Phalenopsis Orchid..

Wow ! and Wow again! Wonderful

What a beauty.

Thank you,Cinders..I love it...just wish I hadn't been so impatient,and taken a better pic..

Thank you,G.mage..I've had it eight years now..and was hoping it would pass the 43 mark,which it had two years ago..only 36 last year,so it's done better :o)

Fantastic Sandra beats my 8 flowers hands down;0)

I meant to ask you about yours,Carole..I think it's done well,seeing as you haven't had it so long..it will get better over the years..like us,don't you think ? lol..

That's amazing, you're certainly doing something right there, so perfect:-)

Thank you,Ba..I don't do anything special really..just the odd feed now and then..and keep it out of bright sunlight..that's about it! :o)

Hiya Bloomer! :))

I love it...and I nearly bought one the other day...

...but it would have been too cruel to take home something so beautiful...and watch it die...

I'm rubbish with house-plants... :((

Hiya stranger ! :o) Its lovely to hear from you again...hope all is ok with you and yours...go on,Karen,get one..thay really aren't difficult to look after..it's a myth,honestly !..It's the only one that has done well for me,over the years,and tried most of them :o)

Hiya hen! Feels a bit strange being back, been away for a while!

Not going down that houseplant route...

French house = small windows = no light in the winter!

Which = paranoinia...and disaster!!! :D

Ok,.. gotcha ! Lol..we need you to keep your sanity :o) x

WOW! So gorgeous :-))))))

Pp. yours must look lovely only got 3 on mine!! Lol

Absolutely Fabulous... and Well Done Bloomer!

Thanks Junna,and Petaltracey..it was a gift from special friends for our 30 th Wedding Anniversary..so it's done well for the past 8 years :o)

What can I say that hasn't already been said? ... It's a credit to you, Sandra ... I'm not great with houseplants unless they are just foliage! .........

Neither am I,as a rule,Shirley..but this was the first time with an Orchid,and I was sure I wouldn't be able to look after it properly..it more or less looks after itself :o)

:o)))

Im hopeless with houseplants too, forget to water them, but saw Alan T on the box this afternoon and he said they were one of the few plants that totally blossom under neglect! I just might try one. This one is gorgeous Bloomer..it obviously made a note of your name lol!

I only have two of them,Tetra...the other was a rescued one from an unloved corner of the garden centre...and going very cheap ! Not as good as the other one yet,by a long chalk..but I'm working on it..As the White finishes,the yellow one usually starts ..around December..
A north facing window is the ideal for Orchids..tropical as they sound,thay'don't like hot sunshine..but dappled is fine.
In the warmer weather,I sometimes stand them outside if it's really warm...not often then,I hear you say..:o) but again in the shade..like us,they enjoy a bit of freah air...so now are you tempted ? go on,you know you want to ! LOl.

I dont have a fully north facing room, but a couple of windows get sunshine (?) from about 3/4pm onwards depending whether summer or spring/autumn. Hardly any sun in winter as sun too low. One room is a sitting room so gets quite warm in winter. The other is bedroom and I tend to leave windows open most weathers there and very little heating. If thats good enough I will go for it!

I'm sure that would be fine,Tet,..your sitting room would probably be fine,as my window is in the lounge..but never gets the sun..very warm room in winter too..they do enjoy a bit of sunshine,and warmth..so late afternoon should be no problem..you could always move it out of the sun to a table or something,if it got too hot and sunny....then put it back...now,what colour are you going to choose ? so many lovely ones...I love the pink ones,but it doesn't 'go' with my colour scheme..so glad my friend bought us a white one :o)..take a look at a blog Spritzhenry did a while ago,titled 'Awkward Orchids'..it helped me a lot,and so lovely to see all hers...:o)

mmm, my sitting room is golds, creams, terracottas with a touch of black..cream colour may not stand out..but perhaps a cream with reddish orange spots? Must go and look!

That would be a nice match,Tet..or if not,a plain cream/white Orchid,with a toning pot to your colour scheme? ..Luckily,there are so many different colours of Orchids now..so your dilemma will be to choose only one of them ! :o)..

Bloomer, I was a coward..went to garden centre yesterday and chickened out..tho must admit most were pink. Praps I can get my sis in law to give me one for christmas, she is good with hers and I can nag her to help me look after it and then it wont die lol!

Lol,Tet..and I thought of you yesterday when I was at a Garden Centre..so many lovely colours..but as you say,a lot of pink..but I spied a cream one with just a touch of burgundy splashes,and an orange/rust centre ..divine..but didn't buy it,as was on a mission for a cover and inner fleece,for the Growhouse..mission accomplished....plus a couple of pots in the sale :o)...take a look in a supermarket..some nice ones and much cheaper ..but better still ,a pressie from your Sister in law ! :o)

What supermarket Bloomer? Morrisons? Blummin heck, Im getting as cheapjack as BA!!! (must make sure she sees this remark..that should get her going hehehehe!) We are having a mini war over Sandra's cockadoodle and Spritz's garden chair lol!

