Thanks, Lindsey, we cross posted! Much appreciated.

Your idea of a welcome sticky of sorts is a good idea! But, we probably should take a poll: How many newcomers to the forum look at that, before they post?
Will it work?

to Ursula. I have been hanging out on garden forums for at least 15 years and feel like I have seen them all. I came over here (from DG) to visit with my pal Elaine. I only have a small handfull of orchids, nothing like most of you have, and I know less than nothing about them but I have still been welcomed warmly by this group. This forum might be run differently than others on the site but it is also far more organized and easier for me to navigate. Personally I wish more forums were run so well. I always think moving a thread into a more appropriate and more visible place helps eveyone because we all are learning all the time.

We'll only find out if we try it, I think. Something like "Welcome and guide to the Orchids forum" ? This way you could direct newcomers who post a new thread first to that area, and see if they follow along better.

Then, in the welcome guide, first explain that we are one of the busiest forums on the site. Then request that a new person either jump in to an existing thread, or if posting on their own new thread to stick to one thread, and not start new ones for every question. I think people don't understand that once they post their first thread and people answer them, then all those people are "watching" that thread for their continued questions, so then if they post a question on a new thread they don't get answers right away.

I think we've had several new people show up lately who are happy and comfortable with the way the forum works. Jen, Jeff, Mike and Chris come to mind. Maybe they are the ones to ask specifically?

It's too bad that Richard was sensitive about being told how to post, and also too bad that Daisy felt unwelcome but, as in most areas of life you can't please everyone, I guess.

I have to apologize to Ursula. It wasn't you that slapped my knuckles way back on that first day. It did make me feel as though I somehow wasn't coloring inside the lines and I have tread lightly since.

I am daunted by the endless threads and don't usually bother to read them, especially when I go away for a day and discover I'm 3 pages behind. If the thread is new, I jump right in. Can't wait until August 1 so we can start with a clean slate and I can be back on page 1 again.

I do appreciate the sense of community that you seem to have but I'm not sure why we should only have 3 threads. The newbies that show up and ask their questions either quickly fade away or join a conversation someplace. Those original threads slip off the end of the page never to be seen again.

We are the ones making these small threads into larger threads by doing what I am doing right now: Changing the subject and wondering off on some new tangent. If we could let new members start their threads and answer their questions without making a big fuss about it, that thread will slowly drift away and they will be on to other more established threads. Just don't worry about all those new weird threads that pop up. The three or four threads that you want to be at the top of the page will be at the top of the page because of all the traffic passing through them.

Daisy

I use "Jump to the End" when I've been away, to catch up on current stuff. Then when I have time I scroll backwards to ogle all the pretty pictures or if a topic is interesting.

By starting new threads for each question, people also get lost or ignored if nobody goes and finds the new thread. It fades quickly down the list and those people think we couldn't be bothered. Whereas if they keep one thread going, everyone who found their original thread will be watching for new questions.

Then, when a month later someone else comes along with the same question, it's easier to find the thread that addresses it, if all those related questions are in one thread. We do get a lot of repeat questions here, especially about Phals . . .

I hear you Daisy!
Heh, I spend the day with my grandchildren and come home to a thread with a ton of wonderful new posts!
Now I love that, it means lots of our members participate and there are great pictures to drool over and enjoy and there are questions asked and things discussed and so forth. To me it means a vibrant forum with terrific people! Even if we don't have the time or the inclination to respond to every post, it is still fun to read along!

Elaine and Lindsey, I will sit down and try to write up a sticky and before I post this officially I will run it past you all here.
And yes, it would be lovely if our new members might come up with some good suggestions, which could be incorporated into said sticky?

Btw, Daisy, maybe I need to clarify this. The reason I usually start the monthly bloom thread, is that we started it many years ago and we liked the concept. I try to make it easy on us and start it right away on the first of the month. The same applies to the threads regarding Orchid shopping and Shows and What else do we grow and a couple more, we like the concept and other members do start these too. And there are obviously a ton of other threads not started by me. There are more than 3 threads...
It truly comes down to trying to be helpful, that's all.

Ok off to go swimming, it is kinda hot here in NJ. My cage gets flooded twice a day right now.

For me I can see posting picture of orchids/plants all in one thread during the month. It helps keep it organized . I don't hve a problem with that. Also, When I am looking for a certain topic I want threads related to just that. I don't want a thread that has 3 4 or 8 different things in it cause only maybe 1 is what im really interested in and if there is 40 or 50 responses to 5 topics but only 3 are related to what I am looking for, I don't want to waste my time by readying all the unnecessary ones.

When she mention about putting everything here I felt that I was not very smart. I am use to in 3 other forums I go to that if your needing info on just one area that that is in a section all its own, like phals in a group of its own and each orchid is separate, then like watering in its own, fertilizing etc. I had a serious head trauma when I was 3 years old that left me with scaring on my brain, So I had to work hard to over come it in school when it came to learning. So it kind of made me feel that way when it was not bright.

I can definitely relate to what Richard is saying. I have searched this site for different subjects, and been led to threads that actually had nothing to do with said subject, but somewhere in the thread someone may have made mention of the subject. Maybe dedicated threads to things such as watering/fertilization, pest/disease, propagation/division, potting/re potting, etc.?
Just a thought...

