Everyone should have an orchid!

I have just treated myself to a lovley creamy coloured orchid, and vow to look after it in the right way from now on, so it will last longer.

Oh dear, I seem to be doing all the wrong things with mine!

I think orchids are over-rated

Actually, they seem to be good for forgetful or negligent indoor gardeners.
We do have fields populated by orchids near us but I always seem to miss them; I must go away at the wrong time.

Orchids are plants that grow in the tops of trees in the tropical rain forests.
Therefore they like a fairly constant temperature. My room temperature is around 22"C_24"C. A very moist and humid atmosphere and shaded from direct sunlight. Generous spraying with rain water is usually sufficient.
Some of my plants are many years old and produce new flowering stems quite regularly and each stem carries those flowers for many weeks.

I am going to blaspheme (so to speak): I think orchids are over-rated, including native wild British ones, of which there are usually a few in my garden each year. They are nice but not nicer than many another wildflower.

Wow RQ, you have a lot of........ Orchids!

ps apricot
I have a lot hanging around in my conservatory

granjo, I have bought orchid compost from a nearby garden centre which I have used to re-pot some of mine.

apricot

I like them because they thrive on neglect!
(what's the opposite of green fingers?)

They are very difficult to re-pot sherish, I have only done so when they get much larger and are in danger of toppling over

I don't like orchids, they look so artificial. By the way, did you all know that "orchids" means testicles? Sorry to lower the tone!

No need to repot.

Orchid roots are always poking out of the top sherish it's normal and the way they grow.Enjoy your orchid, it's a little luxury.

I have bought an orchid this morning from Morrison's. I haven't had one before and didn't know how to keep them. The posts have inspired me but the only query I have is that the pot is really small so the orchid roots are poking out of the top. Should I re-pot it into something larger or do they like being do contained?

my son has had one for over 2 years, every time he thinks its died it starts up again. Don't use cold water, they like tepid water and not too much. i have one now and hope to keep it growing.

My ex husband used to call me his Little Orchid, so it's a definate no-no for me.

Just returned from a visit to family in Sth.America I saw some lovely specimens there. They grow outside in hanging baskets and are watered there just as normal hanging basket plants. I just wish that I could obtain some of the plant material that they grow them in.Very woody fibrous stuff but the orchids and other plants seem to thrive on it,

granjo thanks for the tip about the white/green roots!
Yes, I sometimes put mine in the sink in some water for half an hour and then drain them on the draining board.
Some of mine have seemed dormant for a year, then a flower spike has emerged.

I can't keep poinsettia.

If I can keep orchids anyone can

I started off with one about five years ago and have about 10 or 12 now. The flowering ones are in the conservatory and when they stop flowering I put them in a window in the utility room which is cool and chop them back. I did hear somewhere that it is best to take them out of the porcelain plant holders when they are dormant and just leave them in the clear plastic pot (with a drip tray underneath) so that the light can get to the roots.

One of the older orchids seems to be throwing up four or more spikes so I hope they will all be flower bearing (eventually).

They have survived despite neglect.
Sometimes I give them some orchid feed.

I am intrigued by the 'ex conservatory' Nfk tell us more?

I used to have dozens but DD developed an allergy to them so they had to go.
My favourites were cymbidiums

starbird did you know that the amaryllis is sometimes referred to as "the devils penis"?

I just about manage to keep my peace lily alive, but Mr P has done wonders with a parlour palm!

They do like light to flower well NfkDumpling can you not alternate them and as one comes into flower put in the kitchen and move the other one into the light..might work.

My white orchid lives very happily in the bathroom which has a warm even temperature. I water it on the first of the month. I'd like to keep one on the kitchen window sill but that looks into the ex-conservatory so is rather dark. How much dark will they take?

You've reminded me to buy an Amaryllis for Christmas, I never cease to be amazed at how fast they grow. I also buy pot hyacinths as soon as they are in the shops and try to always have one in flower for the heavenly scent, and I have a bunch of daffs or narcissi on the kitchen windowsill all the time they are available, they just lift my mood
The only plant that I can keep for long is a spider plant, but my sister has about 8 orchids on her kitchen windowsill, all different colours, they always seem to be in flower.

They sometimes flower for months at a time Tricia

A friend bought me an orchid a few weeks ago when she visited, and it was the first I'd had.
I've looked after it more or less as said on here, and it seems to be doing well - a real pleasure to see it every day. When nothing else is growing.