Perseverance and the tale of a Brassavola little stars

[KokeshiHappyGreen]

I won’t go into a lot of detail, but this is an update from my (discouraged at the time) post entitled What part of orchid culture don’t I understand?

Now, having learned my local growing conditions and adaptations, my little stars has not only had to have her pot upsized twice, but has bloomed, grown many new roots, and looks to have another double growth with possible bloom growing in sheath!


What I mainly wanted to offer at the moment is some words of Encouragement to all you other newbies out there: Don’t ever give up, or let anyone (even “experts”) tell you you have no chance of success and shouldn’t bother! Either they have selective memory and don’t recall all the failures They had themselves...or they have exceptional first time luck.

Here’s some things I learned the hard way; I hope they will be helpful to you. And thank you to all the folks here on the forum that gave me advice to get me started!

* figure out the Natural growing parameters where you plan on growing your orchid. (Heat, lighting, humidity, etc)

* figure out how much you can Alter/adapt those Baseline conditions for the orchid you’re thinking about trying..and if you can afford and easily obtain the needed equipment, etc to make those adaptations

* pick an orchid that matches your Baseline and the adaptations you can Easily make....and pick only One species and One specimen

*get everything set up Ahead of purchasing the orchid....and monitor all the parameters for a number of weeks to see how diff external factors like outside conditions affects things, and how. Can you Still maintain the needed conditions for your orchid?

* pick your orchid; make sure it’s Starting our healthy; take it from me, it’s Very Difficult to Nurse an unhealthy one back to health

* don’t fiddle with things too much once you bring your orchid home; that’s why I’m suggesting to get all the needed parameters settled in Beforehand

* enjoy, and plan Ahead for pot upgrades/medium changes, depending on your chosen method; keep supplies on hand and under expiration dates for things like fertilizer. Don’t wait last minute and find yourself up a creek

Here’s some pics of my gal now🌞

[dounoharm]

good job! I am a cattleya freak too....so I plan everything around them....love that floof!

[fooferdoggie]

mine never thrived in s/h other plants didn't to but them. pone blood and the spike blasted the other bloomed but they just did not look happy. put them in bark and they took off.