help with orchids

[grawrc]

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good, simple beginner's guide to looking after orchids? Recently I have been given a few and want to keep them alive if possible!

[grawrc]

[Trevor_D]

Mrs _D has a couple. I'll bend her ear and get her recommendation.

(Don't do orchids - they look lovely, but you need A Levels & stuff, don't you?)

[grawrc]

Thanks Trevor! Believe me, I wouldn't even be considering them if it weren't that they're here and have to be cared for!

[tonybloke]

My mate laid-back dave, the orchid grower (and breeder) recomends this book for beginners,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orchid-Specialist-David-Squire/dp/184330788X
(dave has over 300 orchids in his mains-gas heated orchid house, including 2 varieties of vanilla)
he took over his grandads colection whenthe old boy passed away, and some of his orchids are over 50 yrs old!!

[grawrc]

Thanks Tony! Mine will be lucky to see their first birthday! :-[

[Trevor_D]

Mrs _D's basic books are:

"Orchid Basics" by Brian & Sara Rittershausen and

"Orchids" by Michael Tibbs

It depends whether you are growing them in the house or have a dedicated heated greenhouse. Phalaenopsis are more suited to the light of our centrally heated rooms than cymbidium which I always manage to kill. Overwatering is the worst sin in my case, but I must be learning something because of my 8 moth orchids, a rescued zygopetalum - split into 2 - and a dendrobium, plus another which might be an odontoglossum or an oncidium because it has scented sprays of tiny flowers, only two have failed to flower this year. I now use rainwater and a tiny amount of orchid fertiliser when they feel light to lift. I keep a jug of it in the house at room temperature. It takes some time, but I pour the mixture onto the compost until it soaks through, collect the run-off and re-use it on the same plants until the bark takes on a darker shade and feels heavier. Drain well before returning to its pot. They don't like wet roots. They like a bright room but keep out of direct sunlight as the leaves will burn. There are a lot of varieties and each have different requirements. Yes you do need a book. These were a present from my husband and they are beautiful.

See - I said you needed A-Levels, didn't I?

I rather like the bit about me being beautiful, though. She doesn't normally say things like that....

Oops.... think I might have mis-read that bit....

Hope this helps, anyway!

[betula]

http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/orchids-care/

[grawrc]

Thanks Den!
Thanks Trevor and thanks Mrs D. Trevor I'm sure she really meant you are beautiful!" They "'s just a typo. ;)

Serious stuff this orchid raising. Oh well I always tend to underwater so that's a good start. Just the rest to learn. I know one of them is a phaleonopsis because the label hasn't got lost yet, so that's a good start too!

[PurpleHeather]

I have managed to keep a couple alive for two years now.

I found a BBC site at the time which I can not find for you.

I have them in clear pots

standing on gravel in a dish.

I wait for them to get dry then pour water into the top and let the gravel get wet.

The roots should hang over the sides as they get moisture from the air.

Keep them out of a draft at all cost, but they do like a sunny window sill.

When the last flower dies cut down  to the next bud on the stem. A new flower should go and look out for lairy caterpillars on them. (I got one of these after it had well chewed a leaf).


Now you know as much as I do about them.