The Harbinger

Repotting sympodials – the corsage orchid (Cattleya), the cane orchid (Dendrobium) and the dancing lady (Oncidium) is only slightly different from what you learned last time for the moth orchid. The sympodials have many stems (pseudobulbs) that grow up from a rhizome that creeps along horizontally from the base of the previous pseudobulb.

You need all […]

This is a long one. Get some coffee.

Repotting 101 focuses on the monopodial Phalaenopsis or moth orchid. This is the one with the broad, flat leaves on a single short trunk. We’ll do the sympodials next time.

Repotting orchids is easy but messy and involves running water, so consider working outdoors. It’s also very simple if […]

Once the flowers are gone, your orchid will be starting a new growth cycle. Like children, they may need bigger shoes. How do you know? First you have to figure out which of the Big Four orchid types you have.
The moth orchid is the one most commonly seen and sold at this time of year, […]

And now you have an orchid. Good for you. Suppose we are a few weeks down the road on this new adventure, and the flowers have all faded. Now what?
 
You have two choices – keep the plant or get rid of it. I know. You’re asking yourself why you bought […]

I like to grow things. I didn’t know this until fairly late in life, but my brother gave me an orchid in 1989 and got me interested in orchids and other green, growing things. In my gross ignorance about orchids, I killed that one in pretty short order, but by the time it died I […]