Are orchid's delicate flowers?

Question:

I use plain old fluorescent lights. I have used the lower part of a closet, hanging the lights from the clothes pole. OTOH, at my mothers I partitioned off a section of the basement and put in a "greenhouse" down there. My mother still uses it to start plants for spring. Ingrid Safe to assume you’re using grow lights in the basement? I have an unused room that I could probably convert. Definitely, something worth looking into. Larry, at this point seems to endure most of my fascinations with only mild grumbling. LOL, my daughter was home this weekend, I gave her a house plant I had divided to take back with her. Her boyfriend is already commenting about her growing "jungle". It’s in the genes, I told her to tell him he has no hope. LOL.

List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.net Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who’s to blame Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make.

Response:

That’s an interesting idea. Thanks. Carlotta

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I use plain old fluorescent lights. I have used the lower part of a closet, hanging the lights from the clothes pole. OTOH, at my mothers I partitioned off a section of the basement and put in a "greenhouse" down there. My mother still uses it to start plants for spring. Ingrid

Response:

Milwaukee, WI …. I dont have lots of room for orchids in living areas, and I got other stuff overwintering in the basement not to mention I can spray with abandon in the basement cause it is right over the drain. so I leave the non-bloomers down there where it is cooler and more humid than upstairs. then when they bloom they come upstairs where I can enjoy the flowers. frankly I am not thrilled with their foliage. but to keep em blooming I do put em into an east window. got no north facing windows. I think orchids are wonderful for winter bloomlessness …. Ingrid Ingrid, I don’t remember exactly where you are, somewhere on the east coast? My heavy garden energies are in the summer, but I need a few flowers to get me through the winter. Dry, forced, or amaryllis – hum…. could orchids be a possibility? So can you grow them in the more forced conditions and move them out when you need cheered up while they’re blooming? Carlotta

Response:

Safe to assume you’re using grow lights in the basement? I have an unused room that I could probably convert. Definitely, something worth looking into. Larry, at this point seems to endure most of my fascinations with only mild grumbling. LOL, my daughter was home this weekend, I gave her a house plant I had divided to take back with her. Her boyfriend is already commenting about her growing "jungle". It’s in the genes, I told her to tell him he has no hope. LOL. Carlotta

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Milwaukee, WI …. I dont have lots of room for orchids in living areas, and I got other stuff overwintering in the basement not to mention I can spray with abandon in the basement cause it is right over the drain. so I leave the non-bloomers down there where it is cooler and more humid than upstairs. then when they bloom they come upstairs where I can enjoy the flowers. frankly I am not thrilled with their foliage. but to keep em blooming I do put em into an east window. got no north facing windows. I think orchids are wonderful for winter bloomlessness …. Ingrid Ingrid, I don’t remember exactly where you are, somewhere on the east coast? My heavy garden energies are in the summer, but I need a few flowers to get me through the winter. Dry, forced, or amaryllis – hum…. could orchids be a possibility? So can you grow them in the more forced conditions and move them out when you need cheered up while they’re blooming? Carlotta List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.net Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who’s to blame Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make.

Response:

<< The only light I have that seems decent for growing plants is east windows and a couple of north windows. No south windows at all, and my west windows I keep curtained for privacy. What type of conditions do orchids need to survive? << Iowa zone 4/5 Your conditions are not suitable for orchids. Most of them need more light than you will have in an East window, and far more humidity than you will have in the house in the winter. If you really want to grow orchids, wall off a section of your basement with sheet plastic and install fluorescent or metal halide lights, fans, and humidifiers. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885

Response:

This statement is quite disingenuous, Iris…while there are orchids that would not do well in such conditions, there are indeed orchids that will do well. Phalaenopsis types (which are often the most common orchid available for sale) will grow and bloom happily in an east window, even with household humidity conditions…there might need to be some ammendment to humidity (such as a humidifier), but this is probably necessary for human comfort anyway if winters tend to run dry. —Prem www.premdesign.com

