Hello from metro Detroit! - Orchid Board

shiba_ennui · #1 05-11-2021, 07:10 AM

Hey everyone! I'm a carnivorous plant grower (mainly Dionaea and Nepenthes, but also others) that recently is branching out into non-carnivores for the first time.

I'm a high school student that's interested in film (talk to me about Tarkovsky and I'll be in love), art history, and golden age sci-fi books. Apart from gardening, I also like restoring old fountain pens and typewriters, as well as sending postcards and snail mail all over the world!

I'm currently in the hospital after a tough year and surgery and I got gifted two Oncidiums last week. I immediately started Googling about how the heck I keep these alive and happy and I ended up here! So many of my questions have been answered from just browing around, this is a super helpful resource.

The Orchid bug seems to have bitten me and now I'm a bit obsesed! I'm dreaming about all the windowsill Oncs, Neofinetias, and B Nodosas I'll have one day when I get home! They seem really intimidating for someone new so I'll stick to my two Oncidiums for now.

When I'm recovered and COVID is over, I'd love to check out some Orchid greenhouses or show in Michigan!

Ray · #2 05-11-2021, 07:23 AM

Welcome to the board.

Important Orchid Growing Concept #1: Unlike terrestrial plants that do almost all of their respiratory gas exchange through their roots, epiphytic orchids do a great deal of that through their roots. That means that you are not only charged with providing moisture to them, but they must also be exposed to air, so that gas exchange is not stifled.

IOGC #2: Orchids are “niche” plants, each having its own, unique set of cultural parameter requirements. That means that they cannot all be grown the same, but there are enough different ones with similar demands that you can still successfully grow a variety of them.

Hope you heal fast!

DirtyCoconuts · #3 05-11-2021, 08:01 AM

Howdy and welcome!!

Swift recovery

Paphluvr · #4 05-11-2021, 08:31 AM

Welcome to the OB from north of I-69 and west of Port Huron. Hoping for a speedy recovery and a continued interest in orchids. Unfortunately, a number of our MI orchid greenhhouses have closed (even before COVID) and shows have been canceled because of it.

shiba_ennui · #5 05-11-2021, 08:32 AM

Thank you for the warm welcome!

The aeration that the roots demand is presumably why orchids are grown in long fiber sphagnum or a bark mix rather than regular soil? I have a few bags of sphagnum from my other plants so if I end up getting an orchid that prefers more wet feet I can use some of that!

I was super overwhelmed initially at how many kinds there are but I have a grow light setup as well as south, east, and west windows to grow in. I’m excited by all the possibilities! Fragrant, less finicky orchids that stay smaller in stature are my preference and there seems to be lots of options for me.

estación seca · #6 05-11-2021, 08:49 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board! Hope you are on your feet soon.

Mountaineer370 · #7 05-11-2021, 08:58 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board, and I too am sending you get-well-and-get-home-soon wishes.

I'm also in SE Michigan (Ann Arbor area). We have a number of orchid societies in our state. Unfortunately, in-person events like meetings, shows, open houses, etc. have not happened for over a year. I'm glad you found this forum!

shiba_ennui · #8 05-11-2021, 04:09 PM

Mountaineer370

Nice to see another Michigander! Here’s hoping things re-open soon. I know the Ann Arbor bonsai people I know are going through the same thing. For now, I’ve got the people on this forum at least!

SADE2020 · #9 05-11-2021, 04:48 PM

Nice introduction. Get well...

shiba_ennui · #10 05-11-2021, 05:01 PM

I just checked out your Instagram and your orchids are beautiful, SADE!