greenhombre , 5 months ago

@BruceMirken That's a beauty. She can last for years. Water in a sink but not too often. Let drain thoroughly and dry out before watering again. Old shoots will produce and then turn brown. Cut them back to base and bring green shoots up the pole for next season's flowers.

BruceMirken OP , 5 months ago

@greenhombre Thanks. This is all a mystery to me.

JSharp1436 , 5 months ago

@BruceMirken @greenhombre

Hi Bruce. I know a thing or two about Orchids (and plenty of other plants too).

First, it's a not a phalaenopsis. They are the ones with thick wide leaves - the everyday types.

Yours (she's a beauty) is a sympodial type of orchid (has a bulb at the base which long leaves sprout from).

That one you have is quite different to normal phalaenopsis type orchids. No need to spray. Will tolerate heat on a windowsill but really likes a cold night. ⏩

JSharp1436 , 5 months ago

@BruceMirken @greenhombre

↪ It's also surprisingly draught tolerant. Does not like being over watered at all. I remember my first, and the more I left it in the bright (even sunny) spot and forgot to water it, the more it thrived!

The drier the position, the more water it'll need, but only in summer, and again not too much.

But it likes a very bright spot. Sunny is good, but not too much. So preferably not south facing, but definitely a window position, not in the depths of the house. ⏩

JSharp1436 , 5 months ago

@BruceMirken @greenhombre

↪ And books. Treat yourself to a basic guide book, and pick up cheap orchids that look like they're dying and practice rescuing them.

You'll learn the art quickest that way and it's very rewarding.

It's addictive, I won't deny it. And you'll branch out to other exotics given time.

Good luck.

Ps. Never let it sit in water. Dunk, count to 10, remove and let it drain.

BruceMirken OP , 5 months ago

@JSharp1436 @greenhombre

I live in Hawaii. Temps at my house range from about 58-60F on the coldest winter nights to upper 80s on summer days, give or take a degree or so. 90% of the time it's between 65 and 85F Can I keep it outside? The spot I'm thinking of gets a small amount of filtered sunlight (through a heavy thicket of trees) for 2 or 3 hours in the morning and is otherwise bright but shaded

JSharp1436 , 5 months ago (edited 5 months ago)

@BruceMirken @greenhombre

Hawaii! Of course you can keep it outside!

OK. Not full sun outside, dappled shade, near some water (a bucket/bowl nearby) or if it rains often, not problem.

Normally, they flower in their dry season because heavy rain smashes their flowers to pieces. So careful consideration on that needed.

A covered porch solves that. They'll like rain water over tap water, generally.

Creepy crawlies might find them tasty, so care again on that needed. ⏩

JSharp1436 , 5 months ago

@BruceMirken @greenhombre

↪ And, when in flower, it's nice to have them where you can see them regularly. The cool temps you mentioned are ideal for this type.

BruceMirken OP , 5 months ago

@JSharp1436 @greenhombre Gotcha. It would be in a covered spot, but no trouble to put it out to get some rain occasionally (I'm in Hilo, we have no shortage of rain!)

JSharp1436 , 5 months ago

@BruceMirken @greenhombre

Ah. It's definitely not a big fan of loads of rain. I should also mention it likes being pot-bound.

If you repot it into a bigger pot, it can sometimes kill it because the larger pot retains too much water and it sort of drowns.

I learnt that the hard way. Lost one. She was a beauty too.

There are native orchids to Hawaii, if I remember correctly. I know there's a lady that keeps lots of orchids in her garden, located in her trees, etc.

She posts to YouTube.