Hello, my name is... and I am an addict.

[H2O Diva]

Hello my name is Cassie and I have 2 addictions. Bikes and Orchids. Well, really we could expand that to plants (my vegetable garden is out of control) but orchids are by far my favourite.

I've tinkered with orchids for years but I would still consider myself a noob. Although people surrender their ailing phals to me frequently and I do very well with those.

Recently I went on a drunken online shopping spree and obtained a few orchids that are likely out of my league. This is the reason for my emergence from lurking. I need help with these babies.

So here's what I bought that has me cringing:

A vanda. I rescued a dying one from Home Depot years ago that bloomed a few times but then I had a big move and gave it away. In a wave of nostalgia I bought this one and I'm worried. It's doing OK but it was an expensive plant and I really want to do right by it.

Then there's this chiloschista lunifera which I realize now was just a bad idea. But I'll do my best.

And finally a sacrochilus cecilae which is no longer available for sale where I bought it. Yup, I'm pretty sure that one is beyond help.

I also bought a miniature dendrobium and a paph but I'm pretty confident I can make those work in my space.

So thank you for being here and such a wealth of information. If anyone has tips for the vanda, chilo or sacro, I'm all ears.

Cassie

[No-Pro-mwa]

Sure do wish I could help you, but I don't grow the ones you have posted. I am just still laughing about the drunken orchid shopping. You are killing me here

Oh and welcome to the forum, you have come to the right place, there are allot of knowledgeable people here that can help you.

You need to look at the forum threads and then post in those places, which could give you the best results.

[AussieVanda]

Ahhh, morning after regrets from a big night out, at least it was just orchids you bought and you didn't wake up wanting to chew your arm off! (Not sure if that's an Australian only saying or not)

As for your 3 irchiororchids, all of them generally have the same temperature range of cool to warm.

The sarcochilus (aussie species!) and the chiloschista will do fine in shaded to dappled light however the vanda likes bright light.

My chiloschista is mounted on cork btw.

How are you growing yours? Glass house, inside?

[wintergirl]

Welcome to Orchidboard. Funny part about the alcohol infused online orchid shopping. Now you got to do some sober reading If you can rescue phals and had a vanda before, you have the skills, you just got to fine tune them to your new plants. Pictures are good (when you get 5 posts) and tell us how you are growing them. I have 2 dendrobiums and many vandas in clay pots with chunky bark.

[H2O Diva]

Originally Posted by AussieVanda

Ahhh, morning after regrets from a big night out, at least it was just orchids you bought and you didn't wake up wanting to chew your arm off! (Not sure if that's an Australian only saying or not)

We have a similar saying in Canada, we call it a coyote.

How are you growing yours? Glass house, inside?

Right now, I've got the Sarco suspending in a large vase. I'll post picks when I can. It was doing really well in my greenhouse when I first got it, but then it looked like it was getting too much light or too hot. We've hit a warm spell (32 to 36C for a high in the green house) and that seems it was too much. So now I've placed it in the vase and it's outside where it will get east sun for a few hours in the AM, temps 12C for a low 28C for a high.

The plant came to me with inflorescences on it, I'm hoping (but not holding my breath) that it will still bloom.

---------- Post added at 08:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 AM ----------

Originally Posted by wintergirl

Welcome to Orchidboard. Funny part about the alcohol infused online orchid shopping. Now you got to do some sober reading If you can rescue phals and had a vanda before, you have the skills, you just got to fine tune them to your new plants. Pictures are good (when you get 5 posts) and tell us how you are growing them. I have 2 dendrobiums and many vandas in clay pots with chunky bark.

Thank you Wintergirl.

I have done a ton of reading, here and elsewhere on the net. There's quite a lot of info on vandas but it's harder to find info on the sarco and chilo. I've found generic information on there needs but not a lot of practical hands on management advice.

The chilo came to me mounted on tree fern bark and I've now suspended it in a large vase as I described in my last post about the sarco. I think part of the problem is that I'm not used to miniatures and the moisture/humidity is hard to regulate with these little guys. When I saw the thread about vandas in vases, I decided to try something similar. So I went out yesterday to a rummage sale and bought all the large vases I could find.

[theloyalplum]

Welcome and good luck! But always remember, joining OB is a double edged sword.

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by theloyalplum

Welcome and good luck! But always remember, joining OB is a double edged sword.

I you got that right, my "wants" list just keeps getting longer when I see the beautiful blooms and plants of fellow members.

[silken]

Welcome to Orchid Board. I don't grow the ones you bought except one Vanda. But I am sure there will be lots of helpful tips from those that do.

[H2O Diva]

Originally Posted by theloyalplum

Welcome and good luck! But always remember, joining OB is a double edged sword.

Very true. But I've been lurking for awhile. I think I've already been sucked in. I just decided to go public with my issues.

[theloyalplum]

Originally Posted by H2O Diva

Very true. But I've been lurking for awhile. I think I've already been sucked in. I just decided to go public with my issues.

You know what they say! Admitting there is a problem is the first step to recovery!