Moved My Orchids to Iowa - Orchid Board

Blondie · #1 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 09:54 AM

Hello, all. It's been a while since I've been on here. I was busy planning a move from Chicago to Iowa. I had a 12 hour car ride with two cats and 5 orchids. Ha! Luckily, this was about a month ago before the snow and ice came, so I put the orchids in the back window of my car. All I have left is phals and one mini (killed everything else) and nothing is blooming, so they all fit quite nicely in the back window to get some sunshine.

They have adjusted well to their new home. No one is dead yet. Phew! And, get this, I moved to my hometown and even though I lived here years and years ago, I was given a newcomer kit. Inside, there was a gift certificate for a free plant from the local flower shop. I went over there last night and they had an ORCHID!! So I got it for free. It's a basic phal NOID. Nothing special. But it does have some buds, so it might bloom. Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't blast!!

I'm in southwest Iowa and I just learned that there will be an orchid show in Omaha, NE in March. YEAH!

I have good light, but also kitties who like to eat things, so I'm thinking about getting a couple of small grow lights. Do you know of any good inexpensive ones?

Happy orchiding!!

shakkai · #2 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 01:40 PM

Welcome back! Good to hear from you again - and great to hear that you, your cats, AND your orchids are settling into your new home.

If you make it to that orchid show - be sure and take loads of pictures!

Congrats on the free orchid, as well! Can't pass up a free orchid!!

caseydoll · #3 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 05:55 PM

Welcome back Blondie! I was wondering where you went! I was getting a little sad thinking that you weren't coming back.

It sounds like your move went well. Are your kitties adjusted to the new place yet? What kind of grow light are you looking for? If you tell us where you would be putting it probably someone will chime in with some great suggestions.

Ross · #4 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 07:30 PM

I just got some of these and they seem to be pretty awsum --> 105 Watt Compact Fluorescent

Grandma M · #5 (**permalink**) 12-15-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsfrid

I just got some of these and they seem to be pretty awsum --> 105 Watt Compact Fluorescent

Which one did you get? Did you use only one or did you use a row of them?

cupcake · #6 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 11:58 AM

Good luck in your new home! Hope your kitties are happy! I had to have our 19 yr old cat put to sleep 4 weeks ago, he followed us from England to Ireland and back to England again. His last few years were the happiest of his life. I'm sure yours will settle down no bother!

**irphrog** · #7 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

I had to have our 19 yr old cat put to sleep 4 weeks ago

Sorry to hear about your kitty, cupcake :-(

Blondie · #8 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 08:43 AM

Oh, I'm so sad to hear about the kitty!!

My boys send you their love. They are settling down well in the house and are fascinated with the birdies outside on the bird feeder. I couldn't have one of those in Chicago, so they are unfamiliar with tons of birds being around!

About the lights... you can just use a regular lightbulb like that? That seems very handy. In theory, I could just place my orchids near regular lamps?

I'm a little worried about them. I've never had them during the winter, and I worry they will get too cold near the windows at night. But then again, all the books say it's OK. I'm also slowly learning the winter watering thing. My new house is not nearly as dry as my old apartment, so I'm watering less.

Funny story about how the minis died. I had two of them in a little glass cage. My parents came to Chicago to help me move and packed my apartment while I was at work (they are amazingly nice!). My mother accidentally PACKED the orchids into a box. They were on wood, so she didn't realize they were live plants. I asked her where they were that night when I realized they were gone and she said they were out in the truck. Oops! It got down to 30 degrees that night! So the orchids were packed in newspaper and stayed in the truck in the box for about 3 days. Needless to say, they were dead when I got home. She felt SO bad. I told her it was fine. The fact that she came to help me totally made up for it. And it was an honest mistake. So they went to orchid heaven. But you know what that means? I can buy MORE!! Bwah ha ha!

Blondie · #9 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 10:08 AM

PS: Here's a pic of the new phal, but I can't get the photo to turn the way I want it this morning. Alas, you will have to tilt your heads...

justatypn · #10 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 08:36 PM

glad you found your way back to the neighborhood. Ross has a nice set-up with his collection. I have 2 65 watts for added light in my breakfast nook and could use something brighter for the winter months. They are rather inexpensive to run and an excellent alternative.

By the way, what is that white stuff outside the window