I Killed My First Orchid…
Thanks to Belinda Spillman and her Summer Blooms and Crops Challenge, we have been treated to the skilled gardening talents of our members.
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This orchid was purchased at an orchid auction in Orlando and was from a well-respected grower there. It is in bloom now and reminds me of him when I see it. |
My green thumb was once a deeper shade of green when I planted all sorts of flowers when I was in grad school. It was a way to take my mind elsewhere.
But the green thumb faded and truly failed me when Larry brought home our first orchid. I didn’t have a clue about what to do with it but heard that they needed very little attention.
Unfortunately what attention I gave it wasn’t the right kind and it soon suffered rot from water collecting in the crown.
Fast forward a few years and a good friend and I were on the hunt for orchid bargains at an orchid grower who was closing.
Before we moved to Northern VA, I had about 125 orchids.
After picking and choosing who would make the journey north, I had about 50 orchids and it was a weekly 2 ½ hour process each week to hand water them (they were inside) and make sure they were fed. I relished the 3 months when they could be outside.
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This orchid has been with me a long time. When we moved back to to Florida, this dendrobium was in the front passenger seat by my side while I drove. It never said a word and let me listen to what I wanted.
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The majority of my orchids are on or under trees now, with just a handful inside. These are the few that need to have cooler temperatures.
Over the years I’ve learned that once you learn what the different orchids need, they really are easy to care for. Some need a cold snap at night to bloom. Others, like vandas, require more light.
The very few times when we’ve had a hard freeze, the orchids spent the night inside with us.
Hurricanes? Ugh, this is when I tell myself to quit buying more orchids. Some go in the garage and some end up in the house. For those growing on a tree...they’re left there, just as if they were down in the tropics.
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And this is a favorite in bloom. Larry’s daughter found it in a dumpster in Naples, FL and brought it home for me to bring it back to life. |
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