show us your indoor Orchids...

[mochi]

 

[mochi]

Phew...last picture, I promise!!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Wow Mochi what a lovely collection...the lady slipper looks kind of scary, but still beautiful. Also, those hanging plants...are those the roots that are exposed?

 

[DiamanteBlu]

Wow Mochi - what a collection! I''m impressed! Love it!

 

[mochi]

Thank you, Blu.

Italia..those are called vanda orchids and yes that is their root system. They do not grow in potting medium. Like I said, I don''t have these orchids any more...they are in orchid heaven.

 

[DiamanteBlu]

BTW DF, I have an orchid [DD gsve it to me a number of years ago]. It sits by the kitchen window in the off season [I am in NH] and it goes out on the screened porch it the summer [if I remember]. I have no idea what it is potted in [looks like bark], I water it when it looks like it needs it [once/week, maybe?] and it seems happy. It actually blooms about once/year. I have taken a bunch of pics but I can''t find them [still in the camera maybe?]. I will look some more and post what I find or I''ll take a new one for you.

 

[Linda W]

Mochi, I will say it again. You have a green thumb. Those orchids are drop dead gorgeous.

All of your flowers are also, on the other thread. OMG, how do you do it?????????

Please come to my house and take care of my plants for me.

 

[Beacon]

I always have some orchids, right now I only have this cymbidium. It''s on it''s second bloom and is fading. Seeing Mochi''s great pics made me want to go get a new phalenopsis.

This cymbidum should be outside, but I brought it in as the sun was burning it. It grew so many flower spikes this time, around 7 spikes. I do very little for the orchids, water once a week and ignore.

 

[chrono]

Date: 5/24/2009 1:43:09 AM
Author:Dancing Fire
i''m still killing them.

what''s the secret when it comes to keeping indoor Orchids?

what size pot ?
how much sun do they need ?
how often should i water ?
what type of soil ?
do they need fertilizer ? what brand ?

1. Size depends on the roots. Short and few roots means a smaller pot. Large and lots of roots means a larger pot. If the pot is too large for the roots, then it will not grow well. Do not base the pot size on the size of the plant (leaves).

2. Sun strength depends on the type of orchids. Phals need the least light. It must be diffused lighting or you''ll get leaf burn. An east or south window is best. Dens, catts and cyms need lots of light but indirect lighting to grow their best and to flower.

3. Watering is roughly once a week. Most orchids tend to like to dry out in between watering. The most common problem with their care is that many orchid owners over water them. I soak the pot in water for 30 minutes once a week. This is enough time for the roots to absorb the water and it turns green. I then drain the pot and put it back. As you get experienced, you can tell when it needs watering by the weight of the pot. The skewer method is also good. Stick a bamboo skewer in the pot. If it comes out dry, it needs watering. If it is still moist, leave it alone.

4. The type of soil also depends on the orchid variety. Phals like chunky bark and coconut husk. Those with smaller roots do well with a smaller and finer type of mix. Do not use regular potting soil or it is guaranteed to die. Some growers have success with peat moss but the caution is that peat moss tends to hold more water so watering will be done less often.

5. Believe it or not, fertilizer isn''t really necessary. I''ve gotten my orchids to flower every year without any fertilizer. I believe it needs a high nitrogen formula and low phosphorus but don''t take my word for it. Any brand will do but as usual, don''t over do it. Orchids really require very little care once you get the hang of it.

 

[whitby_2773]

ok - here''s 2 photos of one of my orchids. i''ve only got 2 orchids at the moment, but they''re thriving. i think the light must be right, and they get watered once a week. they get a lot of light, but no direct sunlight. i don''t fertilize them; i''ve fertilized orchids in the past and it''s only succeeded in killing them. last year was the first year i had them, and they only put out one spike. this year i have 3 on each plant (not entirely opened yet), so i''m pretty pleased. the place where i keep them never gets overly hot and they get plenty of fresh are as one is next to an open window, and the other is next to the front door (often open).

 

[Dancing Fire]

very nice whitby...

the leaves on mine just wrinkles and dies. maybe not enough sunlight ?

. i''ll place them by the window and see what happens.

 

[whitby_2773]

forgot to add the second photo! here it is....

 

[fatafelice]

Mochi, I am so impressed!

I have three slipper orchids, two of them for over a year. They haven''t died, but they haven''t rebloomed either. I haven''t figured out the best place for them in our new place, and they don''t seem happy. Paphs are supposed to be the easiest of all, but I am a lazy plant owner, so I am not optimistic.

Here is one of mine when it bloomed last year...

