Do you choose orchids wisely?

[playtime8978]

I take risks and just have done, as of yet I don't know what my conditions are best for and I am kinda experimenting. We have differences in temps and light in different parts of the downstairs of the house ( upstairs just way too cold, no central heating) Reading this thread and another I am now a little concerned I have just bought as a Masdevallia Veitchiana x Constricta x Davisii and it seems these are not the easiest of plants to keep alive and get to bloom, I also bought Coelogyne massangeana, Odontoglossum grande and Paphiopedilum micranthum. I got them all on Ebay, I know I am crazy but I am going to have some fun and learn a lot off these, they were not exensive so if my murderous side comes out although I will be sad I wont have lost too much money. No more orchids for a while ( except project orchid and maybe a TC )

[kavanaru]

Carrie, if you have cool conditions you have half the way done for most Masdevallias very important is that you water them frequently (do not let them dry out!!!) but do not keep them too wet... and fertilize very little... the trick I have gotten from my friend is: water regularly with pure water, and fertilize once a month with 1/4 - 1/3 the recommended concentration... and then increase it slowly as long as you do not see any negative effect on your plants (normally leave tips would become yellow and dry out!)

Odontoglossum grande (now Rossioglossum grande!) like sit also cool...

I think you are on the right way... and do not hesitate to ask here in OB, if you have any questions...

[playtime8978]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Carrie, if you have cool conditions you have half the way done for most Masdevallias very important is that you water them frequently (do not let them dry out!!!) but do not keep them too wet... and fertilize very little... the trick I have gotten from my friend is: water regularly with pure water, and fertilize once a month with 1/4 - 1/3 the recommended concentration... and then increase it slowly as long as you do not see any negative effect on your plants (normally leave tips would become yellow and dry out!)

Odontoglossum grande (now Rossioglossum grande!) like sit also cool...

I think you are on the right way... and do not hesitate to ask here in OB, if you have any questions...

Thank you so much cool is pretty good for me and if it likes water it will like hopefully like me as I tend to give them a bit too much so far ( already rotted one phal root system ) I Love this board everyone is so kind helpful and friendly I dont feel embarrassed asking basic questions now as no one seem to think I am stupid, It is this boards fault I keep expanding my collection

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by playtime8978

as no one seem to think I am stupid

well... we normally think that, but we are too polite to tell the people what we think...
Just kidding!!

I agree with you, that's one ofthe thing I really like of OB... everybody has enjoyed it, and respect everybody else a lot... we all have been in teh same "newbie" situation at some point of our life, and know how it is... I would have loved to have a group like this when I started with orchids many many years... and I was very pleased to find OB when I started growing Orchids indoor... it was like starting from scratch again...

[playtime8978]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

well... we normally think that, but we are too polite to tell the people what we think...
Just kidding!!

[cb977]

I try to get plants that will be able to take the intense heat of summer but always had to pass on the cool growing beauties. I've been lucky enough to be able to start a tank (or two) for the Masdies and such but the majority of the collection are pretty much safe bets.

[cb977]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

well... we normally think that, but we are too polite to tell the people what we think...
Just kidding!!

[quiltergal]

Do I chose wisely? Hmmm... I love a challenge and have successfully bloomed plants that in my conditions should not have bloomed. You never really know unless you give it a try. Early in my orchid growing career I only bought what I knew I could grow. I got bored growing the same old things. So I started adding a bit more variety to the collection, and have been successful with those. My problem is I buy plants that end up being too big for my space. Apparently I'm size challenged!

Nichole, you need to order some Masdies from Ivan Komoda in HI. He specializes in temp tolerant Masdies and Miltoniopsis. My conditions aren't a lot different from yours. Cold in the winter, hotter than blazes in summer. I bought my initial batch from him in June and they all survived the summer and are all blooming. I occasionally have to assist a bud out of a sheath due to lower RH but it works for me.

I. N. KOMODA ORCHIDS - MASDEVALLIAS

[greenbean]

I'd say the only risks I've taken so far are my rescue chids, only because you can never be sure if they'll pull through to begin with. That being said, I'm still pretty new at this and I'm working on expanding my collection and maybe pushing the limits of my culture conditions a little, just like I do outside. But every choice I make has to be carefully researched before I make a final decision. I don't have the space or money to be buying new plants willynilly and hoping that they'll survive. Instead I buy plants that should succeed and still hope that they'll survive . Give me a few more years though and I might be taking more risks.

[MuscleGirl'sHobby]

Oh thanks! Checking out IN Komoda now! I've been trying so hard to hold off ordering any more orchids until the project plant an it's TCs... but, that is becoming increasingly difficult


Oh, and I mean to say "choose wisely"... don't you have to be old to be wise?