My Orchid Project!!

[LetsPlant]

My neighbor is an 87 year old lady that has suffered several strokes in the past years. She had an Orchid house in her back yard yard which butts up to my back yard. Well I help her out as much as I can with different things. She mentioned to me a while ago that she misses her Orchids. She has been growing Orchids for decades. Well I was feeling very bright one day and decided to go on over there and straighten her out. Her Orchid house was trashed. I gutted it and put it back together. When I was done I went and knocked on her door. When she answered I asked her if I could show her something. We walked around back and her jaw dropped to the ground and her face lit up brighter than the sun!! She was so happy she didn't know what to say. I told her now she can get back in there!! I have been taking care of these Orchids for a few weeks now and will continue. There are to many pictures to upload but you can see them on my blog if you click the following link.A Yard In Fort Pierce: Orchid Project Update #1 !!
I am a beginner so any input would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you very much!!

[charmbutterfly]

Well what a wonderful thing to do!! The world needs more nice people like you! Job well done! Bless your soul!

[philoserenus]

that is a very very kind and sweet thing that u did, it is always these little things in life that matters the most to ppl in need ^^ awesome job!!

[LetsPlant]

Thank you for your kind words!! I seize every opportunity to turn a frown upside down!!

[kiki-do]

Aaron I cried when I read what you did for that lady.
Thank you for making her so happy.....truly amazing and inspirational!
From what I can see, it looks like some Cattleyeas and Dendrobiums (more than that, but I recognize a few of those)....some are very very rootbound. They could use repotting on some and a little TLC will bring them around again. They don't look in bad shape, actually, just some sprucing up. How much time and effort do you want to put into caring for these orchids?
There are culture sheets here on OB Forum.
If you repot, soak the beegeebers out of the orchid roots and pots to make the roots somewhat workable. Also the medium used needs to be soaked 24 hours ahead of time.
Is there any orchid greenhouses or perhaps an orchid society nearby who you could contact and perhaps they will walk you through what needs to be done?
What you've done is so kind and you've made my day!

[Dorothy]

Aaron
Glad you have come on 'board'
Your story is wonderfully inspiring. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Here are the OB's Genus Care Sheets - http://www.orchidboard.com/taxonomy/term/12
Here are the OB's Specific Species Care Sheets - http://www.orchidboard.com/taxonomy/term/13
and Member's Articles - http://www.orchidboard.com/taxonomy_dhtml
Explore the board, check out the Member's Galleries, ask questions and Enjoy!

[cb977]

Hey Aaron...you are a special kind of person! WOW!
What you did for your neighbor was inspiring and I'm sure you hold a special place in her heart!

As the chids come along under your care, we'll help all we can to get them identified. Keep us updated.

[LetsPlant]

I am so glad to join you all!! You are so nice to offer all this help! Thank you soo much!! I am willing to do whatever it takes to make them the most beautiful Orchids that they can be!! She said they havn't bloomed in years so if I can do that for her it would mean the world to her I'm sure!! I have been taking care of them for a few weeks now, they did look worse off then. They are looking much better than when I started. I know pretty much nothing about Orchids so if I need to repot just say it and it is done ( with instruction please) You have already told me so much. I had no idea you had to soak medium for 24 hours first, or roots but makes sense. I will start on that this weekend. Do all of them need repotting? Do they need bigger pots?

[kiki-do]

Without actually being there to see for myself, I would say to ask the lady who owns them which ones need repotting. She will know. It might make her feel great to be of assistance to you, also. Yes, it is best to go up a size. You will have difficulty removing the rootbound ones from their pots...I could see in one picture that they were practically fused onto the clay pot. Soaking will help loosen up the roots some. You want to repot without doing much damage to those roots.
That last site Dorothy gave you has all the info on repotting, fertilizing, watering, etc. That is an awesome site right here on OB. Check that out, and you will be golden. Good luck Aaron.

[Ross]

Aaron, you are a special person. Wonderful job you did. While just about everyone here recommends repotting on some sort of schedule my Dad grew Cats in St Pete for years and never repotted a single one, ever! My sister (who lives in Lutz) threw them out back under a oak tree and ignored them. They have bloomed every year. So I am thinking there are many schools of thought.