Its a good thought.

and I can definitely relate to the 'Not coloring in the lines' comment from Daisy...the story of my life
This IS a challenging topic...as each orchid has different needs ....water, light, fertilizer, etc ...but also..we all live in different parts of the world..and what works in NJ ..is different from FL...or for those of you in zero humidity land.
I did look at the stickies at the top of the page today...first time for me in YEARS...there is a TON of info there , it's concise and easy to get to quickly... why I didn't go there earlier???? I can't say...maybe because I'm a lazy slug and it's so much easier to just ask the question and let an expert tell me what to do... but having these conversations in the various threads have been so rewarding to me..on a couple of different levels...up until recently, I had NO access to orchids other than at Lowes or Home Depot..or ordering online from EBay and growers in Hawaii. this group was a lifeline to me personally when my marriage fell apart suddenly...so I hope we can be flexible enough to allow some drifting off topic...or coloring outside of the lines..We are all learning everyday...that's what keeps us young and alive..and none of us should ever feel like we are dumb for asking questions...this forum is wonderful because of the conversations we have...just like in real life, sometimes they wander around and that's how friendships are made!

Even with dedicated threads for subjects, you'd still be searching for the formula that fits your situation because it's different for everyone's location.

Things like temperature, humidity, has it rained, wind, sun or shade, are you indoors or outdoors and the type of orchids you're feeding and watering make all the difference. Pests and diseases vary with location and season. I think there are too many variables - we could post an orchid encyclopedia and still not cover everyone's problems.

Better to just ask for advice for the current conditions, just my opinion. Post lots of pictures and give all the info you can then go with the concensus. All the while understanding that if 10 of us were standing on your patio advising you in person, you'd probably get 10 different pieces of advice.

But I am beginning to think there's a place for a specific thread on Starting out with Phals, since we do get so many people in that situation.

I was just thinking that keeping the conversation to that specific subject, i.e. watering/feeding, pest/disease, etc. while also discussing the differences of locale, would allow for one to go into that dedicated thread, and search, query, discuss on that certain topic, regardless of locale, or even discussing differences for locales.

I think my main thought was keeping a thread more to subject.

Another idea. If we do an area for watering, then there's a section for the south, pacific northwest, south west etc. Beak each area down regionally and we can post things in an organized way. I know its different growing in Florida then it is in Oregon and New York.

Tara, that sounds wonderful, but in reality 9 out of 10 new people always start their own thread, no matter what threads we have. As in this thread here, Richard started 4 threads on the same subject without even blinking! Sorry Richard!
We are talking full circle here.
I really like Elaine's idea to start at thread on Phals!!
Elaine and Lindsey, you took the words out of my mouth!
There are about 28 000 accepted species in close to a 1000 Generas of Orchids with their own habitat and I don't remember the amount of Hybrids on top of that. Now add to that the conditions of their native habitat which exists in every climate zone except that of Antarctica, and even in their own climate Orchids are notorious niche dwellers, which means they live in narrow ranges. Add to this the conditions of people growing them all over the globe, it is simply not feasible what you are asking, Tara and Richard!

There is no rule on how to grow Orchids! Even people living 10 miles apart have their own preferred methods.

I just looked it up, in addition to the species there are more than 100000 hybrids and cultivars! "That is a lotta Orchids!!"

Ok, the new Phal thread is up! Please enjoy!
The thread "🗣 Starting out with Phals/Supermarket Orchids 🛎 ✍️" in Orchids forum

Wonderful, Ursula - might you want to make it a Sticky so that it stays up top where new people will see it?

Will do!

As promised:
I am trying to make a sticky for newcomers: how is this?

Welcome Newcomers to the Orchid forum!

You might have been browsing our numerous threads and now you are looking where to post?
Please check for existing threads, like our monthly Orchid bloom threads or perhaps the newly started Phal(aenopsis) thread. If your post doesn't fit into any existing threads, please do start your own thread and do post your updates and additional posts on that subject into the same thread. That way you will be sure that the other members of this forum see your posts.
And please do have a look at the other stickies, there is a lot of good information here.
Above all, have fun!

I will cut and paste this into a new thread and make it a sticky.

Ursula said:
There is no rule on how to grow Orchids! Even people living 10 miles apart have their own preferred methods.

I just looked it up, there are more than 100000 hybrids and cultivars! "That is a lotta Orchids!!"

And that is my point! Knowing what others have done/prefer in the different topics (watering/fertilizing, pest/disease management, potting/re potting, propagation/division, etc.) of growing orchids.

What I was trying to say, maybe not so articulately was as a "newbie" of orchid growing, my interest is mainly on maintenance...Keeping these guys alive, and thriving. Learning what others do/have done, in each of these categories, and being able to locate that particular info a little easier.

I'll go back to my corner now....

Tara, this corner is getting very crowded. Oh, wait! Lindsey and I are leaving to go read the stickies...

Ursula, I like your sticky but call it something that newbies will actually look at. I was afraid it was going to be a list of rules and I would have to try to color in the lines again.

No guarantee that anyone will read it (Lindsey and I won't).

Daisy