Which orchid is it that has leaves that make it look like a large, untidy
daylily plant? Is it a Cymbidium?
Whatever it is, I have one. Several years ago a friend thrust this huge
thing into my shaking hands and said "Here, take this." When I recovered my
poise I asked her if it came with an operator's manual, and she said to just
run it like any other house plant. I've been doing that ever since and it
seems perfectly happy, but...
This thing was in a 14" pot (still is) and has about a six-foot wing span of
leaves stiff enough to put your eye out. Every year in February or so, it
puts out one or two yard-long spikes of blooms, which are kind of ugly,
yellow with reddish speckled throat, but you know what they say about gift
horses.
I've done some reading about orchids, which would be more helpful if I was
sure what kind I've got, but I'm still not sure what to do. I understand
that in the old days, they left their orchids in the same pot until the
plant burst the pot; but this is a plastic nursery container and I don't
think it'll break; instead, the little gizmos (are they pseudobulbs?) are
climbing over the rim.
I've pulled out three or four brown ones that are shriveled and appear dead,
but the rest are crammed in there so tight I'll need a knife (or an axe) to
remove them. I'm told that some of them may still be alive even though they
appear dead; I'm not sure how to tell. I think I want to divide this plant,
though if I hardly have room for one of them, I don't know what I expect to
do with several. Should I divide it into clumps of five or six? What should
I pot them in? Is fir bark OK or is there something better or cheaper? What
about just plain bark mulch? It looks like that's what they're living in
now, though I can no longer see the surface.
I'll be very grateful for any useful suggestions, and I wish everybody a
happy new year.
Edie in Maine
Sounds like an oncidium. The bark turns to soil like stuff when it is old.
I repot mine about every 3 years in bark. My latest bark is a coconut bark.
Anne in MA
Edith:
Your description isn't really too helpful in determining what kind of =
orchid
it is.
What kind it is really matters when it comes to dividing it. Some =
orchids
are not dividable at all.
Do you have a digital camera? Could you shoot a picture of it?
My husband is an orchid expert, although retired from that particular
industry for some 15 years now. I could get him to look at the pic.
That'll help a long ways toward figuring out how to proceed.
- T.
> Do you rent/lend him out?
He's been on vacation for the last 10 days.
Right about now, I'd give him away for free.
- T.
Do you rent/lend him out? I am in need of a good orchid man myself. I have
orchids I repotted into coconut husk, that are now exploding from their
pots!!
Marg in N.S. Zone 5b
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/mmillard/index.html
Edith:
Your description isn't really too helpful in determining what kind of orchid
it is.
What kind it is really matters when it comes to dividing it. Some orchids
are not dividable at all.
Do you have a digital camera? Could you shoot a picture of it?
My husband is an orchid expert, although retired from that particular
industry for some 15 years now. I could get him to look at the pic.
That'll help a long ways toward figuring out how to proceed.
- T.
shall I draw you a map?!?!?!? suggestions for favourite meals?
Marg in N.S. Zone 5b
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/mmillard/index.html
Well my DH has been home on vacation for the past 21 days.....anyone need someone who can spend 3 weeks playing around trying to bend wood with steam?????
Mary L.
TeraGram
> Do you rent/lend him out?
He's been on vacation for the last 10 days.
Right about now, I'd give him away for free.
- T.