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 5/24/2009 10:56:39 PM
Author: fatafelice
Mochi, I am so impressed!


I have three slipper orchids, two of them for over a year. They haven''t died, but they haven''t rebloomed either. I haven''t figured out the best place for them in our new place, and they don''t seem happy. Paphs are supposed to be the easiest of all, but I am a lazy plant owner, so I am not optimistic.


Here is one of mine when it bloomed last year...

gee that''s pretty, felice....

 

[whitby_2773]

DF -

one of the things i like best about my 2 orchids is their leaves. both mine have rich colored, healthy, hugely shiny leaves, and the photos dont do them justice.

i''d definitely try them near a window with lots of indirect light. let us know how you do, please? i''m quickly learning that growing orchids is like a science!

 

[megumic]

Hey DF. Sorry to hear you''ve got orchid trouble! I picked mine up on a whim at IKEA (can you believe it?!) and it has been thriving for nearly 6 months! I have it in a small pot on the window sill where it gets plenty of sun, and water it about 1-2 times per week. It''s too late to take and upload pics right now, but I will tmrw. I usually have about 6 blooms at all times - love it!

Also love that so many of us on PS have amazing orchids! Love all the photos!

Good luck DF!

 

[icekid]

Love this thread!

I just adore orchids, but I am seriously not up to the task of growing them. I can''t even keep a house plant alive

mochi- I am so impressed! Between your gems and your flowers, you''ve got tons of beautiful colors in your life

 

[stryeyes102]

Here is my baby.. So far i haven't killed him... yet.. although i forgot to water him before i went out of town this week!

I have no idea what type it is as i bought him at our local farmers market; from an orchid farm. All i knew is the color and red sparkle made me happy, so i bought it.. (kinda my philosophy with gemstones too

)


p.s- Please forgive the cat hair.. My furball likes to see what its all about lately

Mochi- Your orchids are gorgeous!!!

 

[chrono]

Sorry for the poor picture quality. I’ll have to take updated pictures soon because she’s flowering again! She always blooms for me annually and sometimes surprises me with 2 spikes at the same time. She’s a harlequin phal. This is my third year in keeping her alive and thriving.

 

[chrono]

This is my newly acquired spotted phal. I''ve had it for nearly 2 years now.

 

[rhbgirl24]

Wow. Gorgeous!

I have 4 at home in my bathroom. Will have to take pics and post now! My question is- what do you do when they are done blooming? I''ve heard that you trim the stem right below the blooms to force another bloom... is this true? What have you guys done that has worked so well?

Thanks!

 

[geckodani]

I have a phalenopsis at work that seems to love the reception desk, LOL. I flood the pot and drain it all off once a week, and pretty much ignore it other than that. I have new shoots coming off, so I must be doing something right!

My mother has dozens of them, and they always rebloom for her. I dont know how she does it!

ETA: Mochi - your collection is gorgeous!

 

[chrono]

Date: 5/26/2009 1:32:57 PM
Author: rhbgirl24
Wow. Gorgeous!

I have 4 at home in my bathroom. Will have to take pics and post now! My question is- what do you do when they are done blooming? I''ve heard that you trim the stem right below the blooms to force another bloom... is this true? What have you guys done that has worked so well?

Thanks!

It depends on the condition of the plant. If it is healthy, there''s no reason not to cut it just below the lowest bloom (top node) to get it to reflower. I do this once, then after the second bloom, cut it all the way down to let the phal rest.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/24/2009 10:32:45 AM
Author: mochi

My national flower! Oh, please teach me how to grow orchids. Or should I start with cacti?

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/24/2009 10:41:42 AM
Author: mochi
Vanda with a friend

Padparadscha colour!

 

[rhbgirl24]

Date: 5/26/2009 3:56:58 PM
Author: Chrono

Date: 5/26/2009 1:32:57 PM
Author: rhbgirl24
Wow. Gorgeous!

I have 4 at home in my bathroom. Will have to take pics and post now! My question is- what do you do when they are done blooming? I''ve heard that you trim the stem right below the blooms to force another bloom... is this true? What have you guys done that has worked so well?

Thanks!

It depends on the condition of the plant. If it is healthy, there''s no reason not to cut it just below the lowest bloom (top node) to get it to reflower. I do this once, then after the second bloom, cut it all the way down to let the phal rest.

That sounds great! Thank you for the information! 3 out of the 4 are blooming right now and have been since Feb.

 

[rhbgirl24]

I went home and took some pics of my very small collection!

Here is all of them:

 

[rhbgirl24]

Spotted

 

[rhbgirl24]

Mini Magenta

 

[rhbgirl24]

magenta again