I bought some pots in the sale, some lovely terracotta ones. Just wondering if a gaura would survive in one. Got a lovely one from Valadel and bought two more. And Ive got some fleece so I could wrap it..mm maybe some polystyrene in bottom of pot..sorry Bloomer, I do wander on out loud..

Most of them,Tet..and if you can't beat Ba..and me ..join us!Lol..more money to spend on something else..:o)
I must take another look at San's pic. see what they are up to..the mind boggles..
I tend to ramble on too Tet..surely you've noticed ? :o)
I really don't know if your Gaura's would be ok in pots for winter,as I only ever had one, which was supposed to be hardy,but it was in a border..sorry to rain on your parade,but it died..but if they are well protected,maybe they will...

Good grief how did you do that ? I have 3 different ones bought when they were in flower the flowers died off and I haven't had another flower since ,they've been standing in my porch for the last 2/3 years doing nothing, this summer I decided to banish them to the green house .. funny thing is one of them has started to send out a new shoot ,fingers crossed !

Lol,Amy..I don't know! it just does it's own thing..must be happy here :o) I think sometimes it does them good to be moved..I'm sure Spritz mentioned it..a cool unheated room for a while,then bring them back into a warmer position,helps to start them off again..do you still give them a good watering,and Orchid feed and let them drain..? It should help,if it's got new growth...I also mist the leaves and top aerial roots when I water..and wipe the dust off with a damp tissue..and that's it !

Yes I remember Spritz saying that about putting them in a cooler place I tried it last winter but nothing happened ,I wonder if I water to much because I know people who say they completely ignore theirs and hardly ever water and theirs are always in flower .....

Maybe,Amy..I only water about every 10 days,just depends on how warm it is..the leaves on mine usually droop slightly when it is ready for another drink..I do think misting helps,as they get the humidity in their natural growing places..worth a try...:o)..IAre yours in an inner see through pot,Amy? if so,the roots will look pale green when dry,and brighter green when it has enough water..usually a good indication,to go by,I find..

Lovely orchid Bloomer, had one given to me, but guess what...... it didn;t survive, usually good with houseplants, but not with the orchid., think i'll read Spritz's blog and perhaps it will inspire me to buy another one!! where did you get your inner fleece for your grow house? i'm after one, seen them on line, but thats all :)

I got my inner fleece from the Garden centre,Gralew..Most of the big ones stock them.They have them to fit the 4 tier 'Gardman' range? along with the heavy duty reinforced cover,with the green mesh embedded in it..if you know what I mean..I have only had the plain see through covers before,but thought this one would be stronger,and more protective,especially with the inner liner..It was £9.99p...and the outer one was £16.99p...
The blog titled'Awkward Orchids' by Spritz is really helpful..and some lovely pics too :o)

thanks Sandra for the info. like you i've only got the plain see thru ones, but have never taken cuttings before, but thought i'd give it a go. The only ones i've had success with are carnation cuttings, but thought i' try some fuchsia and last season, i had a low growing, little flowered yellow bush appear(probably dropped by the birds.. bless them) so i've taken some cuttings and hoping for the best!!I've looked thru Spritz's blogs but didn't come across the orchid one, will have to have another "trawl" I've also taken some Osteospernium cuttings, had a nice bronze and yellow one this year so took some of those aswell.
How old is Thomas, is he your only grandson? he's lovely

Hopefully chat again, take care
Val x

I have found the blog for you,Val..posted 25/10/09 so it goes way back..hope you find it helpful..I hope your cuttings do well..I have my Fuchsia cuttings in the Conservatory,as they are quite small yet..and still don't trust the growhouse ,if the weather is exeptionally cold this winter....and to answer your question,Thomas is two and a half,and our only Grandchild ..thank you :o)

Found the blog Sandra!! have added to favs. in case i get on. If i thought i could have 41 flowers on it i'd try!!!:)

oh good,Val..very useful to be able to refer to it..I have a lot of stuff bookmarked, as well as Faves.,and use them often..:o)
Go for it ,Val..even a few at first is very nice..you can work your way up over the years :o)

Thats simply stunning...!!! I had a mere 12... considering am in India shouldnt i be crossing your "43" mark... but alas i guess its just the green hands that you have that make it happen... :)

12 is still good,Kaustubh..each year it should get better..and thank you..I have just seen the tiniest beginning of this years stem..hopefully there will be more..I hope it is as good as last year..:o)

I love the white ones especially when it's dark and they seem to glow in the dark. Stunning!!

Thanks Bathgate..this years is just about to drop it's flowers now..but only had about 30 on..I must be losing my touch :o)

It looks like a happy plant to me :)

I guess so,it's been happy for the past nine years ..old age slows us all down eventually ! Lol.