Starting Over, A New Collection?

[katierkincaid]

Hi all! It has been a very long time. As I am wanting to start over with my orchids. I am left with nothing, so that means that I have to buy new ones. I have a Maui Orchidarium in my kitchen. Can I get any recommendations for Orchidariums? Its a 2 bulb unit with a fan and a humidity tray. Any tips or comments welcome

[Cyplover]

Hmmmm Maui orchidarium you say... Hmmmm if I were to put any orchids in there I would get Phrag.bessae den.lawesii pretty much any phal Paph.sanderianum (if your up for a challenge) Paph.villosum any phsychopsis and Stanhopea nigroviolacea also bulbo.frostii and bulb barbigerum are must haves which you can get Most of them at Carter and Holmes or Andys orchids

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Is there a particular reason why you wouldn't consider growing orchids outdoors in Alabama?

Does it snow where you live?

[CTB]

Welcome back....starting over that could be a good thing, now you'll know what you really want to collect and just not anything starting with O.

[Becca]

I personally think a phrag would be to large for an orchidarium.

Katie I also meant to mention to you that I have luck with paph's outside of my orchidarium. I even grow a few at work in an East facing window sill and I have one in bloom currently.

As far as inside the orchidarium, the possibilities are endless. Are you wanting any mounted orchids or potted?

[katierkincaid]

Cy... I have had Phrag.bessae but it was before I got my orchidarium and it didnt like not having enough light. My Phals DO NOT like it in there, its to hot but they enjoy watching from the outside of the orchidarium...

King... That is a very good question. It snows one time, if any a year. But it does get cold like 20s sometimes too. Humidity is horrible here too. I really would love to get a vanda if it would live. But it wont live indoors here. Ideas on that?

Cb....Thanks for the warm welcome I agree, now I can really look through what I had and what I want and decide more carefully what to buy this time.

Becca....I saw photos last night in your picture gallery of your orchidarium and my tripees over to you. I was thrilled! I have never had any paphs. Hmmm.. As far as mounted or potted I really don't mind. I want to get those few I told you about but I want something also I can put into the orchidarium. I know you have ideas....

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Okay, Vandas...

You were probably picking out Vanda hybrids.

Vanda hybrids have very limited cold tolerance, and not all of them to boot.

Ascocendas with Vanda coerulea in the gene pool tend to be hardier in cooler conditions.

Vanda species, however, I think you would do very well with. There are a number that are quite tolerant of cooler temperatures. One of them, as I've mentioned already, is V. coerulea. Another is V. coerulescens. With V. coerulescens being the most cold tolerant of the two and probably of any Vanda to date.

Most Vanda species usually fall under the intermediate range or intermediate to warm range. Very few are actual cool growers, cool to intermediate growers, or strictly warm growing.

Something to consider is that you probably were growing them in a basket without any potting media.

Guess what...

Vandas grow just fine potted with large grade wood chips! Vanda roots like lots of light though, so maybe a clear plastic pot or clear plastic bucket with holes drilled into it.

Bright indirect light or growing under strong lighting is recommended.

Vanda species also tend to bloom at a smaller size, and some are even small enough to fit in a house without a problem. One such species is V. parviflora.

[katierkincaid]

I am scared to buy a vanda. At one point I had purchased a Vanda Sansai Blue ’Acker’s Pride' and this is before I knew anything about it. I had such a green thumb with roses, and bushes, and anything that grew out of the ground I was up for the challenge that orchids presented. I got it and I put it in my orchidarium and it did very very bad. So I took it out and left it to look into the orchidarium, and it never recovered. It was probably devastated that I did that to it, but I had no idea what I was in for with this one.
Let me tell you I was in for a BIG shock! Not only was it very difficult for me, but in the end I learned alot about humidity, temp, lightning, bugs but I'm no where near where I need to be knowledge wise about orchids. I have a few questions, maybe you can help me out with ?

[katierkincaid]

As far as the outside enviorment here in North West Alabama. Let me give you some background on the seasons, then maybe you can tell me if you think Vandas will do good out there. If so I will getting some
Winter is harsh. Days look about 40-50 deg, Nights look like 20-30. Not much sun during winter. Alot of nasty days with rain. Low Humidity.
Fall is nice! Days look about 70-60 deg, and Nights look like 30-40. Sunny most of the time. Low Humidity.
Summer is sick! HOT! Highs are anywhere from 90-110. Lows look like 70-80. Humidity is very high, 60-85 percent. Not alot of rain. Sunny all the time.
Spring is good. Highs 60-80. Lows 40-70. Rain is iffy. Sometimes there is alot sometimes there is not. Humidity is okay, about 40-60. Sunny.

Knowing this now, what do you think about putting vandas outside here ?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by katierkincaid

I am scared to buy a vanda. At one point I had purchased a Vanda Sansai Blue ’Acker’s Pride' and this is before I knew anything about it. I had such a green thumb with roses, and bushes, and anything that grew out of the ground I was up for the challenge that orchids presented. I got it and I put it in my orchidarium and it did very very bad. So I took it out and left it to look into the orchidarium, and it never recovered. It was probably devastated that I did that to it, but I had no idea what I was in for with this one.
Let me tell you I was in for a BIG shock! Not only was it very difficult for me, but in the end I learned alot about humidity, temp, lightning, bugs but I'm no where near where I need to be knowledge wise about orchids. I have a few questions, maybe you can help me out with ?

Yeah, like I suspected, it was a hybrid.

You've never tried the species Vandas. How would you even know or compare?

Try Vanda coerulescens and grow it potted outdoors protected from the frost. If you feel uncomfortable with it being out in temperatures as low as 20 F to 30 F, bring it in at night.

Thank me later.