Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Tropical garden #125, 0 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
So sorry to hear they "got" you with those death row orchids, bunnie. They sure do look nice, and the prices are tempting. Most of those at HD and Lowe's are Phalaenopsis, which are touted as the "beginner" orchid. Just my opinion, but there are lots of other orchids that are way easier to keep healthy. Dendrobiums (which you also see at the box stores) and Cattleyas are much more sturdy in my experience.

If you see one you just must have, (or must rescue . . ) take it home and re-pot it immediately. The trick is to get one that's not already on the way out. The leaves should feel firm and (if it is a Phal) quite stiff and look shiny. The plant should have buds that have not opened yet. IF the one you buy is out in the nursery, (outdoors) then don't take it home and keep it in the a/c. The temp change and dry air indoors will make it drop its buds for sure. Outdoors here is perfect for orchids most of the year. Only if we have cold nights in the winter should you need to bring them in or cover them up. Mine stay out all year, and I cover them when it's cold.

They have them in plastic pots, usually stuffed with sphagnum moss all around their roots, then slipped into a clay pot to look nicer (and it helps them stand up). Buy a bag of "orchid mix" before you leave the store. Take the plant out of the plastic pot and throw that pot away. Orchids have roots that need to breathe, and not stay wet. So after getting rid of the plastic pot, loosen up the soggy wad of moss you will find under there. Chop sticks or tweezers work great. Throw away most if not all of it without damaging the roots of the plant. Put the plant back in the clay pot with orchid mix (it is bark, perlite, charcoal and other chunky stuff that looks nothing like soil, but it works!). There are good directions on the bag of mix. Keep the orchid in the shade, mist the leaves daily with a spray bottle (or I have a pump sprayer for my 70-odd orchids) dunk it in a bucket or bowl of water once a week, and when the last flowers are gone, put it somewhere it will not get direct sun. I use soluble orchid fert in my sprayer to fertilize, but if you only have one or two, putting a tiny bit (about 1/4 the strength the package says) in the dunk water every second week will be plenty.

Here's my Phal Phamily. Two of these came from IKEA for $10 a year ago. Only one has re-bloomed but I think the other will maybe bloom next spring. Most Phals only bloom once a year, usually in the spring for me, but the flowers last for over 2 months so they're worth the wait. The big one lower right is one of the $10 plants, and bloomed for 3 months last fall, then re-bloomed in the spring!