Question:
where in so cal dan oc la ie ?? Jim
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Derek: I hope you weren’t offended by my post – it was not meant to be condescending, just a wake up call to the truth of orchids. Not all orchids are ‘tropical.’ Some are from milder, even colder climates. Indeed, often found in common cold-winter (read snowy) gardens are the pleonies. I live in soCal and am fortunate that my climate is close to that of the Mexican laelias, so I can grow them easily. But, I’d also like to grow Odont’s but it is too hot and dry in the summer/fall here and they can’t survive it outdoors (though there are cousins to the Odont’s that can grow here but I really don’t care for Brassias.) So I stick to the laelias and their relatives, which I do like anyhow. The orchids are supposedly the largest group of flowering plants on earth – there are probably many which fit the environment that you can provide! -dan [snip] The suggested fundamental rule is of little help – aren’t most orchids tropical indigens? And I live in Canada to boot!! I should emigrate again – Madeira would be perfect methinks. [snip]
Response:
I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too moist rapid rot etc etc. I have managed to keep one or two phals alive for no more than a year, an oncidium is still hanging on, but then I’ve only had it for about 9 months, and nearly forgot – a weed like Den. kingianum which is just about impossible to kill but never flowers. Really my advice to any newbie thinking of growing these plants in an ordinary house in a non-tropical climate is – don’t! Unless you are a sucker for punishment and like throwing money away. …….
I grow orchids here in USDA zone 6. I have phals. dendrobiums, masdevallias and miltonias. I hang them in a tree in the summer and keep them in the basement for the winter. My outlay other than for the plants consists of orchid fertilizer, some pot hangers and a couple of books. The plants bloom every year; a half dozen are in bloom right now. The idea that orchids are impossible to grow without special setups is simply untrue. My Dend. kingianum must be fifteen years old–blooms every winter. I lose a plant now and then, but who doesn’t? J. Del Col
Response:
Well I seem to have touched a nerve here! When I have asked "intelligent" questions I have rarely had more than two responses but this time…. I shall continue to lurk if only to be amused by Ray’s self-serving rejoinders. The suggested fundamental rule is of little help – aren’t most orchids tropical indigens? And I live in Canada to boot!! I should emigrate
again – Madeira would be perfect methinks. So David, maybe I do have a slight infection if not the disease rampant yet -incidentally tried creating my own but obviously failed at that. To be beaten by anything is sad, so if this depression lifts I may continue as long as my miserable plants hang on and may even buy more if I
can find $5 specials. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No danger of my running up RJ’s $10k totals! From endeavours in general we do not get back what we put in, at least in monetary terms. I don’t have to have the latest expensive equipment to enjoy walking, skiing, etc nor should I to grow a few plants. Anyone know of an Orchids anon support group? Derek : I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste : of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about : everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too : moist rapid rot etc etc. : [snip much lamenting!] : FUNDAMENTAL RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: Pick which orchids to grow based on : what conditions you have to offer. DO NOT pick your orchids by what you : think you will like, then try to somehow create the correct conditions for : them. : This means studying your providing environment first, i.e., light, temp, : humidity. Then reading on what orchids naturally grow in areas similar to : what you have to offer. : SECOND RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: You must be willing to kill a few the : first year or two, just to gain knowledge on what NOT to do! : That’s an : important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for : ease of growth and hardiness. : [snip] : Not true! Much breeding in the last half of the twentieth century was to : get plants that could handle wider range in conditions! : -d —
