can you show off your orchids? how do i keep them alive?...

[Dancing Fire]

they die if i water them. they die if i don''t water them.

 

[chiefneil]

I used to collect orchids - I probably had around a hundred at one point. You need to know the species in order to give it right level of care. If you post the species I can look up the recommended care for you. If you don''t know the species, post a photo.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 5/18/2008 9:43:20 PM
Author: chiefneil
I used to collect orchids - I probably had around a hundred at one point. You need to know the species in order to give it right level of care. If you post the species I can look up the recommended care for you. If you don''t know the species, post a photo.

i know they''re the indoor kind. i have kill many different species.

 

[sera]

I brought a little stick with two leaves home from Hawaii... now I have 5 (?) large pots plus I''ve given away at least twice that many.

I really don''t have a green thumb... I think you just have to make sure they are in a spot they like. I found filtered sunlight the best. In the winter (I''m in Los Angeles), I move them to the side of the house so they don''t get frost. I also make sure the soil they are in is VERY filtered. The sprinklers water them and I never feed them. When I need bigger pots, I gently divide them and put them in new soil. Other than that, I really don''t know- I''ve just been really lucky.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Two things.
First, have you tried phaleanopsis (sp) orchids? They tend to be the most hardy.

2nd, are you planting them in soil? I know it sounds silly, but orchids are not supposed to be in soil and planting most types in it will kill them.

 

[neatfreak]

LIGHT. You need to make sure they have enough light. And although you are watering them, are you watering them correctly? If you water them too much the roots can rot. You want to make sure they are nice and bone dry before you water them, then don''t douse them.

 

[movie zombie]

and many don''t want direct sun.

movie zombie

 

[Dancing Fire]

nope, no soil and no direct sunlight,but they still die.

 

[butterfly 17]

Here is a picture of one of mine.

I am like you DF, I used to kill all my orchids, but I think I got the plan right.

First, I only water them when they are dry. Next, I don''t water them with a lot of water, I actual spray them with a water spray to make the soil moist and then after that I leave them in the sink to let any extra water soak out. I have them double potted. They are actually in a pot that has holes on the bottom and then I put them back into the decorative pot once the water soaks out of them.

I don''t put them in direct sunlight, but I do have one that is right on my window sill, but the sun never directly hits it.

So far, this has worked for me and I have had them come back from last year.

 

[butterfly 17]

Here is the one on my window sill in the kitchen.

 

[butterfly 17]

Here is the one in my bedroom..

 

[butterfly 17]

Here is a picture of the last one in my bedroom so you get an actual idea of where I have it placed.

I only water them about once every two weeks btw. Very little maintenance.

 

[movie zombie]

DF, to every gallon of water i add two caps of eleanor''s vf-11, 28 drops of shultz 10-25-10 plant food, and a drop of superthrive.........

perhaps yours need to be repotted?

movie zombie

 

[stryeyes102]

We found if we taken ours with us in the bathroom when we shower, they LOVE it.. The bathroom gets all humid and they do really well.

Other then that, im sorry i cant be of more help!

Good luck

 

[Dancing Fire]

very nice B17

my leaves just turn wrinkle then yellow and they die.

maybe i'll try another location and see what happens.