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – to keep the water from drooling all over wood work when watering. and it helps to spriz them with water now and then since lots of their roots end up outside the pot. there is a bit of standing water in the box under the egg crate, altho I have heard that even that isnt necessary. I stick a bunch of em together in the box maybe to help humidity, maybe competition when one blooms encourages the others to bloom as well. I really dont fuss with them .. I dont fertilize either, altho I think I really should once in a while. I think I will go with the slow release osmocote stuff. Ingrid

Ingrid, I don’t remember exactly where you are, somewhere on the east coast? My heavy garden energies are in the summer, but I need a few flowers to get me through the winter. Dry, forced, or amaryllis – hum…. could orchids be a possibility? So can you grow them in the more forced conditions and move them out when you need cheered up while they’re blooming? Carlotta

Response:

| | This statement is quite disingenuous, Iris…while there are orchids | that would not do well in such conditions, there are indeed orchids | that will do well. Phalaenopsis types (which are often the most | common orchid available for sale) will grow and bloom happily in | an east window, even with household humidity conditions…there | might need to be some ammendment to humidity (such as a humidifier), | but this is probably necessary for human comfort anyway if winters | tend to run dry. Quite. Anything that can survive UK winter light levels, even on a south-facing window ledge, isn’t going to have any trouble with an east window in the contiguous U.S.A. Admittedly, low humidity levels in winter aren’t exactly the problem that we have Regards, Nick Maclaren, University of Cambridge Computing Service, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England. Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679

Response:

Actually… it was in Minnesota in an overheated apartment on the 3rd floor where I got hooked on orchids. I started in a fish tank, then built a simple orchid box .. just a box with that white egg crate stuff. I did have to use a humidifier cause I have skin that shrivels in dry air. In summer I built a sorta greenhouse out on my balcony for my plants and orchids. Ingrid Well, I do ‘do’ indoor plants quite a bit and I could never get an orchid to survive more than a few months when I lived in Minnesota and they *never* rebloomed for me. The combination of their light, humidity, and watering require- ments were just too much for me to manage during those long Minnesota months.

Response:

I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. They do not appear phyiscally delicate, although I think they are difficult to grow. What are other people’s opinion?

Here’s my experience: I put off owning orchids for years… I was afraid I would get addicted and want to do little else. I’d end up building a giant lathe house and abandoning all other species that I’ve put so much time and care into. Eventually I relented of this attitude, joined an orchid of the month club, and began collecting. Oh, how I fussed over them… soaking in the ferts and getting the light just right, and bringing them indoors in the winter, etc. Well- they performed abysmally… ugly scraggily pain-in-the-kiester nothings hanging in my trees- they never bloomed, never showed me any gratitude at all for the $$ I had invested in them and the care they "required". I got over it one day and threw them all in the ComposTumbler. About a week later I had second thoughts and dug them out… I tied each one into a tree, where they now bloom profusely with very little supplemental feeding or care. Storms, cold snaps- haven’t lost a one yet and the blooming is out of this world. Go figure. — Toni Carroll Sunny South Florida Zone 10

Response:

I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. They do not appear phyiscally delicate, although I think they are difficult to grow. What are other people’s opinion? Thanks Tom

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It depends on the orchid, but I sure wouldn’t call a phalaenopsis or paphiopedilum flower that can last 2 to 3 months delicate. And those orchids aren’t particularly difficult to grow either. deg

Response:

Phaels are easy, as are the phael like dendrobiums and the cymbidiums and the catts. I have no luck with paphs, miltonia. Angaecum are medium as are zygopedalum and vandas and that other one like it. need more light. I grow most of em in the basement under lights in winter, in shade in the summer. but forget cymbs if you dont have some cold weather. INgrid – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. They do not appear phyiscally delicate, although I think they are difficult to grow. What are other people’s opinion? Thanks Tom It depends on the orchid, but I sure wouldn’t call a phalaenopsis or paphiopedilum flower that can last 2 to 3 months delicate. And those orchids aren’t particularly difficult to grow either. deg

Response:

<< I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. When was the last time you heard really accurate information on the radio? Most of the common orchids are not delicate at all, but they require certain conditions different from ordinary houseplants. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885