Response:
I have always found you almost always get from something what you put into it and no , I wasn’t talking about money. Since orchids are a hobby with most of us, there is always a learning curve. I think the same can be said of any hobby. One has to start somewhere. People don’t decide one day that they want to ski, go outside and slap on a pair of barrel staves, and then go win a gold medal in the Olympics. It takes effort, trial and error, gaining knowledge and even if you don’t make the Olympics, you will probably become proficient at it. I don’t recall reading your posts but if you get a few responses that try to answer your questions, remember that people took the time to try to help. The trouble with orchids is that you are dealing with living things that are somewhat particular with their requirements. This is my second go round with them. My first time, upon a move to a different state and job, I didn’t have the time for them so gave away a 1000 plants. I also gave away some other plant collections I had. I have no regrets about that decision. My taste in orchids changed anyway. Lurk if you want, but I would suggest that you post again with what you grow and how you are trying to grow it. What are your conditions. How do you provide light, humidity, air movement, correct temps, what media, etc. etc. What are you interested in growing? What if any books do you have? Do you visit sites on the web? Maybe with a little more info, some of us here can try to make the experience of growing orchids a little more pleasurable. I know it is obvious, but life is filled with disappointments, all we can hope is that the pleasures and accomplishments far outweigh them. Ah well, back to normal, and being a pain in the ass. (me, not you.) Stephen
Well I seem to have touched a nerve here! When I have asked "intelligent" questions I have rarely had more than two responses but this time…. I shall continue to lurk if only to be amused by Ray’s self-serving rejoinders. The suggested fundamental rule is of little help – aren’t most orchids tropical indigens? And I live in Canada to boot!! I should emigrate
again – Madeira would be perfect methinks. So David, maybe I do have a slight infection if not the disease rampant yet -incidentally tried creating my own but obviously failed at that. 
To be beaten by anything is sad, so if this depression lifts I may continue as long as my miserable plants hang on and may even buy more if I
can find $5 specials. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No danger of my running up RJ’s $10k totals! From endeavours in general we do not get back what we put in, at least in monetary terms. I don’t have to have the latest expensive equipment to enjoy walking, skiing, etc nor should I to grow a few plants. Anyone know of an Orchids anon support group? Derek : I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste : of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about : everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too : moist rapid rot etc etc. : [snip much lamenting!] : FUNDAMENTAL RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: Pick which orchids to grow based on : what conditions you have to offer. DO NOT pick your orchids by what you : think you will like, then try to somehow create the correct conditions for : them. : This means studying your providing environment first, i.e., light, temp, : humidity. Then reading on what orchids naturally grow in areas similar to : what you have to offer. : SECOND RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: You must be willing to kill a few the : first year or two, just to gain knowledge on what NOT to do! : That’s an : important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for : ease of growth and hardiness. : [snip] : Not true! Much breeding in the last half of the twentieth century was to : get plants that could handle wider range in conditions! : -d —
— Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Response:
:I would move to New Zealand. You could keep orchids and ski down :glaciers or better. It’s beautiful. Gosh thanks Mike (on behalf of NZers everywhere 
). Sure is true that we can grow many flavours of orchids … as for the skiing .. I believe it’s often good, but it’s not my thing Bruce Oook !
