newbie looking for purchasing advise
 

Hi there!

I have been trying to get into keeping orchids for multiple years. I bought a phal 5 years ago, i finally got it to flower in august and hasn't stopped since.

I bought a few since that first phal and none of them have survived including another phal at the Ottawa orchid show that ended up having root rot and i fought with it for 3 months before all the roots disappeared.... Also bought a cat and a vanda.

Needless to say, I'm a tad frustrated but since this phal is doing so well i want to try for more. My mother has a cymbidium that is mine but i don't want to kill it... I'd like to get some pointers before i take it.

The Ottawa orchid show is tomorrow and I'd like to get at least one plant. What should i look for or avoid in the potential plants I'd like to buy?

Thank you,
Stef

hi Stef! glad you found us!

I can't really say for sure what the problem with Phals has been for you - tho I know for myself, and others, over-watering is frequently a culprit.

Cyms are pretty easy to grow, for the most part, but they do need a lot of light, and many need a period of cool night temps in late summer - fall to initiate spikes, so most do best if they can be grown outdoors, at least from after last threat of frost/freeze in spring, to just before first threat of frost/freeze in fall. Tho short periods of temps around freezing shouldn't do any harm.

If you are mostly growing in your home, look for plants that don't need a ton of light, and like intermediate to warm temps, not requiring any cool periods to bloom. I don't know if there's a particular alliance you are leaning towards - many phals, paphs, oncidiums, dens, some mini-catts do well on windowsills.
I'm sure the vendors at the show would be happy to suggest plants that might do well in your growing conditions too.

Have fun at the show!

Welcome to Orchid Board :welcome:

Knowing what will do best for you is difficult to say as it varys for everyone. Phals do really well for me for example. I find Dens fairly easy, they are a bit more forgiving than Phals but otherwise many of them like similar conditions (i.e. standard house temps)

Thanks for the replies! :)

I've only lost one phal, bought it at last year's show and didn't repot it right away because it was blooming. When i did the rot was so bad i only had two roots left. (should i repot immediately in the future?)
The others were a vanda (i think it was light shock and didn't recover) and an oncidium... (no idea) :)

Thanks for the cymbidium pointers!

I think I'll try to find a dove orchid and a catt. I'll post pics asap ! :)

Thanks again!
Stef

Welcome to OB Stef. Hopefully the vendors should be able to assist if they know where you plan to grow your plants.

As for the Phals dying of root rot, there are many discussions on Orchid Board about that. I have found that if I don't slide the plant from it's pot when I bring it home from the store, and remove the large tight wet mass of moss in the centre of the roots, that I usually lose the plant to root rot. Since I always do this now, even if its in bloom, I haven't lost a phal. I usually can pull out enough moss to fill another pot! Then I care for it until it is finished blooming and re-pot properly after that.

If you are growing under lights, or in a bright window, your choices increase somewhat to cattleyas, possibly cymbidiums, dendrobiums and oncidiums to name a few. Phals and Pahps are good choices for lower light conditions. Some phals also need a cool period in the fall which could account for why yours didn't bloom for a few years.

Have fun at the show. Try to check roots and general plant condition on anything you want to purchase.

Hi Stef :)

I think the best way to start is to stick with one or two species/types of orchids.

Growing requirements can be quite different depending on what you choose..
The vanda for example: high light, high humidity(80%), warm temperatures, dry between watering.
The phals: low light, high humidity(70%), warm temperatures but can tolerate lower temps down to about 60F and may need this to bloom, do NOT fully dry between watering.
The oncidium: usually med to high indirect light, low to moderate humidity(40%), cool to medium temperatures, do NOT fully dry between watering.
The catt: High indirect light, moderate to high humidity(60-70%), cool to high temperatures, must fully dry between watering.

Also, the potting media for each is different and the watering schedule, fertilizing schedule etc can be different.

So do a bit of "research". It may be little more than going to the AOS website and reading some of the culture sheets and pick one or two types of orchids with similar growing condition.
The different potting and watering to me is less important.

Hope that's helpful and welcome to OB :D

Since you live in Canada, I would avoid vandas. They require a lot of light and humidity. They also take up a lot of room when they get big. I would think that phals and small, compact growing catts would do well. I don't grow paphs but they might also do well. Compact growing, fragrant phals are becoming popular. I have several and really like them. Ask the vendors what plants are easy to grow and easy to bloom under your conditions. Good luck.

Welcom to the Board Stef! Once you start learning what you can grow in your conditions, you should check out Cloud's Orchids in Ontario, and Paramount Orchids in Calgary. Each place has a great variety, and I am sure they would be able to help you with any questions! I am sure that soon enough every nook and cranny will be filled with happily growing orchids! Happy Growing!

Hi!

The orchid show was great although a bit rushed since my son's a bit undewr the weather... :(

I ended up getting a dendrobium and a cycnode. I'll post the technical names and pics in a bit. should I keep posting here for advice on those two specific plants? ie: ideas on the health of the plants in pics I would post, specific care etc.

Thanks again!

I will definitely be visiting those 2 sites to find my peristeria elata The Blazing August :)

Hi, i seem to be having trouble attaching pictures...