raise orchids

These plants are fascinating. G and I joke that we don’t have any kids, but we have ourkids. They’re a lot less fuss and they don’t cost as much. The photo is a bit dark…I’ll try for another this weekend.

I’m so excited…I’ve been watching the bud on my white phalaenopsis grow and grow, (almost sci-fi in its appearance) and when I got home from work today, it had started to open. I’m posting a couple photos, taken with my new very snazzy 8.1 pixel camera, a Christmas present from my sweet brother.

I bought one a while ago and another one to keep it company. They’re gorgeous! Phalalenopsis is the easiest to grow. The white one has a huge bud and I can’t wait for it to bloom. I bought one for my mother as well so we can share something together that she enjoys. She’s got such a green thumb and since the winters are long and brutal, she can’t work in her garden.

YEAH!!!!! I have officially accomplished this goal. Nothing is blooming now but they are happy,healthy and vibrant. Even though I haven’t gotten a greenhouse to propogate them in I’m happy. The greenhouse or solarium can come later…after all the important bills are taken care of. Until then I’m quite happy to have them all in my living room and kitchen cheering everything up. :)

one of my best friends works in a floral shop and she ordered this for me straight from Hawaii. It was a total surprise. It’s so pretty that instead of having it in the living room with my other plants i put it on my kitchen table for everyone to see when they come visit. It smells divine too.

I had 3 orchids at most and one of them had 4 keiki. However my orchids seemed to unly flower when they were mildly suffering, so I gave them away and focused on other plants instead.

Repotted the flask of Phalaenopsis floresensis I got last Sunday. Used an old 2 litre coke bottle as a mini greenhouse and put them on the window sill.
Need to collect some rainwater or distilled ater to water them next.

Went to the RHS orchid show in London today and it was awesome. There were some really beautiful flowers on display, but best of all there were lots of growers there so i was able to get advice on what to get and how to grow them etc. Ended up buying two plants; one was a Doritaenopsis (actually a Phalaenopsis) called Malibu merlot which has multiple violet blooms on the stem which like plenty of light and needs watering 1-2 a week and I will keep in the dining room and a Miltonia “golden wonder” which is a more alpine plant so requires less light and slightly cooler temperates which I will grow in the lounge as it is north facing. I also bought a flask of Phalaenopsis floresensis which I will see how I get on with.
Great day!

Whilst clearing out my books for one of my other things i discovered a book I bought ages ago called Success with orchids which I have been reading. Fololowed this up with some wen research and speaking to some people at work and decided to start with a Pahiopedilum as they are apparently easy to start with. I’d been advised to visit a nursey first and then I discovered that the RHS are having an orchid exhibition this weekend in London where you can get advice and buy plants. So hopefully this weekend i will have my first orchid :)

I have always loved the beauty of orchids but was always afraid to try my hand at raising them. Then my mother got me one for Christmas and I discovered how much enjoyment I got out of it. So I would love to be able to add a greenhouse onto my house to raise tropical plants,mainly one of each orchid breed.