I have admired them for years and now want to take the plunge. If anyone has a small one I would love to trade. I have many named dayliies/hosta/perennials.
Thanks
Teresa in KY
What is the best orchid for a beginner?
I have kikis from my red epidendrum (poor mans orchid) that are ready to go. The red ones are so common here that no one wants them. Poor babies. They are very easy to grow. Just put them in plain old potting soil. They aren't very fancy as orchids go, but they bloom like crazy.
http://davesgarden.com/pdb/go/55826/index.html
I canīt trade, but I recomend the Epidendrums. Hybrids, specially Laeliocattleyas, Brassolaeliocattlleyas and such, are usually tougher plants than the natural species, and harder to kill. May be a good thing to calibrate your touch on orchids that can take quite some damage.
Thanks for the input
I see you are living in zone 6a. How about a pretty Phalaenopsis to start? You can enjoy its flowers for months. Place the plant in a spot in your house which would be suitable for flowering African Violets. During watering it is a good idea to keep the water out of the crown and DON"T let the pot sit in a wet saucer. Occasional fertilizer will help. Your house has probably a natural temperature fluctuation, which helps in reflowering your Phal for another season.
And as Monocromatico says, Cattleya hybrids are a good idea. A fall flowering plant of that type is not difficult at all. Grow the plant outside during the summer months in a protected spot, water and fertilize it well and watch it come into bloom in fall.
And don't complain if you become addicted.... :-)
http://www.orchidmall.com/
I am such a newbie. I stay on the Hosta/Daylily forum. I guess you have to start somewhere! Could you post a picture of your plant? Thanks so much for the offer. Can I send something in return?
Teresa
I agree with RUK- phalaenopsis are a very good beginners plant. I have quite a few hybrids and a number of the species and they are all very forgiving.
Encyclia radiata is also a very easy orchid to grow and bloom.
The only thing bad about cattleyas and cattleya hybrids is that there are some that are very fussy about being repotted at the wrong time.
What are the ones that are white or pink with the little spots? I know I sound ridiculus to you orchid collectors :)
You mean these?
Hi, Indashade
Yes, isn't that just so pretty! We went to the Nashville Garden Show and my sixteen year old took so many photos of the orchids. All of them started in the twentyfive dollar range. I was afraid we would kill it.
Go ahead and get a couple of phalaenopsis-- they're perfect beginner's orchids!
I like to get them as unbloomed seedlings because it's such a surprise when they bloom. I also REALLY like the species phals.
Phals are easy to grow and great houseplants. I started out with one (a valentine's gift from my husband) and now have 12. 2 are in bloom. I love the ones with smaller blooms. I've rescued several from the reduced plant shelf at the local Lowes for less than $10. One even still had a bloom.
I have an orchid I purchased about six yrs ago, it had purple blooms when I bought it, it has never bloomed since, and I have hard time keeping the three leaves alive, it is in bark, do you think it would be better to put it in dirt?
kareoke,
I assume it is a Phalaenopsis you are talking about?
I would not put it into dirt, but I would perhaps examine the roots, repot into fresh medium and compare notes on culture in general.
There are many web pages on growing Phals, here are some
http://www.ahners.com/Exotics/Phalenopsis.htm
http://www.robert-bedard.com/orchids/phal_culture.html
http://www.carterandholmes.com/phacare.html
and many more...
hope this helps
thank you RUK the roots are white and on top of the bark, I will check out the sites you posted.