Works for me no extra work .
http://www.vitax.co.uk/home-garden/vitax-orchid-growth-feed/
My two newest orchids:
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Also my other orchid (picture in a post above) has grown a new stem - it's clearly very happy where it is!
Those are absolutely stunning. I love the patterns and markings on them. Thank you for sharing your photos.
I love the look of orchids but it sounds like hard work to keep them alive and healthy.
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I just use the Baby Bio orchid plant feed, probably not as often as I should though!
If I lose all the flowers, and if the flower spike starts to die, then I cut it off to just above a healthy looking node. After doing this I've often had a new flower spike develop from the node. My knowledge of orchids is very limited but this has worked in the past for me so I hope it helps you!