Orchids

annebr
annebr Member Posts: 730
edited 6. Nov 2010, 10:58 in Community Chit-chat archive
This is a Thank You for Joan, this time last year Joan gave me advice on an orchid plant I had been given, what to do after it had flowered.

Well I followed the advice and the plant has grown and the flowers are now blooming.

Joan Thank You for the great advice.

Anne

Comments

  • janie68
    janie68 Member Posts: 1,186
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Yaay!

    I love orchids, glad you are enjoying your lovely flowers

    Janie x :)
  • joanlawson
    joanlawson Member Posts: 8,681
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Anne

    How kind of you to remember, and I'm so glad that my advice worked for you.

    My orchids have been beautiful recently, and one has had flowers for months now. They are the only house plants that I have ever had any success with.

    Joan :D
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  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,975
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Lovely Anne

    Oddly joan

    they are the only houseplants I have failed with.

    Think Rob likes them too - or is that amyrylis?

    Love

    Toni xx
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have recently discovered orchids - so far I haven't killed either of the two I own, much to my amazement. Do they thrive on neglect? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • annebr
    annebr Member Posts: 730
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    DD I also kill everything but I followed Joan's advice and my plant has reflowered. It did spend about 6 month looking like a stick with leaves but now the flowers are opening.

    I think the best advice is that they don't like their bums being wet so we bought some glass beads for the bottom of the pot.

    Anne
  • joanlawson
    joanlawson Member Posts: 8,681
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Orchids don't thrive on neglect, but many people kill them by overwatering.

    Many people make the mistake of assuming that since orchids are native to tropical rainforests, they must be watered several times a week. Unfortunately, watering this frequently will kill the roots of any orchid very quickly. The general rule of thumb for orchids grown in the home is to water every 5 to 12 days, depending on the type of orchid, the temperature the plant is grown in, and the time of year. During the warm summer months when days are long, more frequent watering is required than in the cooler, shorter days of winter.

    Always allow the water to run through the pot, and never stand the plant in water.
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  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    That explains why mine are dong OK then - I water them when I remember and not very much at that! They have been done today and that will be it for at least a week. Do they like being misted? When I have seen people fiddling with them on telly they spray them. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • joanlawson
    joanlawson Member Posts: 8,681
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi DD

    Yes, orchids do like being misted as they would grow in a humid atmosphere in the wild.

    I've just counted up, and one of my orchids has still got 35 flowers, and it's had even more earlier on. The flowers last for months, so you get your money's worth, even though orchids are expensive.

    Joan :D
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  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you joanlawson, I shall mist mine then when I remember! I haven't spent more than a fiver on my orchids, the one I bought last week has about a dozen buds on it so I hope I don't kill it off before they open! DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • joanlawson
    joanlawson Member Posts: 8,681
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I find that the only problem is how well they have been looked after in the shop or garden centre before before you buy them. If they get too dry or too wet, the buds will fall off when you get the plant home. But if that does happen, you can cut the stems back to the second notch up, and the plant should recover and flower again if it is given the right conditions.
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