Hi from NOLA

[KristenJ]

Hi I'm Kristen from New Orleans. I bought my first orchids last June. I have phalaenopsis, dendrobiums, tolumnia and what I think are hybrids. I only have seven orchids right now because I am out of window space for them to grow in! I have been having problems with my Nobile Dendrobium and would appreciate advice on where to post about this. Thanks!

[Carpe Diem]

to the OB! I had to smile when I read your post. I grew on the windowsill and when I was out of space I was determined that that was it - no more new orchids. Now I have a 4shelf wire rack in front of that window and have to be a contortionist when I wash the window. Sorry, I can't help with your Dendrobium, I'm still new to orchids. The experts will chime in shortly.

[gerneveyn]

Welcome! If you're interested, the local orchid society meets at City Park on the third Tues of every month except Feb due to Mardi Gras. The website is NewOrleansOrchidSociety.org - About Us

[Bud]

Welcome and Hello ! Sit back, relax and read postings from some of our members where you can glean precious knowledge on how to care for your orchids based on their wealth of experience...post pictures of some of your blooms...and give joy to others

try some hooks up the ceiling a foot away from the window at 12 inches apart and hang your mounted orchids or those in baskets...you can put a folding table near the windows and put shelvings like tiers to accomodate more blooms...

[Discus]

What's the problem with your nobile? And welcome to OB!

Most nobile problems stem from giving it too much watering/fertiiser love in the winter, when it wants to be bright and dry. Nobile thrive on benign neglect through the winter, but then need a long "summer loving" </Grease>, with plenty of food and water.

Also your post title reminded me of mayonnaise.

[tucker85]

Welcome to Orchid Board!

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

[KristenJ]

Thanks everyone for the welcomes! I've been reading from this site for awhile & figured I should just join already.

Carpe Diem: I know! I said no more & then there was this one at the store that I just had to have.

gerneveyn: I know, thank you, I plan to be there next month, I just couldn't make January because of school starting.

Bud: Thanks, I may have to look into more shelving.

Discus: That's hilarious, I had no idea there was a Nola mayo. I think I had my watering okay through winter, I let it become almost dry before watering it.

The problem is a long story but basically, when I bought it, it had mealybugs. I was told to destroy it if they kept coming back, but couldn't bring myself to do so. Finally I found Rose Rx & have been able to keep it under control for awhile until this week when they were all over the three flowers I did have. I'm worried they are stunting its growth, but not sure.

I bought it with 3 canes in full bloom. Since then it lost all of the blooms and leaves and grew 4 new canes. The new canes are half the height of the originals and it only produced one set of blooms (there are three per set). I was advised to cut off the canes once they lost all of their leaves. I found conflicting advice online about whether they should have been cut or not, but it seemed the consensus was that if they lost the leaves it would get mushy & then I could just take the cane off anyway. Also, that it just needed them for water/nutrients during the dormant period, which should have passed. But I'm not sure if I've done the right thing, so I wanted to ask here. I can post pictures if that would help!

[Discus]

The canes of dendrobiums take the function of "backbulbs" in other orchids - don't cut them away unless they're totally brown and dead. Think of them as hibernation fat for plants - you don't want to get rid of it as it helps them out.

Your new growth should end up roughly the same size as the old growth if not bigger (don't panic if it hasn't yet been a year since that growth started; I picture most orchid growth in yearly cycles); if it's not, you're probably neglecting some aspect of its culture in the growth period (light, water, ferts). Remember that orchids take time to grow, and their pace can at times seem positively glacial! The new-new growth (from this year) on my nobile is currently only about 1/2-1/3rd of the size of the older canes, but it is getting there. Hope this helps!

[WhiteRabbit]

Glad you found us!