Response:

north and east windows are superb for Phaels… which also have the flowers that bloom for months. I use a box of some kind with that white egg crating inside to keep the plants out of water. Ingrid

Well, it looks like I need to do some research before I’m tempted enough to buy. I do only have north and east windows that are suitable for plants. What is the purpose of the box of some kind? Carlotta

Response:

<< I got over it one day and threw them all in the ComposTumbler. About a week later I had second thoughts and dug them out… I tied each one into a tree, where they now bloom profusely with very little supplemental feeding or care. Storms, cold snaps- haven’t lost a one yet and the blooming is out of this world. Go figure. Either they respond to Tough Love or they’re masochists at heart….er, stamen? zemedelec

Response:

to keep the water from drooling all over wood work when watering. and it helps to spriz them with water now and then since lots of their roots end up outside the pot. there is a bit of standing water in the box under the egg crate, altho I have heard that even that isnt necessary. I stick a bunch of em together in the box maybe to help humidity, maybe competition when one blooms encourages the others to bloom as well. I really dont fuss with them .. I dont fertilize either, altho I think I really should once in a while. I think I will go with the slow release osmocote stuff. Ingrid – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – north and east windows are superb for Phaels… which also have the flowers that bloom for months. I use a box of some kind with that white egg crating inside to keep the plants out of water. Ingrid Well, it looks like I need to do some research before I’m tempted enough to buy. I do only have north and east windows that are suitable for plants. What is the purpose of the box of some kind? Carlotta

Response:

north and east windows are superb for Phaels… which also have the flowers that bloom for months. I use a box of some kind with that white egg crating inside to keep the plants out of water. As long as you have some kind of humidifier in the house they are going to do fine. I have Goldfish tanks.. plenty of humidity without it actually dripping down the windows. I put mine in the basment, get em blooming and then bring them upstairs until the flowers finally go. nice thing about orchids.. can go away for a month and the plant doesnt croak. lots of sites online. and home despot has some really nice orchids for not much money. Ingrid I’d like some more information on this, if anyone cares to share. Winter is fast falling here, and even at the Target store there are blooming orchids. Nice plant structures. I’m pretty good at outside plants but have very little experience at indoor plants. The only light I have that seems decent for growing plants is east windows and a couple of north windows. No south windows at all, and my west windows I keep curtained for privacy. What type of conditions do orchids need to survive? Would they be an addition to my amaryllis for winter blooms? Carlotta

Response:

I’d like some more information on this, if anyone cares to share. Winter is fast falling here, and even at the Target store there are blooming orchids. Nice plant structures. I’m pretty good at outside plants but have very little experience at indoor plants. The only light I have that seems decent for growing plants is east windows and a couple of north windows. No south windows at all, and my west windows I keep curtained for privacy. What type of conditions do orchids need to survive? Would they be an addition to my amaryllis for winter blooms? Carlotta Iowa zone 4/5

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – << I heard someone on the radio describe orchids are being delicate flowers. When was the last time you heard really accurate information on the radio? Most of the common orchids are not delicate at all, but they require certain conditions different from ordinary houseplants. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885

Response:

What type of conditions do orchids need to survive? Would they be an addition to my amaryllis for winter blooms?

Well, I do ‘do’ indoor plants quite a bit and I could never get an orchid to survive more than a few months when I lived in Minnesota and they *never* rebloomed for me. The combination of their light, humidity, and watering require- ments were just too much for me to manage during those long Minnesota months. I kept a lot of other plants alive and flourishing, those were beyond what I was willing/able to provide for them. Now that I’m in Hawaii, they’re simple though. Just stick them on the back porch and water consistently. I’m no orchid expert (yet! Give me a decade or two!) but I read the rec.gardens.orchids newsgroup and I don’t seem to have heard of anyone who lives in a harsh winter area who hasn’t had to make some fairly extensive accomodations for their orchids to make it through the winter. (Or at least they’re fairly extensive to me!) Most orchids don’t seem to be the types you can just sit on a southern window- sill and have that be enough. Tracey

Response:

Filed under: Phalaenopsis Orchid

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