What exactly is a mini orchid?

Are you talking about a miniature Phalaenopsis?
Unless it is a terrestrial orchid, YOU NEVER EVER USE SOIL!!! Again, if it is a mini Phal., a seedling bark mix featuring small pieces of fir bark, charcoal and perlite is best. Orchids do not mind being root bound for the most part.

Please look at, and read my thread on potting novelty Phalaenopsis from the beginning. There are pictures and instructions.
It is like the expression that all poodles are dogs but not all dogs are poodles.
All Phalaenopsis are house plants but not all houseplants are orchids.

As soon as you forget that, the orchid is in trouble!!!

Ok, I really am very, very ignorant with orchids, so all I know is that it's called a mini orchid.


And I'm very sorry if you already answered this, but what is Phalaenopsis??

Oh! Here are some pictures:

I also got it from Walmart. I was looking at the plant selection and saw it beckoning to me. Since it was so small, I thought I should start off with it first before moving onto a big one.

Fieldsof_flowers said: Oh! Here are some pictures:

I also got it from Walmart. I was looking at the plant selection and saw it beckoning to me. Since it was so small, I thought I should start off with it first before moving onto a big one.

No worries Abigail, I don't know everything as well. Yes, that is a mini- Phal orchid. Looks good!

@BigBill, the all caps is kind of intimidating for newbies like us…

Nice, Phalaenopsis! So cute.

Some more ground orchid photos!

Here is a perfect example of "hiding in plain sight". The moment I noticed a single leaf sticking out of the ground, I went straight to "What orchid is this!?". Galearis rotundifolia IS the correct ID. It is 100% in range (Johnston Canyon, upper falls trail), and after looking around I found dried flowerheads, which the shape and color matched.

Northern twayblade:

North wind bog orchid:

I guess my brother (Johannian) has found a wild orchid at my favorite lake. I'm going to have to see if it's there next time I go back.

Wow Alex! That is a great find!

Speaking of mini, I am running out of space and I'm so happy with my Vanda's right now and been thinking of getting more.

These mini-Vanda's and the free shipping for any purchase of $150 or more is soo tempting!

https://www.motesorchids.com/f...

Fieldsof_flowers said: I guess my brother (Johannian) has found a wild orchid at my favorite lake. I'm going to have to see if it's there next time I go back.

that would be exciting! By the way, I rescued a few mini-phals from Lowe's and some I experimented and used lecca as my media. Some of mine are attached to my oak tree.

So orchids attach themselves to trees? I thought that was just the best environment for them to be in for a certain amount of time!

Fieldsof_flowers said: So orchids attach themselves to trees? I thought that was just the best environment for them to be in for a certain amount of time!

I initially have to tie them up. (I will take photos tomorrow). Then they will attached themselves to the tree. However I am lucky that I live in Florida that we do not get freezing temp for more than a couple days.

Ahh that makes sense.

Fieldsof_flowers said: Ahh that makes sense.

Here is a great thread to read, I learned a lot here.
The thread "🗣 Starting out with Phals/Supermarket Orchids 🛎 ✍️" in Orchids forum

Yes! I saw all the orchid threads and decided it was time I learned more about these plants, especially since I have one now.

I apologize for 'All Caps' if it offends you but in a long text answer, I use all caps for emphasis, not intimidation.

As far as starting out, if at all possible, one should start with bigger plants. They are easier to learn with. They are mature and more forgiving in terms of you learning how to deal with them.
Yes, Abigail, the vast majority of orchids are epiphytes, a fancy way of saying "growing on something for support". In the case of Phalaenopsis, they are found down low in the forest, in shade, hence no soil. Low in the forest equates to more humidity.
For a company like Walmart, they are just the seller or the vendor. These little orchids are packaged up and so pretty in order to be attractive to the public. It works because people buy them.
The one Abigail bought is suppose to be watered by using an ice cube. That is just what the packaging is implying. That is the worse thing that you could do! The worst! Phalaenopsis grow in native habitats that are found just north or south of the border. Tropical, warm all the time areas. Think about it. When do you think in all honesty in that type of climate do the native orchids have ice cubes falling all around them? The answer is never. Ice cubes falling from the sky would destroy the plants as they fell. Here, we would call that a "Hail Storm".
The Ice Cube Method of watering an orchid is the Greatest Marketing Hoax ever perpetrated upon the buying public. And what's more, people fall for it. It is bad, it is wrong and it will lead to orchids dying a fairly quick and painful death!

