PLEASE HELP! New C&H seedlings have bugs!!!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by emmajs243

But I just haven't known which orchids, other then Vandas, do well in baskets or exactly what all you do to put them into baskets! It is definitely something I need to research more! So I really just haven't known how catts do being in a basket but just that it doesn't seem like they are sold in a basket! I guess I just assumed that this meant it wouldn't be a good option for them!

Don't obsess about the container... focus on the effect that you're trying to achieve. First, a basket is just a pot with extra holes - it will behave differently when filled with sphagnum, with bark, or with nothing at all. It will readily admit air, will dry out faster than a pot with the same medium. You also have to factor in your own pattern of watering. So the important thing in deciding what you're going to provide for an orchid is to learn the differences between what they want. An Oncidium will want to stay wetter than a Catt... in a basket, sphaghum may work well for ithat one, but a Catt more likely will want bark, medium or large depending on the size of the plant. So look at the outcome (the "what") that you're trying to achieve, and work backwards to decide on the "how'"part. (Hint, there's usually a lot more than one "how" for each "what")

[emmajs243]

Roberta! You have helped me so much! You also totally gave me my new thread and what I need to learn next!
I have tried figuring it out just based on internet research but the internet just isn't answering the questions this time! I really want to to know the "What" for different orchids. I want to know everything about all different orchids of course BUT I want to be able to know that Catts want to be drier and Oncidiums wetter! I want to know all of this so I can work back from the how.

When you worded it that way it suddenly hit me, that is what i am missing! I have done the research, I understand the purposes of many different medias and clay vs plastic pots and on and on but what I haven't exactly known is how to apply those to each kind of orchid because I haven't known what sort of balance each orchid wants.

Does that make sense? Like that just totally pinpointed my problems and the reason I for like 3 different threads I have posted, at least!

Next thread....Best Orchid books to learn detailed knowledge on all types of orchids? & best books to learn in depth knowledge about specific orchids such as, Catts or Vandas!

[Roberta]

In general, books are too general, unless you get into some of the really detailed, more scholarly works and then making sense of it will be a challenge. First order of business... join an orchid club. See what people in your area are growing, talk to them about the "how". If you can manage a trip to a place where orchids grow in the wild, where you can not only see, but feel the environment - life-changing. (For pure accessibility I recommend Ecuador, many environments packed into a relatively small area, with good infrastructure and tours, moderate price) My go-to resources are orchidspecies.com for quick info on habitat, and above all, Orchidwiz On the pricey side for a beginner, but the Charles and Marge Baker culture sheets on individual species give tremendous detail, and for hybrids cultural advice is based on the mix of component species. PC but not Mac... the equivalent of an entire shelf of books.

[emmajs243]

I was just looking into orchid wiz actually! SO that is really good to know about their culture sheets being such a big help!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by emmajs243

I was just looking into orchid wiz actually! SO that is really good to know about their culture sheets being such a big help!

This is where you can make the connection between the hybrids and the species... and I think that one can't really understand the hybrids without understanding the species. I think that there are at least 5000 Baker culture sheets in OW (maybe more since they also licensed some that were not in digital form and scanned them) Minimum/maximum temperatures, media, rest requirements are all in there, as well as habitat info for each species.