Response:
I would move to New Zealand. You could keep orchids and ski down glaciers or better. It’s beautiful. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well I seem to have touched a nerve here! When I have asked "intelligent" questions I have rarely had more than two responses but this time…. I shall continue to lurk if only to be amused by Ray’s self-serving rejoinders. The suggested fundamental rule is of little help – aren’t most orchids tropical indigens? And I live in Canada to boot!! I should emigrate again – Madeira would be perfect methinks. So David, maybe I do have a slight infection if not the disease rampant yet -incidentally tried creating my own but obviously failed at that. To be beaten by anything is sad, so if this depression lifts I may continue as long as my miserable plants hang on and may even buy more if I can find $5 specials. No danger of my running up RJ’s $10k totals! From endeavours in general we do not get back what we put in, at least in monetary terms. I don’t have to have the latest expensive equipment to enjoy walking, skiing, etc nor should I to grow a few plants. Anyone know of an Orchids anon support group? Derek : I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste : of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about : everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too : moist rapid rot etc etc. : [snip much lamenting!] : FUNDAMENTAL RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: Pick which orchids to grow based on : what conditions you have to offer. DO NOT pick your orchids by what you : think you will like, then try to somehow create the correct conditions for : them. : This means studying your providing environment first, i.e., light, temp, : humidity. Then reading on what orchids naturally grow in areas similar to : what you have to offer. : SECOND RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: You must be willing to kill a few the : first year or two, just to gain knowledge on what NOT to do! : That’s an : important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for : ease of growth and hardiness. : [snip] : Not true! Much breeding in the last half of the twentieth century was to : get plants that could handle wider range in conditions! : -d —
Response:
Derek, Please accept my apologies for the overly-strenuous way I may have responded, but even upon rereading your original post, it seems intended to draw heat rather than to initiate a reasonable discussion. And how my response – to you or to others – is self-serving I do not see… Might you possibly be assuming motiveson my part? — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
Response:
Derek: I hope you weren’t offended by my post – it was not meant to be condescending, just a wake up call to the truth of orchids. Not all orchids are ‘tropical.’ Some are from milder, even colder climates. Indeed, often found in common cold-winter (read snowy) gardens are the pleonies. I live in soCal and am fortunate that my climate is close to that of the Mexican laelias, so I can grow them easily. But, I’d also like to grow Odont’s but it is too hot and dry in the summer/fall here and they can’t survive it outdoors (though there are cousins to the Odont’s that can grow here but I really don’t care for Brassias.) So I stick to the laelias and their relatives, which I do like anyhow. The orchids are supposedly the largest group of flowering plants on earth – there are probably many which fit the environment that you can provide! -dan
[snip] The suggested fundamental rule is of little help – aren’t most orchids tropical indigens? And I live in Canada to boot!! I should emigrate
again – Madeira would be perfect methinks.
[snip]
Response:
I know of one person who gave up orchids after planting a bunch of them in the soil in her garden (Her daughter had given them to her in bloom as a birthday gift, and I heard the story after it was too late to save them). Although most orchids bought at Home Depot come with some care instructions, sometimes people don’t read them. And, sometimes they buy items for the wrong climate or conditions. . . . Pam Everything Orchid Management System http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is that JFK quote? We do not go to the moon because it is easy…. we go because it is hard. I find an odd satisfaction in people who do things because they are hard. (and hey! No sex talk!) What else are you going to do in life? Take up space? Crystal — ~~~ Optional software required. I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too moist rapid rot etc etc. I have managed to keep one or two phals alive for no more than a year, an oncidium is still hanging on, but then I’ve only had it for about 9 months, and nearly forgot – a weed like Den. kingianum which is just about impossible to kill but never flowers. Really my advice to any newbie thinking of growing these plants in an ordinary house in a non-tropical climate is – don’t! Unless you are a sucker for punishment and like throwing money away. I have found the plants that lasted longest were those from Home Depot – if they can survive the abuse there they must be tough. That’s an important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for ease of growth and hardiness. Now there is a field for the breeders – it would surely be more lucrative in the end. Only addicts would want to keep struggling to prove some point to themselves in order to grow these fragile things many of which do not flower frequently or are quite insignificant anyway. So for me – I’m wasting no more time or money – life’s too short! Goodbye. —
Response:
Well I seem to have touched a nerve here! When I have asked "intelligent" questions I have rarely had more than two responses but this time…. I shall continue to lurk if only to be amused by Ray’s self-serving rejoinders. The suggested fundamental rule is of little help – aren’t most orchids tropical indigens? And I live in Canada to boot!! I should emigrate again – Madeira would be perfect methinks. So David, maybe I do have a slight infection if not the disease rampant yet -incidentally tried creating my own but obviously failed at that. To be beaten by anything is sad, so if this depression lifts I may continue as long as my miserable plants hang on and may even buy more if I can find $5 specials. No danger of my running up RJ’s $10k totals! From endeavours in general we do not get back what we put in, at least in monetary terms. I don’t have to have the latest expensive equipment to enjoy walking, skiing, etc nor should I to grow a few plants. Anyone know of an Orchids anon support group? Derek
