Here is a place for new orchid growers! Welcome to the world of orchids!

Here is a place to share information and ask questions.

I'm uniting. And watching. I've only ever had one, and I killed it. But they're so beautiful I need to try again.

Can you tell me what kind of conditions you need to have in the house to grow these? I'll start with that.

Yay! I'd love to have 2 loves in common with you!
Polly, there is a great beginning video in the Absolutely Great Information sticky (lots of other links too) to get you started . http://cubits.org/orchids/thre...
Come to think of it, I should put a link in the right side box.

What orchids would you like to grow? (It's okay if you don't know their names, just describe them.)

Pink and purple, with white on them, LOL. I'll find out what kind they are I like and come back.

I put some good information in the right box below my pastel for you and other beginners. Let me know if this helps! Post a pic on the Identification forum, Polly. That would be great!

They needed some tweeking but they work now.

I just had 2 "follow me home". They seem to be like cats, can't get just 1!!! I'll have to go look at their names.
Last week I was told the WORST mistake you can make with an Orchid is "to not buy one that you fall in love with". So today, I fell in love with 2.
One is an Oncidium and I have good luck with them.

I bet a vendor told you that!
Congrats on the new ones! As Chet Baker the jazz singer and trumpeter sang, "I fall in love too easily!" Did you get them at the MD Home & Garden Show ??? How was it?

The show was wonderful......
I really liked this hanging guy in the back.

That is a great plant. Some of my coelogynes have a nice scent, too.

Boojum- love the phal flower ontop of this post!

Long gone, unfortuately. Maybe Phal. Baldan's Kaleidoscope.

I had a Phalenopsis, but killed it. It did well for a while and bloomed every year. I burned it in the sun, poor thing. I want to get another soon.

I just came back from visiting the orchid show at the NY Botanical Gardens. Wow! I'll post photos when I get a chance. Here's one for a teaser. This is what you see when you first walk in.

Oh that is gorgeous, Harper. Can you post your pics here? http://cubits.org/orchids/thre...
Thanks!

I'm just starting to learn about orchids and have really enjoyed the videos. I have 3 new orchids on the way from eBay. One of them is Oda. Hot Pants " Hot to Trot". Is Oda. short for Odontonia or is it another type? I'm trying to find some culture information on this one.

Editted to say, I did find that Hot to Trot is from the group Oncidium, so guess it's not and Odontonia. Still wondering about the Oda. part of the name.

Thanks,

Susan

Susan, so glad you asked!!! If you look on the right side box, there's an Abbreviations link. Just hit the O on top and you'll have your answer! I looked briefly and saw two species. Then you can look up the culture for each in the AOS Culture Sheets link (also on the right) and aim for the middle if they have different needs. If you can't figure out what alliance (family) an orchid fits into (so you can chose a culture sheet to read), the Pages link on the right has classifications and this may help. Todd worked on this Alliance page with me, but these are slippery since the taxonomists keep changing it around (and their genera)! Please feel free to ask more questions. As you can tell, all this info was set up for folks who ask your very question!! And that's why I'm glad you asked!

oda is Odontioda a cros between cochlioda x Odontoglossumm if this helps any.

Thanks! I'm reading as fast as I can. So much to learn. The Abbreviations link is very helpful. I hadn't noticed it before. I now have 4 new orchids on the way. I think I will stop at 5 for now and see if I'm able to keep them alive and get them to rebloom. I love all the videos online.

susan