toni
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Plants Moderator
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North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11712
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:19 pm Post subject: My first Orchid ...edited to ask, blooms are gone what now? |
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Every year, year after year I walk by all the gorgeous Orchids in the houseplant section of the garden centers and kind of yearn, long for and downright drool over the colors and beauty of the blooms. But I have restrained myself because I just couldn't afford those prices for a plant I wasn't even sure I could keep alive.
Yesterday we made what has become a weekly trip to Lowe's for bits and pieces of whatever our latest home improvement project is and yes that does include plant shopping when they are available 
This little one was sitting lonely and forlorn on the sale shelf and I just couldn't maintain a hard 'nope not gonna buy it' attitude towards it.
So meet my new Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) I have no idea which species it is or the variety since the tag only listed Phalaenopsis. But she is a pretty little thing.
Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
Phalaenopsis up close ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
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Last edited by toni on Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:47 pm; edited 1 time in total
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cherylad
Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome orchid! You've found a good home at Toni's.
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sewNsow
Iowa z5
Posts: 129
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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Good for you Toni!javascript:emoticon(' ');These are not hard to keep. I like mine in a clear pot so I can see the moisture & root condition.I like them because they don't as a rule get "stuff", red spider & white flies.Scale could be a problem if it is in your house.And maybe mealy bugs which I hope we both never see.javascript:emoticon(' ');
I almost forgot to say it is very pretty.
Doris
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toni
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North Texas, Zone 8a
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, I forgot to mention that I only paid $4.49 for it, seemed like a bargain to me.
Cheryl, I hope I can give it a good home. At least it will be better than the trash can they would have thrown it in a couple weeks from now.
Doris, thanks for the tips. I lived in south Florida about 35 years ago and anyone can grow anything down there so I tried my hand at Orchids then. But down there keeping them alive and healthy was 'a piece of cake'
Right now I have it in front of the west facing living room window but with the sun still so far south there is no direct sun. The tag says medium light so I will move it to a north window when the summer sun starts hitting the window.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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eileen
Forum Moderator
Scotland
Posts: 18528
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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What a little beauty!! I wouldn't have been able to resist it either especially as it was all alone on the sale shelf. I hope it survives for you and brings you pleasure for years to come.
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kathyd
Southern New Jersey
Posts: 407
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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Toni, that was a bargain. I have a few orchids and my phaleonopsis is the best of the bunch. It rewards minimal care with new flower spikes each year. I call it "Old reliable." Very pretty. 
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sewNsow
Iowa z5
Posts: 129
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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Around here Walmart & Kmarts have orchids that they term ice cube orchids.Supposedly you just put 3 ice cubes or 1/4 cup water in the pot once a week . I don't do that.I just pour some water through it.I wouldn't leave it sit in a pot that doesn't have holes in. You got a good deal on 1 that is still blooming.I've watched them at Walmart & gone back & got some for $3 when the flowers fade.Only thing I hate is I don't know how to propagate the phaels. I think it can be done,tho.
Doris
( photo / image / picture from sewNsow's Garden )
( photo / image / picture from sewNsow's Garden )
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Frank
Administrator
Originally Galway, Ireland
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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That's a great price and very glad you gave it a home Toni (I felt sorry when reading your description).
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chocolate
Australia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Toni
'She' is so lovely, and what a bargain.
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toni
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North Texas, Zone 8a
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| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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The orchid is finished blooming and all the flowers have dropped off.....what do I do with it now? Where is the best place to keep it until it's ready to flower again?
It is still sitting in front of the east facing window, but at this time of the year with the sun still to the south there is no direct sunlight coming in yet.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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sewNsow
Iowa z5
Posts: 129
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| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Toni,Your orchid will be fine in the east window.Your sun is hotter than up here.The window will probably be too hot for it soon.The leaves will burn in hot sun. Phaleonopsis orchids don't require direct sun.Does it look like there are too many roots for the pot size? Now would be a good time to move up a size if it looks crowded. They do like tight quarters but if it looks like there are a lot of roots on top of the pot it probably should be repotted.Whether or not you repot just keep it barely moist. Let it get almost dry & then pour water through it. I fertilize with 1/4 t fertilizer to a gallon of water at most waterings(when I think of it).I'm not fussy about what kind I use. You probably won't want to get a special orchid fertilizer for 1 orchid. I wouldn't.Once in awhile pour plain water through just so salts won't build up. I've never had that problem. It will rest & build up energy & hopefully add a new leaf & more visible roots.Cool temperatures in the fall is what initiates bloom scapes,for me.
Hope this helps,
Doris
hopefully better shot LOL ( photo / image / picture from sewNsow's Garden )
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toni
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North Texas, Zone 8a
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 1:59 am Post subject: |
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Doris, thanks for the information. It is in a small ceramic pot that it came in from the garden center so I can't see any roots anywhere. Should it be in a pot where the roots can breathe? I think this pot was strictly for pretty.
I was planning on moving it to a bright north window once the sun hits the west window in about a month.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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sewNsow
Iowa z5
Posts: 129
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:53 pm Post subject: |
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Toni, I went back & looked at the photo. I think you will find that it is in a plastic pot sitting down in the ceramic. They put them in ceramic because they are so top heavy.I think if you grasp the stake close to the base it will lift right out. Then you can see the roots through the plastic pot. Since you are in FL. a north window should be good. Your sun will be too hot. I have to use a lace curtain in summer here.
Don't be afraid of it. They are easy. About the only way you can kill it is to water it & leave it set in water
Doris
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toni
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North Texas, Zone 8a
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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Nope, no plastic pot in there. I think I will clean out a small clay pot and replant it in there.
Actually I live in north Texas, our summer sun is way hotter than Florida
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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