: I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste : of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about : everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too : moist rapid rot etc etc. : [snip much lamenting!] : FUNDAMENTAL RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: Pick which orchids to grow based on : what conditions you have to offer. DO NOT pick your orchids by what you : think you will like, then try to somehow create the correct conditions for : them. : This means studying your providing environment first, i.e., light, temp, : humidity. Then reading on what orchids naturally grow in areas similar to : what you have to offer. : SECOND RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: You must be willing to kill a few the : first year or two, just to gain knowledge on what NOT to do! : That’s an : important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for : ease of growth and hardiness. : [snip] : Not true! Much breeding in the last half of the twentieth century was to : get plants that could handle wider range in conditions! : -d —
Response:
I think they are more important than ever. K Barrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s Sunday… the retaliation on the terrorists’ stronghold has begun. Orchids don’t seem quite so important anymore. Mick
Response:
I sort of agree My take on the obsession bug is that it resembles the same fanaticism seen in Discus keepers. You can’t imagine, actually many of you can — that’s the whole point, the work I put into keeping discus alive. Visiting and corresponding with other discus keepers to learn about their success. Going in with groups of people to buy 25 or more baby, dime or quarter size, discus to meet purchase minimums. Get them into their tank, change 25 to 40 % water each week, buying beef hearts, spinach, vitamins, shrimp, and other goodies to make their special meal, cleaning up each day to remove excess food. Fixing 75 gallon aquarium ( a 55, 45, 2-20s too in the apartment) that flooded our floor in our 680 square foot student housing apartment which was not suppose to have more than one 15 gallon aquarium. (Apologizing to the single mother who lived below us about the little puddle on her child’s room floor that she mistook as another of her child’s accidents.) And I was as bad as the other discus keepers that I met that had done as much as I did to keep their fishing going and a high percentage of them that had been through one or more divorces because of the obsession. So your giving orchids up to find something else you can give a go at. That’s the modern way. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think they are more important than ever. K Barrett It’s Sunday… the retaliation on the terrorists’ stronghold has begun. Orchids don’t seem quite so important anymore. Mick
Response:
What is that JFK quote? We do not go to the moon because it is easy…. we go because it is hard. I find an odd satisfaction in people who do things because they are hard. (and hey! No sex talk!) What else are you going to do in life? Take up space? Crystal — ~~~ Optional software required.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too moist rapid rot etc etc. I have managed to keep one or two phals alive for no more than a year, an oncidium is still hanging on, but then I’ve only had it for about 9 months, and nearly forgot – a weed like Den. kingianum which is just about impossible to kill but never flowers. Really my advice to any newbie thinking of growing these plants in an ordinary house in a non-tropical climate is – don’t! Unless you are a sucker for punishment and like throwing money away. I have found the plants that lasted longest were those from Home Depot – if they can survive the abuse there they must be tough. That’s an important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for ease of growth and hardiness. Now there is a field for the breeders – it would surely be more lucrative in the end. Only addicts would want to keep struggling to prove some point to themselves in order to grow these fragile things many of which do not flower frequently or are quite insignificant anyway. So for me – I’m wasting no more time or money – life’s too short! Goodbye. —
Response:
Near as I can figure – if you can give it up, you never had the disease. I got bit by the insideous orchid bug at the tender age of 16. And now, I’m not satisfied with what I can buy, but have this need to create my own. Anybody have some pollen from a really nice Phal violacea? David
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It’s Sunday… the retaliation on the terrorists’ stronghold has begun. Orchids don’t seem quite so important anymore. Mick
Response:
Hi Derek, I would have answered your message sooner, but I was away in Transylvania looking for blood-sucking orchids that drain the money right out of you. My problem – well, one of my problems – is exactly the opposite of yours. I buy a lot of Phalanopsis seedlings because orchids are fairly slow growing plants and it can take years to find out when they mature that the glowing descriptions growers attach to seedlings seldom match the resultant plant growing in your basement and that the grower has a built in excuse: They’re seedlings and they can turn out looking exactly the opposite of what they were described to look like because seedlings do that…. And…by the time you find out that the "vibrant yellow" you were expecting is really a mushy, yushy yellow that I have always associated with baby diapers, it’s been three years or so and you can’t begin to remember where you bought it! And…the other distressing thing is that by the time you’ve decided that ishy baby yellow has got to go, the leaves look so good and the roots are so great that only an insensitive, moronic spendthrift would throw such a plant away! I’ll tell ya, it’s like Rosanna, Rosanna Dana use to say on Saturday Night Live: "If it isn’t one thing…it’s another!"
