Easy starter orchid?
- Thread starter lemonzest
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2013
- Messages
- 556
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- Location
- Puget Sound, Washington
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- Hardiness Zone
- 7b
- Country
I've had great success with the lady slipper varieties that have purple blossoms.
A different variety is the Sherry Baby an Oncidium hybrid orchid
The moth orchids are generally pretty forgiving too.
Just remember not to over water orchids. Dipping the bark filled container in a sink filled of water once every 7-10 days is generally plenty. Over watering has killed more orchids than neglect at my house.
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2013
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- 292
- Reaction score
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This is my orchid:
And the foliage (after the blooms were done)
And the foliage (after the blooms were done)
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2013
- Messages
- 292
- Reaction score
- 94
It's a Phalaenopsis, and I just bought it at my local grocery store this winter. I got one that had only a couple of open flowers, and it bloomed for months. Once all the blooms are gone you cut the stems right back, and it will happily go about it's own business until the following winter, when it will bloom again (that is the theory, anyway!).
It's a type of orchid that has "air-roots" - they usually grow on trees roots, not in soil, so they are used to drying out in between periods of rain. It should come in a bark mixture, rather than potting soil. If it doesn't, you need to repot it into the proper medium, because the roots will rot if they stay soggy for any length of time. I watered it once a week while it was blooming, by taking the plastic planter out of the enamel pot, and running water over it until it had had a good soaking everywhere. Another method (when I was especially lazy) was to fill the enamel pot with water, leave it for half an hour, then empty out any remaining water. Both seemed to work well. Once it finished blooming, I cut down the watering to about once every two weeks.
It cannot take full sun, but needs bright, indirect light. The leaves should be a bright green. If they turn dark green, they are getting too little light. If they turn reddish green, they are getting too much light.
They also like to be root bound, and in general only need to be repotted every couple of years, in the spring.
So far, mine is healthy, so I'll let you know if I manage to get it to bloom again this winter! Good luck with whatever type you choose.
It's a type of orchid that has "air-roots" - they usually grow on trees roots, not in soil, so they are used to drying out in between periods of rain. It should come in a bark mixture, rather than potting soil. If it doesn't, you need to repot it into the proper medium, because the roots will rot if they stay soggy for any length of time. I watered it once a week while it was blooming, by taking the plastic planter out of the enamel pot, and running water over it until it had had a good soaking everywhere. Another method (when I was especially lazy) was to fill the enamel pot with water, leave it for half an hour, then empty out any remaining water. Both seemed to work well. Once it finished blooming, I cut down the watering to about once every two weeks.
It cannot take full sun, but needs bright, indirect light. The leaves should be a bright green. If they turn dark green, they are getting too little light. If they turn reddish green, they are getting too much light.
They also like to be root bound, and in general only need to be repotted every couple of years, in the spring.
So far, mine is healthy, so I'll let you know if I manage to get it to bloom again this winter! Good luck with whatever type you choose.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2013
- Messages
- 556
- Reaction score
- 440
- Location
- Puget Sound, Washington
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 7b
- Country
I have never grown any ones with solid leaves successfully. Here is a site with some photos. http://ivynettle.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/a-blast-of-colour/
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2013
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- 126
- Reaction score
- 31
Eep, then mottled it is. Those are beautiful, though.
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2013
- Messages
- 126
- Reaction score
- 31
It's a Phalaenopsis, and I just bought it at my local grocery store this winter. I got one that had only a couple of open flowers, and it bloomed for months. Once all the blooms are gone you cut the stems right back, and it will happily go about it's own business until the following winter, when it will bloom again (that is the theory, anyway!).
So far, mine is healthy, so I'll let you know if I manage to get it to bloom again this winter! Good luck with whatever type you choose.
That is beautiful, I think I saw some very similar ones when I was window shopping. I might get paranoid about the leaf color, but it's exactly the sort of thing I almost got anyway.
Thanks for the tips, peeps. My first orchid experience didn't work out so well...poor orchid. I will have to take you guys' advice on my next one.
My first orchid experience didn't work out so well...poor orchid. I will have to take you guys' advice on my next one.
This is the feed I use for my Orchids
My orchids have never been so healthy since using this feed.
http://www.akerne-orchids.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=40
My orchids have never been so healthy since using this feed.
http://www.akerne-orchids.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=40
How pretty. Thanks for sharing.
