any orchid growers?

Just wondering if there are any orchid growers/collectors on here? Ive just recently got into them, ive only got one for now but I plan to get quite a few more soon. For those of you that do have them, do you buy pre-made orchid "soil" mix or make your own?

Aric,

There used to be a member here from GA who was an orchid grower. Have you done a search on orchid, you might be able to pull up his pictures - they were amazing. I can't remember his name now.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...hlight=orchids

Raul does it, and I dabble... I don't have as many as I used to, but I have a couple.

I have a few miniatures
hoping to set up a light rack and start collecting full size ones soon :)

I've noticed a few snake keepers grow orchids.. is this just coincidence, or what. I don't grow orchids, but my mom keeps a garden at my parent's house. All I've ever done was pull weeds tho and put down fertilizer.. nasty

I dabble.

I have 6.. I think lol. I love them, but I haven't gotten my Vanda to rebloom after I bought it last year.. I'm a novice orchid grower, but I really like them a lot.

I have a greenhouse full of orchids(and rats). I like to use coconut bark mix, last longer than bark. I have some pics of plants I work with on my website. I have many different types. There are 1000's of varieties.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

I have 6.. I think lol. I love them, but I haven't gotten my Vanda to rebloom after I bought it last year.. I'm a novice orchid grower, but I really like them a lot.

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Vanda's are a very high light orchid. In Florida many people hang them under trees. I have some in the greenhouse in the brightest spots. Lots of humidity and lots of light for those guys. Killer flowers, blues, reds, oranges, big bold blooms.

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Originally Posted by worldcupkeeper

Just wondering if there are any orchid growers/collectors on here? Ive just recently got into them, ive only got one for now but I plan to get quite a few more soon. For those of you that do have them, do you buy pre-made orchid "soil" mix or make your own?

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PM me if you have specific questions on a plant.

Here is one of my favs
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w...dCattaleya.jpg

Raul lets see a picture your greenhouse. I think that would be cool.

Thanks
Brock

Are there any that can be grown indoors w/o anything fancy? I think they're beautiful, but don't want a green house to be successful with them.

I plan to get a blue Vanda when I set up my light rack.
so gorgeous!

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Originally Posted by Brock Wagner

Raul lets see a picture your greenhouse. I think that would be cool.

Thanks
Brock

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I will have to take some, there is an enclosed and outside one.

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Originally Posted by blueapplepaste

Are there any that can be grown indoors w/o anything fancy? I think they're beautiful, but don't want a green house to be successful with them.

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Low light orchids like a phalenopsis can grow near a sunny window, about 40% sunlight light(not direct sun)

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

I plan to get a blue Vanda when I set up my light rack.
so gorgeous!

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There is a plant called ascocenda which is a mix of Vanda and Ascocentrem, anyway there is one called "Princess Mikasa" that has amazing blue blooms and make flowers easier and more often. vandas are really big plants and really need to grow to bloom and the ascocentrem are smaller so the combo is the best of both worlds. I have a pic of one on my website, i think, I need to redo that thing, one day I will have Nate trick it out!

Gosh, here I was all gonna chime in "I have an orchid!" when the only thing printed on the label is "cymbidium", which after a little googling is as helpful as saying "I have a python!".

Yeah....what kind? :rolleyes:

Anywho, I got an orchid for my birthday. I'll look closer at the tag tonight, see if I can figger out what KIND of cymbidium I have so y'all can point me in the right direction of some good keeper tips. =)

I've been dabbling with a few different jewel orchids and a couple of the bigger ones. I've been mixing bark, coconut fiber, peat moss and New Zealand sphagnum moss. I started with just bark and sphagnum but it broke down within a year. Coco bark doesn't break down fast, but it doesn't offer anything to the plant. That's not a big deal with supplementing during waterings.

I adore jewel orchids.
I have about 6 different varieties and they are all exquisite :)

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Originally Posted by cassandra

Gosh, here I was all gonna chime in "I have an orchid!" when the only thing printed on the label is "cymbidium", which after a little googling is as helpful as saying "I have a python!".

Yeah....what kind? :rolleyes:

Anywho, I got an orchid for my birthday. I'll look closer at the tag tonight, see if I can figger out what KIND of cymbidium I have so y'all can point me in the right direction of some good keeper tips. =)

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Cymbidiums do real well outside in Southern Cali. They need the temps to get down into the 40's(in winter) to intiate flowering. Leave it under a patio cover or tree so it gets almost full sun in winter and 75% in summer. They make long lasting flowers. i have a buch outside:gj:

many orchids need a month or so of reduced night temps (and/or reduced water) to induce blooming.

Oh Raul I had no idea you grew orchids.. yay now I have someone to help me out. lol

My 'vanda' is a princess mikasa.. so it's a hybrid then? Mine is in my southern window.. that's the most light I can give it. Would it need supplemental light to bloom again?

That's a lovely red cattleya.. I don't have any of those. I have 3 phalaenopsis, a dendrobium that I just picked up (it's not in flower, I think it just finished, hence I got it cheap) a paphiopedilium, a jewel orchid (forgot the latin name for it..) and a hybrid odontoglossum/oncidium.

I have all of them in my east window except the vanda. The paph. is shaded a bit.. is that correct they like lower light? I really am a noob when it comes to orchids but I've always loved them and I decided to get brave and get some. How often should I fertilize them? I have liquid fertilizer made especially for orchids.

Wow Raul, I just looked at you orchid pics on your site. They are absolutely gorgeous....I just want to paint them all (And I hate painting flowers...:8:)

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

Low light orchids like a phalenopsis can grow near a sunny window, about 40% sunlight light(not direct sun)

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Thanks for the suggestion. I looked at them and they are gorgeous! I may have to give it a try. It's funny because I work in a plant research lab, but I have anything but a green thumb. But maybe I'll figure it out. Never hurts to try. Any good advice or links to some good tips for being successful with them?

Went to my first orchid grower today and picked up my first phalaenopsis. I also got a ton of pics from the orchid growers greenhouse that ill get up tomorrow. Didnt realize there were so many orchids :).