House orchids

[brianw]

Hi John
Yes it was a phalaenopsis. I believe the recommendation is to cut the stem off just above the first or second bract below the current flowers. I have also seen that it should be cut before the last flower dies to keep the stem actively flowering. I am not that strict but almost always get more flowers from the shoots. I was just amazed how long the shop flowers kept going.

[SteveC2]

The earlier you cut the stem the more likely it is to reflower.  As long as it is green and healthy looking there is hope.  If you leave too long it will be dry and lifeless at which point you may as well cut it right back.
I once had a Phal I did not really like, (my wife said it was pinky red, but it really looked brown and muddy to me, a colour blindness thing I expect) so I decided to test the theory.  It flowered, I cut the stem at a node.  It reflowered, I cut again at a lower node. It reflowered, so I cut again.  It reflowered, but by now was so exhausted its leaves fell off.  By not giving it a rest and allowing it to grow a new leaf I think I had literally flowered it to death over about two years.  Binning it would have been a lot quicker.
Bought a yellow one to replace it!

[johnstephen29]

Hi steve you got your monies worth out of it then, by the way I recieved a orchid list of a guy in Austria, was it you who sent it to me?

[SteveC2]

No John, it was not me!
To be honest I dislike phals, they flower for so long I get bored with them.
Trouble is my better half loves them.  She buys them, I have to look after them.  There are so many in the dining room that I can't see the telly!  Which as she is a fan of "Strictly ..." may be a blessing on some nights.

[SnowClock]

This cute little orchid is flowering for me at the moment: Corybas pictus. A species from Indonesia and Malaysia, that I keep moist all year round.

[johnstephen29]

Oh right IT came through my emails via the  srgc, mystery. Did you know of anyone who might stock the orchids I am interested in steve?

[Maggi Young]

This cute little orchid is flowering for me at the moment: Corybas pictus. A species from Indonesia and Malaysia, that I keep moist all year round.

wonderful - like a little alien in velvet!

[Tony Willis]

Paphiopedilum 'Leeanum' flowering for the first time for me

[mark smyth]

I'm quite good at getting Phals to repeat flower but when it comes to Phaphs I gave up years ago. Whats the secret in getting Phaphs to grow and bloom?

[monocotman]

Mark
Paphs are generally much more temperamental than phallies.
Some of the hybrids like King Arthur and the large flowered complex hybrids
are fairly easy but apart from insigne the species are difficult in a home.
One of the issues is the root zone.
They are very prone to root rots if the compost deteriorates any way. 
So annual repotting is advised into a high quality specialist bark compost.
Not the stuff from the garden centres.
They generally like similar temperatures to phallies but much higher humidity.
David

[monocotman]

Mark
Paphs are generally much more temperamental than phallies.
Some of the hybrids like King Arthur and the large flowered complex hybrids
are fairly easy but apart from insigne the species are difficult in a home.
One of the issues is the root zone.
They are very prone to root rots if the compost deteriorates any way. 
So annual repotting is advised into a high quality specialist bark compost.
Not the stuff from the garden centres.
They generally like similar temperatures to phallies but much higher humidity.
David

[mark smyth]

Thanks.

[monocotman]

Mark,

if you like slipper orchids then phragmipediums are much easier indoors.
There are some lovely hybrids from the red species besseae and the new purple species kovachii.
If you sit their pots in pure rain water and tiny amounts of feed then they can grow like weeds and have tall impressive flower spikes.
They like higher light levels than phals - west or east facing windows are good,

David

[Nova]

Phragmipedium schlimii has cute fuzzy cuddly flowers, they are around 5 cm wide and 4 cm high.
I'm new in growing this species, experimenting with Sphagnum and perlite 3:1 as potting mix.

[Maggi Young]

Khadija, that is a sweet flower. I don't know the plant so exciting to meet such a fuzzy little gem.