•Posted by hopefulauthor Are you an orchid expert? I prefer the word "experienced" -- expert implies a greater store of knowledge than I likely can live up to. •Posted by hopefulauthor Phals are fairly easy, but what about other orchid types. I know some very experienced orchid hobbyists who can't grow a phal to save their life -- but yet can grow other orchids like nobody's business. heh But just as not all members of the cactus family have the same growing requirements -- for example if you try growing a Schlumbergera under the same conditions a Saguaro needs, you very quickly will have a very dead Thanksgiving/Xmas cactus -- so too different orchids have different requirements. Keep in mind that orchids are one of the most diverse Families of the plant kingdom •Posted by hopefulauthor ...I love Orchids, but not the price. lol They have grown, but only a couple inches over a 3-yr period. That slow growth is precisely WHY orchids are not cheap like so many houseplants. Consider that whether grown from seed or meristem culture, most orchids will not achieve blooming size for 5 to 7 YEARS. And while there are some that under ideal conditions will reach blooming size sooner than that, there are other types that take longer than that even under good conditions. Furthermore, orchids cannot be started from leaf or root cuttings and only a few can be started from stem cuttings. Unless doing meristem (cloning) or seeds, the only method for propagating the majority of orchids is by division (not unlike irises or hosta). Now you did not mention if the plants you bought were seedlings. If so, then you likely still have a year or two to go. Seedlings of many orchids can be obtained for just a few bucks, but that is because you will have a long wait before flowers are ever possible. As far as only growing a couple inches over 3 yrs, I'm assuming you mean growing in the vertical direction? For monopodial orchids -- like the one in the middle with the yellow tag -- that growth speed is perfectly normal. (*Monopodial orchids grow as a single upright “stem” with one leaf following another on opposite sides of the center.) I can't tell from the photo what the others are except for one tag that I can tell says Cattleya. Each new pseudobulb for the catt should reach its full size in less than a year with each succeeding pseudobulb being larger than the last until a maximum size is reached. (Just what that size is depends upon genetics just as with people.) •Posted by hopefulauthor Do these guys need more light? Humidity? Again hard for me to tell based on your photo as I can't tell exactly which genera you have. It doesn't look like you have any that require high humidity. In general, catts require a LOT more light than a phal. For many orchids (as with any large group there are exceptions) the leaves will tell you what they think of the light you are allowing them. *dark green leaves = "get me out of this dungeon!" *medium (grass) green = more light would be better *light green = "now we're talkin' baby!" *yellow green or green with purple spotting/blush = upper range of what the plant can handle (not necessarily a bad thing - I actually aim for the blush on the leaves) As with any plant, harden them off to higher light.

I've missed you, too, Cindee! I've missed seeing your flowers and what's happening in your Florida gardens! Those are wonderful tomato photos, and the cactus is such a pretty color! Wait until you go to remove that yellow pear vine... you're gonna need a chainsaw! Those are incredible plants, and I love the milder and smaller tomatoes the best! Many prayers have been said for you and Dennis, and they continue... I hope Friday's results are good ones. I'll be praying extra hard for you guys. I know your life is busy, but we miss you! Don't be gone so long... we worry, you know! :-)

Soultan...I am getting Miracle, Rozetta and Alfresco from VE. Most of these will be sent out as gifts so my friends/families can have some flowers for Thanksgiving. I can share some to you if you want any of them. I have 1 Rembrant ordered from JS. I can always call them up and change that to 2 and send it to you. I will need to call them up anyway and add another bulb of Papilio 'Improved'. Anything else you need from JS? They should be shipping my SA varieties by next week. I also have an order from Wayside Gardens. One each of Piccolo, Milady and Zombie. This is a gamble for me. I have ordered live plants from them before but not bulbs. Check them out if you'll be interested in any of their varieties and let me know. Yes their shipping is killing me! So far, I have only seen Moonlight offered by VB in it's wholesale and retail website ( www.dutchbulbs.com). The price here is a lot more expensive. I do have a $25 coupon from dutchbulbs though if I purchase more than $50. We can always use it if we need to. If Santana won't be avilable in VB, I think I will go ahead and order Black Pearl and White Peacock. That will cover their $50 minumum.

Frank, the list only seems big because it includes everything. I was surprised, too, when I decided to make it, but I think most people on this forum have wayyyyy more than me. Mine is really a little colllection and mostly common stuff. I would love to send you plumie cuttings but mine are way too small. I lost a whole bunch of them in winter 2010/2011 and only have four tiny ones remaining. I guess I should really update the list to include only stuff I can trade. My apologies! Carol