Who can teach me about caring for orchids ETA PIP

oh-zysbaby · July 2010

I was given a BEAUTIFUL one for my mom's service and I'd like to keep it alive.

Hold on, I'll go take a picture.

mrs_b_2007 · July 2010

don't water it.

Seriously - they only need to be watered *maybe* once a week. Stick your finger in the soil to see if it's damp. If it is, they're usually good for a while.

I love orchids!

Mrs White · July 2010

I have no clue because I kill them.. but my mother's answer would be "skillful neglect"

Basically, she does not give them direct sunlight and only waters them (via a squirt from the hose) 2-3 days a week depending on the heat. Hers live outside.

weelass24 · July 2010

*backs slowly out of post before mere presence kills the orchid*

jCamsquared · July 2010

mrs_b_2007:

don't water it.

Seriously - they only need to be watered *maybe* once a week. Stick your finger in the soil to see if it's damp. If it is, they're usually good for a while.

I love orchids!

This is what we were told by an expert, and we still killed it. Well, it has one flower left, but it's pretty much done. :-( I hope you have better luck!!

Chatham2007 · July 2010

I work holidays at a flower shop, and let me tell you, orchids are a total PITA.

1) Home Depot carries a special orchid food that works well.

2) Give it 3 - 4 ice cubes once a week

3) Keep it in a place where it will have a constant temp. No breezes or all day sun. I keep one in my bathroom because they LOVE moist air.

Good luck, I have killed many of them.

Mrs White · July 2010

jCamsquared:
mrs_b_2007:

don't water it.

Seriously - they only need to be watered *maybe* once a week. Stick your finger in the soil to see if it's damp. If it is, they're usually good for a while.

I love orchids!

This is what we were told by an expert, and we still killed it. Well, it has one flower left, but it's pretty much done. :-( I hope you have better luck!!

They only bloom for a short time once per year. Very often the plan it healthy, just not flowering

greenclown · July 2010

I've been putting three ice cubes in my orchid once a week and it has lived longer than anything I've ever had.

jCamsquared · July 2010

Mrs White:
jCamsquared:
mrs_b_2007:

don't water it.

Seriously - they only need to be watered *maybe* once a week. Stick your finger in the soil to see if it's damp. If it is, they're usually good for a while.

I love orchids!

This is what we were told by an expert, and we still killed it. Well, it has one flower left, but it's pretty much done. :-( I hope you have better luck!!

They only bloom for a short time once per year. Very often the plan it healthy, just not flowering

That's good to know! The brownish-yellowish leaf we pulled off it yesterday doesn't bode well, but I won't give up just yet.

oh-zysbaby · July 2010

greenclown:
I've been putting three ice cubes in my orchid once a week and it has lived longer than anything I've ever had.

Ok, ice cubes. I just watered it for the first time, but next time I'll go for ice cubes. That sounds gentle.

Thanks, guys!

BamBam510 · July 2010

I had one and kept it at work in my office where it didnt' get any sunlight and my work has a pretty consistent temp and it lived over 6 months!

hippotree · July 2010

Just don't re-pot it. 1. It's creepy and 2. it kills them. At least that's what happened to me.

Mr hippo bought me an orchid for Mother's Day last year - all the flowers fell off within two weeks. I kept watering it once a week and it finally bloomed again around Christmastime. Once those blooms died, I repotted it. Mistake.

SweetPeanis · July 2010

I will just echo what others have said about not watering. We have an orchid that is just beautiful and I have never once watered it or else I will kill it. I wait to let DH when he knows it's right. We've already had ours bloom once and it's been a while but it's starting to get more blooms. We love orchids and they are such beautiful flowers if you can keep them alive!

SweetPeanis · July 2010

jCamsquared:
Mrs White:
jCamsquared:
mrs_b_2007:

don't water it.

Seriously - they only need to be watered *maybe* once a week. Stick your finger in the soil to see if it's damp. If it is, they're usually good for a while.

I love orchids!

This is what we were told by an expert, and we still killed it. Well, it has one flower left, but it's pretty much done. :-( I hope you have better luck!!

They only bloom for a short time once per year. Very often the plan it healthy, just not flowering

That's good to know! The brownish-yellowish leaf we pulled off it yesterday doesn't bode well, but I won't give up just yet.

Ours lost 2 brownish yellow leaves a few weeks ago but overall is doing great. Apparently they do that from time to time and it made me nervous as well. But so far so good!

BamBam510 · July 2010

i forgot to mention, i used one of those water globes and didn't have any issues

armandos_girl · July 2010

weelass24:
*backs slowly out of post before mere presence kills the orchid*

Lol, same here. DH jokes that if I were ever to have a superpower it would be killing houseplants.

oh-zysbaby · July 2010

armandos_girl:
weelass24:
*backs slowly out of post before mere presence kills the orchid*
Lol, same here. DH jokes that if I were ever to have a superpower it would be killing houseplants.

Unfortunately, this is me as well. Hopefully I can manage this, because I'd REALLY like to keep it.

mommyebert · July 2010

I bought a smaller orchid the end of march when we moved and put it in our sun room. It's warm and moist out there. I water mayber every two weeks with just a little bit of water and it does great, I have only lost one flower and gained six! I also repotted it, just make sure to get the Orchid potting mix if you do it.

BJKL · July 2010

I had have a few for a number of years. the instructions that came with them said to water them once a week 2-3 oz. I probably do it every two weeks though. I have never re-potted them...orchids like to be root bound. They generally flower for 3 months or so but that is from initial opening to the end so if it is already flowering who knows how long. It is ok if some of the leaves turn brown or yellow and fall off as long as it is only a few and some remain and new ones grow. It generally takes 9 months between blooms so just keep watering.

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