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Derek, I admire your courage to say what has been on the minds of hundreds (perhaps thousands) of people visiting this newsgroup. You are a refreshing breath of air here and your point is well taken. Orchids are difficult to grow… you are correct. And indeed life is too short to be consumed with nuturing/babying orchids to the nth degree. Best wishes with your new interests. Mick
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too moist rapid rot etc etc. I have managed to keep one or two phals alive for no more than a year, an oncidium is still hanging on, but then I’ve only had it for about 9 months, and nearly forgot – a weed like Den. kingianum which is just about impossible to kill but never flowers. Really my advice to any newbie thinking of growing these plants in an ordinary house in a non-tropical climate is – don’t! Unless you are a sucker for punishment and like throwing money away. I have found the plants that lasted longest were those from Home Depot – if they can survive the abuse there they must be tough. That’s an important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for ease of growth and hardiness. Now there is a field for the breeders – it would surely be more lucrative in the end. Only addicts would want to keep struggling to prove some point to themselves in order to grow these fragile things many of which do not flower frequently or are quite insignificant anyway. So for me – I’m wasting no more time or money – life’s too short! Goodbye. —
Response:
Now you got it!! That’s exactly the lure. I suppose for some its a perfect golf swing. Chasing the perfect wave. Deep powder. Great abs. For me its knowing I can get them to reflower. K Barrett
[snip] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Only addicts would want to keep struggling to prove some point to themselves in order to grow these fragile things
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Actually, I think many of us go through a phase like this. But it’s the challenge and the reward of success when that challenge has been met that hooks many of us. Yes, it can be tough to grow orchids in less-than-ideal natural conditions. That’s the fun! We are the ones who didn’t quit trying. Tennis
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I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too moist rapid rot etc etc.
[snip much lamenting!] FUNDAMENTAL RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: Pick which orchids to grow based on what conditions you have to offer. DO NOT pick your orchids by what you think you will like, then try to somehow create the correct conditions for them. This means studying your providing environment first, i.e., light, temp, humidity. Then reading on what orchids naturally grow in areas similar to what you have to offer. SECOND RULE FOR GROWING ORCHIDS: You must be willing to kill a few the first year or two, just to gain knowledge on what NOT to do! That’s an important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for ease of growth and hardiness.
