I'd bet you are using Google Chrome or another like it. Try clicking on the info in the gold box first. You should be able to find the list of species I describe. Then go down the right hand column. Google Chrome and Firefox both divide up the page for reasons I cannot figure out. Info should begin right at the point where the big black patch starts, however if you continue to scroll on down the page you'll find a fairly lost list of articles on a variety of subjects. If anything is underlined you should be able to click on it. If that doesn't work, and you still have access to Internet Explorer, the entire site should work fine. I've had this researched and only a couple of browsers programs appear to screw up the first page. I could have all the coding rewritten in another program but I created the entire site for free and don't try to seek advertisers. I wanted it to be available to the public as a source of information that was checked against the science and it already costs hundreds of dollars each year to keep it on the net so I gave up on the idea of buying a new website program since some 1.6 million users have read tons of the pages! Look at the counter on the top of the page. If none of this works be sure and let me know. I work on the site virtually every day. Steve

Thank you, Tanie and Jane! > The more difficult the more rewarding you'd feel! Yeah, that's for sure. I wish that for the next 18 years I could go "I was in labor with you for 14 months, and THIS is how you repay me!?!?!" lol > You are a great gardener! Thank you, Jane, for these kind words and others! I am totally humble-bragging about these spikes to everybody I know. :-) > You had some things going for you when you bought the plants. Good points! I would have had a much more difficult time resuscitating them in the winter. I grow under lights, but there are still environmental clues for them to slow down and be lazy. > When we lived in NYC, the most problems came up over winter. [...] They did better when grown under lights over the winter. Yeah, I had an expectation last winter (which was my first winter growing lots of plants under lights) that everything will basically stand still, but some of them did grow. Slower than in the summer, of course, but they did. Lights add a lot of goodness - especially considering that my windows are really dark. Exposure does not even matter when you are on the first floor surrounded by trees and 23-story buildings. > Phals red/purple tinting to the spikes and leaves are most likely purple/ red flowers. Oh, I thought that was just because of the good light! Some culture guides say to give Phals enough light to just turn the leaf undersides slightly purple tinged, but not much more, so that was the look I was going for. There is a comparative photo a few screens above - I experimented putting one twin closer to the lights and the other farther. Maybe the purple spike is the indication of flower color? I have no idea about that - but I did read about purple leaves being light-related. By the way, I have no clue what the flower colors are going to be, but I am DYING to know, of course, so I appreciate your mentioning this indicator. > Now its time to get some healthy ones. They will naturally spike during this period so the stores should be filled with fresh, healthy plants. Yeah, the stores here are indeed full of them - not that they are a deficit at other times... I think I narrowed down the color combo I particularly like, and now it's a matter of catching a good one. > Also, look for a local orchid club near you. I am past that stage. I joined Manhattan Orchid Society 6-7 months ago. Then completely by accident I found out the President of Staten Island OS lives in my building in Brooklyn! (How's that for a coincidence in a 12 million population city?!?!) I joined that Society as well - he and his wife drive every month, and I do not have a car, so this was really convenient. They've become good friends, actually. There is also a third OS in NYC (can you believe that!? Three in one city!), but that one meets in the Bronx, which is just too far for where I live. I've become a huge fan of an idea of plant societies and these Societies in particular (and there's another "Indoor Gardening" one that I belong to, but that one is general, not just for orchids). Just like you said, Jane, they are an absolutely indispensable source of good LOCAL growing info and cheap or even free plants. Highly recommended for anyone interested in plants. > Be aware, orchids are addictive. You might have 2 now [...] Oh, I am WELL past that also. :-) Going to these Society meetings, having access to plants raffled, auctioned, sold or simply given away, making new plant nut friends - there was no chance I would stay with just those 2 Phals. I have 3-4 Oncidium types (one with a spike with 50+ buds, going to start opening any day now), a Dendrobium, a Miltoniopsis (that is also in spike! in my care!), 2-3 Cattleyas (my most favorite flower genus!), an Aerangis, a Tolumnia, a Ludisia, a Bryobium (ugh, that thing is a major Princess!) and a couple of Paphs. So, yeah, addictive they definitely ARE! :-) That is a great picture of your orchids! Many people here are an inspiration and a lot of help, so THANK YOU!

ljes.....the kitty litter will not hurt or help the plants..it is just used as an alernative to gravel because it does not float in water. The plant will grow in kitty litter and gravel, but the will flourish more with some soil around the roots. When I re-pot my plants, I just put them in the new pot with everything from their old pot and if needed I add some clay/sand/soil mixture...then I put about 1/2 inch to 1 inch layer of gravel..to keep the dirt from floating out into the water. This works great if your pots have no holes....not so good if they have holes...the dirt and clay and sand will come out...even with the mesh pots and baskets...the water will get cloudy. Seems like you have the right size pots. Get some PondTabs and put them right next to the roots of the plants when repotting. The tote will be fine for the lilies...just put it sun light, lilies like lots of sun. For the other 3 plants...if you pots have holes just set the pots in about 1 inch of water...this will work temporarily. If the pots do not have holes, just fill the pots with water every day until you get the pond setup. As long as the roots have consatant water they will be fine. Amanda

Hi Linda Thanks for your reply! I've just created my PhotoBucket account and uploaded three photos; first one shows what it looked like about a month into getting the plant(as u see it looked pretty healthy), and the other two showing what it looks like now - one showing the overall droopy leaves and the other showing close up of the spots. Photos are at this link: http://s1052.photobucket.com/albums/s450/Happy_Tomato/ I'm only using potting soil with no mix of perilite or what not that i see from most posts..i know it's probably not good for the AVs but i'm still finding it hard to get anything other than potting mix near where i live.. :( I'm not sure what the spots are.. i place the plant by the window but it is mostly in-direct sun it's getting.. As for watering, i place the plant onto a saucer of water (no wick).. the top of soil was very dry for the first week or so right after repotting because i remembered trying to sit the plant in the saucer for half hour maybe an hour tops but the top of the soil still seems very very dry. I did the saucer trick maybe every second night for that first week (because it was SO DRY and the droopy leaves made me think maybe it's because i'm underwatering) and still the soil was super dry. Until around 3 nights ago i sat the plant in the saucer for almost 2 hours and the top of soil finally feels a bit moist. I have not watered since. I do have a side track question - as you see in my photos, the plant is giving out completely different flowers in the second bloom (first bloom was almost white with hints of purple and many petals.. second one is full purple with 5 petals joined at the end).. why is that? is this normal? (sorry if this is a stupid question..) Thanks again and do let me know if you need any more info! :) Bonita