@BigBill I know you are only passionate about orchids and appreciate knowing it is "for emphasis" not for yelling .

you helped me bring to life a dying Cattleya!

totally agree on the ice cube. I never use Ice cubes ever.

I think orchids are being sold and marketed like "cut flowers", hoping people will toss them after they are done blooming "for repeat sales". That's why I only buy "no ID" phals when they are 50% off.

I stopped rescuing phals when I accidentally rescued one with meallies Never saw meallies in my orchids before. Got it contained thankfully!

"Ice Cubes falling from sky" --- Bill, your logic is humorous and right on.

However, I have noticed that the "ice cube method" of watering really has appeal for new-to-orchids people, and that it works -- sort of. It works well enough for the plant to live for quite a while, usually just living, not growing new leaves, new flower spikes, new growth period. It is a testament to how tough orchid plants are that they put up with a frozen drink for quite a while.

I think that what this poor long-term method of watering does is prevent people from over-watering their plants, or from leaving lots of water at the bottom of the plant "to soak". In this way, it sort-of works, and this partial success makes it harder for the gardener to "let go" of this method.

As a teacher, I've learned that it is easier to teach a student that knows nothing about the subject than it is to teach a student who has bits and pieces of faulty facts or illogical thinking about the subject. Applied to orchids, I can't convince my cousin or father-in-law to abandon their watering-by-ice-cubes. It is simple and works well enough for them. My father-in-law has used this method for a while; he only expects his Phalaenopsis orchids to live a short time. He has never had an orchid live for more than two years.

I can understand your argument to a point. But ask him this, would he want to drive his vehicle with one flat tire, or with 5 instead of six cylinders? Because when you use ice cubes that is what you are doing. He would rather grow incorrectly then correctly. Which is fine in his world.

The idea would be to learn the correct way and have a plant live 15, 20 or 30 years. But if he is happy then so be it.

And with ice cubes, if is orchid dies within 2 years, that only shows you that I am correct when I say "it dies a painfully slow death". The watering is not at all complete. The melting ice cube only saturates a very small portion of the root system, the part that comes in direct contact with the ice cold water. what are the other 50-75% of the roots to do that are not in contact with the ice cube? They shrivel up and die leading to that painful death.
What about a little fertilizer? that is rendered useless because you need adequate watering to spread that food all around the root system. So you see from the moment he gets that orchid and uses ice cubes, he starts to kill it.

Some years ago we wound up in Oberlin/Ohio and by luck we bumped into a lady who works in that greenhouse/for the Just add Ice Company!
https://www.justaddiceorchids....
At that time the outfit had large greenhouses and according to the lady, employed about 2000 people! I thought that part was great! I rather buy stuff grown here than half way around the globe. Which is quite the case with Phals
But adding Ice cubes to Phals is just a gimmick, nothing more!
Abigail, my advise to you would be to look at this cute little Orchids and just enjoy it. Don't fret the big stuff! It is fine!!
Every so often stick your finger into the medium, if it is damp, leave it alone. If it is dry, take it to the sink and let luke warm water run through the pot. If the crown gets wet, just tissue it out gently. Let it drip off and put it back in a shady spot. After a while you will learn how often to water.
Above all, have fun!!

GigiPlumeria said: Here is a great thread to read, I learned a lot here.
The thread "🗣 Starting out with Phals/Supermarket Orchids 🛎 ✍️" in Orchids forum

Thanks all for the responses! I saw on this thread ⬆️ that people don't really use ice cube watering and that was going to be my next question. But you all answered it
So does this mean I shouldn't transplant it into a bigger pot? Or into a different medium?

I also saw that it says to put it in a bright spot but not in direct sunlight. But should I have it in a shaded spot instead?