[snip] Not true! Much breeding in the last half of the twentieth century was to get plants that could handle wider range in conditions! -d
Response:
I understand where you are coming from. After spending close to 10,000 dollars all I have to show for is 300 plants, a modest library, an HID and couple of fluorescents shop lights, and a bunch of benches plus some misc. humidifiers and odds and ends. This is NOT a cheap hobby if taken to the higher levels. Having said that, there are many ways to enjoy the hobby inexpensively. For a good while all I had was a small shelf unit with 2 fluorescent lamps in front of a window. Just had a few plants from local retailers. Maybe 150 USD total. Then the bug hit, but that’s another story. A deeper analysis would reveal that orchids have become a way of life, with great enjoyment in travelling to exotic locales, visiting with other enthusiasts around the country (and hopefully the world) and so on and so forth. You can always decide how far you go. I even know of a guy that simply orders the $50+20s&h special for 10 phals in 4" pots from Carmela every Spring. He simply puts them outside in the summer, enjoys the blooms on a souther window and composts or gives the plants away when they are done. Total cost, 70 bucks a year. There are many ways to enjoy the jewels of the jungle… RJ
Response:
Sounds like something out of a *very* old movie….."Goodbye, cruel world!" As for me, well, "My orchids, myself". I love ‘em, even when they’re mean to me, which is not all that often. Added three Catts yesterday, and orchid show season is just beginning here in sunny south FL. Somebody hold me Diana
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I understand where you are coming from. After spending close to 10,000 dollars all I have to show for is 300 plants, a modest library, an HID and couple of fluorescents shop lights, and a bunch of benches plus some misc. humidifiers and odds and ends. This is NOT a cheap hobby if taken to the higher levels. Having said that, there are many ways to enjoy the hobby inexpensively. For a good while all I had was a small shelf unit with 2 fluorescent lamps in front of a window. Just had a few plants from local retailers. Maybe 150 USD total. Then the bug hit, but that’s another story. A deeper analysis would reveal that orchids have become a way of life, with great enjoyment in travelling to exotic locales, visiting with other enthusiasts around the country (and hopefully the world) and so on and so forth. You can always decide how far you go. I even know of a guy that simply orders the $50+20s&h special for 10 phals in 4" pots from Carmela every Spring. He simply puts them outside in the summer, enjoys the blooms on a souther window and composts or gives the plants away when they are done. Total cost, 70 bucks a year. There are many ways to enjoy the jewels of the jungle… RJ
Response:
As with most endeavors we undertake, one generally gets from it that which Stephen
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too moist rapid rot etc etc. I have managed to keep one or two phals alive for no more than a year, an oncidium is still hanging on, but then I’ve only had it for about 9 months, and nearly forgot – a weed like Den. kingianum which is just about impossible to kill but never flowers. Really my advice to any newbie thinking of growing these plants in an ordinary house in a non-tropical climate is – don’t! Unless you are a sucker for punishment and like throwing money away. I have found the plants that lasted longest were those from Home Depot – if they can survive the abuse there they must be tough. That’s an important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for ease of growth and hardiness. Now there is a field for the breeders – it would surely be more lucrative in the end. Only addicts would want to keep struggling to prove some point to themselves in order to grow these fragile things many of which do not flower frequently or are quite insignificant anyway. So for me – I’m wasting no more time or money – life’s too short! Goodbye. —
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Dear Derek (apparently a not-to-well disguised newsgroup "troll"): The fact that you’ve been unsuccessful is probably due to your lack of understanding of what orchids need. It’s not their fault, it’s yours. There was a time I ***might*** have agreed with you, but I’m smart enough to actually learn from my mistakes – and from <gasp reading </gasp all I can. Oh yeah. Asking folks here a few intelligent questions can’t hurt either. Please don’t waste our time with such ignorant gibberish. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
Response:
I am giving up trying to grow orchids – it is an expensive and silly waste of time. I have never been able to discover what goes wrong – just about everything I think – too much heat – death! – too cold – slow death! – too moist rapid rot etc etc. I have managed to keep one or two phals alive for no more than a year, an oncidium is still hanging on, but then I’ve only had it for about 9 months, and nearly forgot – a weed like Den. kingianum which is just about impossible to kill but never flowers. Really my advice to any newbie thinking of growing these plants in an ordinary house in a non-tropical climate is – don’t! Unless you are a sucker for punishment and like throwing money away. I have found the plants that lasted longest were those from Home Depot – if they can survive the abuse there they must be tough. That’s an important point though eh? – most of these modern hybrids are not bred for ease of growth and hardiness. Now there is a field for the breeders – it would surely be more lucrative in the end. Only addicts would want to keep struggling to prove some point to themselves in order to grow these fragile things many of which do not flower frequently or are quite insignificant anyway. So for me – I’m wasting no more time or money – life’s too short! Goodbye. —