Choosing a new orchid

[Rhonda Svoboda]

I learned an important lesson this summer. The last 6 months brought a flurry of purchasing new orchids. However, I was choosing these orchids regardless of their cultural requirements.
In short- I bought them before investigating whether or not I could meet their growing requirements, such as light, temperture, etc... So now I have these beautiful orchids but I am scrambling to provide for their needs.
I live in Michigan and I have to overwinter them in a state thats cloudy and cold in winter. I just hope grow lights can get them throught the upcoming fall & winter.
So a piece of advise to new orchid growers. Before purchasing a new orchid, read up on it and make sure you can provide for it. Don't buy it and then find out how to grow it!!
Happy growing
Its a learning process

[estación seca]

This should be a sticky thread! Rhonda has learned the hardest lesson!

[realoldbeachbum]

[QUOTE=Rhonda Svoboda;936483]IBefore purchasing a new orchid, read up on it and make sure you can provide for it. Don't buy it and then find out how to grow it!!

The story of my life, Rhonda! I go about it backwards: See a bloom that I LOVE, buy the plant, then realize I cannot provide the correct growing conditions. I am slowly learning, though. Plus, I am gradually improving my growing conditions to accommodate different plants. SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ORCHIDS AND SO LITTLE SPACE!!!

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Thanks all. Glad to know I am not the only one. Good point about adapting your growing space. I am getting a high quality t5 like grow light soon to overwinter my high light orchids.

[camille1585]

I killed way too many masdies and Miltoniopsis when starting out, convinced I could somehow get around the fact that the summer temperatures in my apartment are just too much for them to handle without lots of babying. Then I tried over and over again to grow orchids that need high humidity and would love a terrarium, without actually having a terrarium to put them in... Live and learn!

[rbarata]

Anyway, sometimes we get a plant that needs what we have to offer...but it doesn't like it.
That's when we post in the board...

[Rhonda Svoboda]

So glad for this community !!! Am I allowed to put my original post as a sticky? I am only a junior, or beginner orchid.

[Keysguy]

Rhonda......how long have you been growing orchids?

[Rhonda Svoboda]

I've been growing orchids for a few years. I started growing them exclusively for a year.

[Leafmite]

I grew orchids for many years, then discovered that there were different kinds of orchids that did not suit my conditions but had to try anyway, and now I am mostly growing what I grew in the beginning...just smaller Cattleyas instead of the large ones. I basically have the same growing conditions as you do...dreary, dim winters, cooler temperatures in the winter, lack of humidity, etc. I did buy fluorescent lights a few years ago but mostly for the other plants.