Advice please on care of indoor Orchids

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:14 pm

It's Mr O's bithday in the morning and I just bought him some beautiful orchids that are in flower. All the instructions say are 'keep in warm place'.

I've never had orchids before...... any idea's folks please?

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Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:18 pm

Place in a sunny window with a tray of gravel under the pot. Using a clean spray bottle with water, mist the plant every couple of days. Water once a week during the winter and at least 2/3 times a week during spring and summer. Make sure the pot has good drainage because orchids can't take any standing water.

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:18 pm

We have some of these and suprisingly enough they are tougher than you think. Nothing ever grows for very long in our house (except the Christmas cactus (?) that is completely unloved on top of the fridge but flowers profusely every winter )

Generally just stand in a saucerful of water rather than watering the soil and allow it to soak up what it needs. It works for us

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:21 pm

Snowfire;1172462 wrote: We have some of these and suprisingly enough they are tougher than you think. Nothing ever grows for very long in our house (except the Christmas cactus (?) that is completely unloved on top of the fridge but flowers profusely every winter )

Generally just stand in a saucerful of water rather than watering the soil and allow it to soak up what it needs. It works for us :wah: Oh great, that's just contradicted evrything Chezzie just said :wah:

There's only one way to decide this:

Chezzie....... Snowfire.......... FIGHT.....:wah:

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:24 pm

Have a look here Oscar, some sound advice

Indoor Orchids

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:26 pm

Snowfire;1172462 wrote: We have some of these and suprisingly enough they are tougher than you think. Nothing ever grows for very long in our house (except the Christmas cactus (?) that is completely unloved on top of the fridge but flowers profusely every winter )

Generally just stand in a saucerful of water rather than watering the soil and allow it to soak up what it needs. It works for us

-try putting your orchids somewhere there is lots of light, but not in a window where the sun beams in, sunlight will burn the leaves.

Had my two for 3 years....also I do the same, water from the bottom otherwise the roots will rot.

I do this also with my African violets....water from the bottom.

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:26 pm

oscar;1172466 wrote: :wah: Oh great, that's just contradicted evrything Chezzie just said :wah:

There's only one way to decide this:

Chezzie....... Snowfire.......... FIGHT.....:wah:

Good old Harry Hill

Chezzies probably right but people tend to over water plants and the best way we found was to stand the pot in a saucer for a little while in order for the plant to suck up the water.

Ours seem to survive our central heating pretty well

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:36 pm

Snowfire;1172474 wrote: Good old Harry Hill

Chezzies probably right but people tend to over water plants and the best way we found was to stand the pot in a saucer for a little while in order for the plant to suck up the water.

Ours seem to survive our central heating pretty well Thankyou. That's a great help.

I'm not a fan of Central heating.

Thanks for the link Chezzers.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:07 pm

Odie;1172473 wrote: -try putting your orchids somewhere there is lots of light, but not in a window where the sun beams in, sunlight will burn the leaves.

Had my two for 3 years....also I do the same, water from the bottom otherwise the roots will rot.

I do this also with my African violets....water from the bottom. Thankyou Odie

jupiter · Post by **jupiter** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:40 pm

I dont know much about keeping Orchids but that is a very beautiful specimen (the pink one) and great shot!

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:59 pm

jupiter;1172817 wrote: I dont know much about keeping Orchids but that is a very beautiful specimen (the pink one) and great shot! Thankyou......... I've read that thy stay in flower for months and i have quite a few buds on the ones i got so i'm hoping they will last. They certainly ar stunning arnt they???