Post #86809 by Kono on Sat, Apr 17, 2004 9:17 PM

Hanford, I would love to be an expert orchid grower but I suffer from a curse: that any living plant that comes under my care will, no matter how hard I try to avert it, suffer and eventually die. It's always been that way. I got the orchid bug after reading "The Orchid Thief" and I went out bought a few plants. They're still alive but not doing all that great. I swore that I will not get any more orchids until at least one of the ones that I have goes into bloom. Doesn't look to promising.

I bought a bamboo orchid cutting in Waikiki at an ABC store. They sell them in little plastic bags. It sat around a little while in it's bag until I noticed that it sprouted a shoot. The little guy was actually thriving in the bag! I took it out and planted it in some bark material and followed the directions of care faithfully. It died fairly quickly. That is my effect on plants.

I met an expert orchid fancier (this was when I was still optimistic about being an orchid grower) from Central America and he told me that to grow orchids is very simple. In nature, they grow attached to trees and get there nutrients from the air, rainwater and tree bark. He said to keep them outside often, in the shade and pour water over them about once a week. Try to mimic the conditions of their natural environment: above the ground in the shade of a large tree. And bring them inside if the temperature drops below 55F.

Having said all of that, it didn't actually work for me. But then again, I am cursed.