Orchids at a good price

I noticed that Save-on-Foods had their Phalaenopsis orchids that had finished blooming, on sale for $10.98. I've never seen any other place put the price down that low unless the plants were half dead. These plants were really healthy. I just thought I'd pass this along in case anyone is looking for orchids and has a Save-on-Foods in town. I realize not all the stores would necessarily have them but you might want to check it out.

Of course when you buy them when they're not in flower you don't know exactly what they'll look like. You might get a white one kind of like this.

Or you might get one something like this.

Or this.

Or one with yellow. They're all pretty nice.

Sandy, your orchids are spectacular! thanks for posting them, theyre inspirational.

And I've passed the info on to my orchid collecting friend in the Kootenays.

Rosemary

Thanks Rosemary. Phalaenopsis are beautiful orchids and one of the easier types to grow as a houseplant since they don't need as much light. An east-facing window is perfect. The blooms last for several months. As long as they're not watered too much or transplanted into soil you can't go too far wrong. This would be a good price for someone to try an orchid. Since they normally sell for anywhere from $19.98 to $39.98 for ones in bloom they're a bit pricey for someone who isn't sure if they can grow one.

Sandy

I love the Phalaenopsis ....... just make sure they have healthy aerial roots. I've noticed that a new Canadian supplier was removing the aeriel roots and planting the ochids in moss, resulting in a rather slow but sure death sentence for them.

This link is handy for newbies wondering how to repot an orchid: http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/repotting/phalaenopsis/index.html

Gardenworks is also selling orchids just now. I swore I would never buy another one as I kill them, but last week as I was walking past them I could smell this wonderful aroma. I couldn't believe it was one of the orchids as you don't often get the perfumed ones for sale unless from a specialized nursery. Unfortunately it had no tag on it but it was only $12.99 ! It is maroon and purple spotted with strap like leaves. This one IS planted in moss, so should I re-pot it into orchid bark Lilypon ?
Heather

Lilypon--I qualify as an orchid newbie and that repotting article is terrific--thanks so much for the link.

My Phal is languishing but does have one new leaf starting--lost most of its 8 blooms on the rough trip home last fall, but the 2 that survived lasted until nearly Christmas. Sandy's pictures have revived my interest.

As per Jeanne......Heather I think you should take a picture, get it identified and ask your question (re planting medium) in the orchid forum. All I've kept happy and alive in the orchid family is the Phalaenopsis. My father gave me a gorgeous orchid with long strap like leaves but it needed to be chilled to set bud and unfortunately it froze (guilt is keeping me from remembering what it was called). :'(

I'm glad the link will be useful for you Rosemary.....I've had no trouble at all with the bark but it is trickier watering correctly when they are planted in moss.

This message was edited Mar 1, 2005 4:47 PM

Does the moss go all the way down to the bottom of the pot Heather? Sometimes they pot them in a bark mix and then put a layer of moss on the top. You should wait until it finishes flowering and repot when it starts to put out new growth, which is usually in the spring starting in about March.

We got ours just before Christmas, and it's still got the blooms on it and looks like it did from the first day. Ours has about 2cm of moss on top of the pot, and when I tried to did below that, it's a bit damp, but seems like lots of roots and maybe some sawdust. I didn't dig much so as not disturb it. Ours is white with purple innards. (I'm so technical, LOL, I want all of you to be able to understand my botanical language!)

Sandy, I picked up one from Save on Foods. The leaves are really healthy and the flowering spike hasn't dried up at the end so it's possible I'll get a few more flowers. It's supposed to be white.

I have it in my office and I just took some pictures but I took it out of the pot and it has the moss right down to the bottom except for a couple of polysterene (sp?) popcorns and it is quite damp with some of the roots being brown. It also doesn't have any aerial roots either. Just as well it smells great - it doesn't seem to have much else going for it !! You know, I have some orchid bark already at home so I think I'll take it home tonight and re-pot it.
Can you tell, with all my posts today, that my boss has been out of the office all day !
Heather

It would be good to ID it first Heather......just in case it's an orchid that needs to be damper than the Phal.

As a precaution, many store-bought orchids are potted in moss but that is not the ideal media. A mix of bark, perlite and a handful or charcoal is what I use for my phals...it dries out more quickly than moss. If too wet, the roots can rot rapidly. It may not be happy in an office building for long as they prefer a humidty of at least 50%.

Post your picture Heather......Todd is an orchid expert!

Glad to see you here Todd.

I 'm at home now and I decided to leave the orchid in the office for now (it has only been there for a couple of days). I am trying to post the pictures but I haven't mastered this digi cam thing yet, of course my DH says "why don't you read the instructions"! I can transfer them to browse on the computer but can't remember how to e-mail them since the last time. It is not just me - my daughter says it is not very user friendly.
Thanks Todd for the info. I will post photos as soon as I can figure it out.

Heather is your orchid a Cymbidium (this is the one, with strap like leaves, that I killed) :S They also have a fragrance.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/search.php?search_text=cymbidium&submit=Search

Some of these need to be kept consistantly moist.



This message was edited Mar 2, 2005 2:34 PM

I went back to Gardenworks this lunch time and took the info from another plant of the same kind. It says on the tag
Zga. Adelaide Original 'Charcoal' X
Z.Crinitum 'Loggiges'
Z 1179
So if anyone has any info on this one it would be very much appreciated.

Heather(who is still trying to sort out the photo thing)

Well it's a ZYGOPETALUM. This is what I could find:

There is pictures of a couple of Zygoneria in the Plantfiles but not your cross: http://davesgarden.com/pf/search.php?search_text=ZYGOPETALUM&submit=Search

Once you are able to download a picture you should add your cross there.

Thank you SO much, Lilypon, that first photo is almost exactly the flower. I think it is a keeper ! It smells almost like hyacinths
Heather

It sounds and looks wonderful and I'm glad I was able to help you with it.

Zygopetalum...now that's not a very common orchid to be sold at a local nursery. Here's what I know about them. They need bright light but not blazing sun. A direct east window should be ideal. I expect slightly brighter than that needed to keep African Violets blooming nicely. They need to be kept moist in the summer but drier in the winter. DO NOT SPRAY THEM! They dislike wet leaves. Humidity around 60% is ideal. They are prone to leaf spotting if they get wet or the humidity is too low. They need cool to intermediate conditions (55-60 F nights, 65-75 F days) and ought to do well with the Oncidium alliance. Your office may be too warm and dry for it. They are not the easiest orchid to grow (that's what two of my books say......I did have one once but killed it!)

Heather, you've got mail.

Heather, it sounds like you've found a treasure here. Bring it home quick! Hmmm, I might have to run by garden works tomorrow and have a look...

Linda

You have a beauty there, Heather. WTG!

Thank you for the info Todd, it is now home from the office and I will try and give it the conditions it needs. I am glad you mentioned the spraying water thing but now I feel the pressure rising as, if YOU killed one, what chance have the rest of us got !

You have mail, Jeanne.
Heather

For all you Orchid lovers buy 2 get 1 free.-of their choice
http://www.huronview.on.ca/orchid_list.html

You've got more mail Heather.