Here is a place where you can ask specific questions not covered in the Information thread (http://cubits.org/orchids/thre... for basic info).

Here's a question. I have mouse traps in my office. I caught a few mice and left the traps loaded with cheese and now I have fruit flies!! I've removed the traps but the flies have remained. They are hanging out around the orchids. Does anyone know how to get rid of them?

I have always used the sticky traps for mice. They work and no cheese is needed (hence no flies).

Must look for those. Will these flies ever go away if the stinky cheese man is gone??

Are you sure they are fruit flies and not fungus gnats? Either way, get mosquito dunks and put a chunk in your tank sprayer. Let it soak over night and keep refilling until it dissolves away. They are safe enough to use in fish ponds. It'll take a few weeks, but if you soak the medium or the area around the roots that should do it.

Will do. Do I spray them only once when it dissolves? Do you mean it will take a few weeks to dissolve?

Spray at each watering or at least weekly. You're trying to interrupt the hatching cycle. It will take a while for the dunk to dissolve 'cause there are usually large granules left after each watering. I was wondering if it would be difficult for you to find dunks at this time of year. One is more than enough. Anyway, you should notice a decrease in the population after one week, but keep spraying.

Great. I have dunks for my lotus just sitting and waiting for spring, no problem. It always sounds like you've seen the underbelly of orchid growing since you know more about the problems than most!!!

I have a Phal with a tall stem and lots of flowers and 5 fat buds at the tip. One of the buds(closest to the flowers) dried up a bit and fell off today. What does that mean? What have I done wrong or should look for?

Have you changed the conditions at all?

no, no change.

Kathy Boojums,

I am looking for a very general ID for beginners, Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums, Phalanopsis, And the one who's name eludes me, the "corsage" orchid.

Just a short, simple two-or-three photograph intro, for each of maybe ten different orchids that are most commonly seen.

Posted in the "Welcome to the Obsessed with Orchids cubit, in the list of forums, which has only 'General Orchid Chat. The first page you get when you click from the long, long list of all cubits.

It shouldn't be very long, and should be closed to comments. Oh, and both the whole name and shortened version, nick name.

Thank you!

Melissa

Hi Melissa!! Welcome. The information you seek is on a link already. Go to http://cubits.org/orchids/thre... On the third post down, there is a link to the AOS website. Click the orchid names on the left for a picture and all the culture information you want.

OK, sent you a cmail explaining my goofy ideas.

Melissa

Kathy, I love your graphics. So appealing. Absolutely love the Banner. Great work. When I get things finished with setting up my Cubit I will be a regular visitor her.

Thanks so much Lynn. That's good news about being a regular. You told me that you've been growing orchids for 4 years. I've only been growing for 5. Can't wait to see your orchids. So you had a question about mounting on wood? One thing is that mounting means more maintenance. You really need to water daily. This one is just wired onto the wood. Some plants require a bit of sphagnum to keep the roots damper longer.

I found out about the higher maintenance last Sat at a presentation at a local nursery. It was given by a member of the Portland, OR orchid society. I asked about growing on wood. I just don't think I'm up to that. Every day maintenance I'm not very good at. : (
This is one that just opened it's first bloom for the year.

I think we have the same phal!
It's good for you and your orchids that you know exactly what you can handle!

We do have the same one. : ) It's my most colorful one. Here is another that is blooming right now.

And the other one. Three blooming right now.