ORCHIDS
Tips For Buying Orchids Or Starting A
Collection
If you are like everyone that has a few orchids “got the bug” or gaining an interest in orchids and are looking to grow your collection
my advice is to buy a new orchid once a month in flower rather then buy a heap all at once. This way you will keep interested in your new found passion “addiction”, after 12 months you would have around 12 plants but they will typically flower at differently times of the year meaning you will have orchids in flower nearly all year round. From this you can build your collection and find the orchids that you like the most as there are thousands of types out there. And the ones that grow best in your conditions.
If building a shade house. Beware make it as big as you can in size or at least make it twice the size of what you think you may need. Always allow room to move as once you start it is extremely rewarding and is a hobby that does not need heaps of time but can also if you wont it to take over your life
once you find what potting mix (medium) you like best pot all of your orchids in the same this helps with watering as if one plant is potted in different mix to another the plants watering needs may be different. I you can not do this for some reason, Group your orchids in a way to make watering easier.
If Your growing area
is out side and you have room cover part of your area/shade house
with clear horticulture plastic/solar weave/fibreglass or something
simular. use this to put your flowering plants when not inside your
house this reduces the weather and rain from making your flowers and
will normally extend there life. Also if you down the track grow any
baby orchids or even de-flask orchids this will give you a more
controlled environment.