Can't answer your questions right now, ready for bed but want to tell you that you made good choices. Blue Vandas are tough and temp tolerant and the Blc Lemon 'Chiffon' is a great classic.

Does that shop have more of the Blcs and how much are they?

Nick

Welcome to the forum, and it's great that you've found some orchids that you really enjoy!

Vandas and Cattleyas are high light orchids, and require several hours of very bright to direct sunlight to bloom and thrive. They can be grown together, if you can find/create a warm bright area in your house.

When it comes to artificial lighting, it's important to realize that while a light might seem bright to our eyes, the actual light levels may not be sufficient for a plant. a 100W compact fluorescent bulb screwed into the ceiling can probably light up a reasonably sized room, but to a plant on the floor, it's in complete and absolute darkness. I've seen countless light setups where the lights are just too far from the plants to actually have any effect at all.

I grew and bloomed some cattleyas under compact fluorescent bulbs, and the bulbs were placed only 4 inches away from the leaves. Granted, this was in the absence of any natural light. In your office, the regular desk lamp may work if you put the CFL directly above the plant, within a few inches of the leaves.

Compact fluorescent bulbs will typically fit into regular light sockets. It depends on the base of the bulb - just ensure that it is a medium base and not a mogul base. The socket itself is equipped to handle up to 660 watts.

Watering frequency depends on how dry your environment is - the once a week rule might fare well in moderate climates, but wouldn't work in the desert in Arizona (dry), nor would it work in the middle of the Amazon (humid). The stick in the pot is a good way to measure how fast your media is drying. Put the stick in the pot to the bottom, and periodically take it out. If it's cool and damp, then your media is still moist. If it's dry, then it might be time to water again.

Generally dunking is preferred as you saturate the medium uniformly. Personally I've found that it's more critical in dry environments where you want to make sure everything is evenly moistened.

I see you are in a relatively warm zone - it's possible to grow these outside and just bring them in when there's cold weather. What I'd give to be able to do that! I'm not sure though, and someone from your area can probably comment more extensively on local growing conditions and practices.

Hope that helps!

Just to note - some sockets might not be able to handle 660volts although most ones you can find in hardware stores can. Make sure you check this before putting on a bulb! I also would probably not go higher than 105W on one of those regular medium base sockets.

Thanks Calvin & orchidnick, I just ran into them by chance and fell in love instantly. When I got them, had no idea how to take care of them but I only wished that they are not too difficult :)

orchidnick, the Vanda was $30 and the Lemon Chiffon was $20, they are very good size. I don't know the normal going price on these. The seller also has some pink Catts which I got one for my friend but I didn't see the name. If I know how to pack it, I could send you one :)

I'm looking at some lux meters and I think I might have to invest in one of those and maybe the indoor/outdoor weather station to check temp and humidity. It would be great if I could leave them outside but I still don't know how to handle the humidity issue for the Vanda. That's why I wanted to try the vase method but it might not be suitable for outside application.

When using the "stick" method, or skewer method, get a shishkabob or bamboo skewer from the grocery store. Trim it down and keep it in the medium. When you think the plant needs water, take out the skewer and touch it to your cheek, lip, or the back of your hand. For a cattleya, if its dry it's time to water. If it's damp or wet, wait. How wet or dry the skewer is before you water will depend on the needs of the particular orchid. Cattleyas like to dry out before being watered again, whereas Phals like to be almost dry.

Calvin, I forgot to ask, how many bulbs do you need for one plant? I see most of the desk lamps only have one socket but I think this will be my solution for keeping a Catt at work. At home there is still an issue. Ideally I would love to put them by the window so they can get some natural light too but hubby doesn't like the idea of putting lights there as people/police can see through the window and will think that we are growing marijuana... LOL... If I hang the lights too high then they don't do anything.

orchid126, thanks for the great details on using the stick. It's very helpful. I have a pack of the bamboo skewers, I will start using it today.

A good sizewd 'Lemon Chiffon' for $20 is a good deal. Thje reason I'm asking is I'm looking for one. Can you give me the name of the vendor.

Nick

It is just a small stand at my local farmers' market so I don't know if they have a real shop anywhere but seems like they just sell the orchids part-time on the weekends. I want to buy another one for work so I will ask them this weekend.

Nick,

So I found out that my orchids are from Rose Mae Orchids, they are in Daily City but have a nursery in Half Moon Bay where my Vandas and Cattleyas came from. They stil have more "Lemon Chiffon" left and I got one more myself :)

BTW, I saw your old post about wrapping Vanda with Spanish Moss, I wanted to ask how your experiment went.

They seem to like it and I am doing it with all Vandas and any other bare-root orchid who has a rambling, all over the place root system. One needs to inoculate a plant with only very little moss, it then grows right into the system and looks like it belongs there.

It's easy to control, if the moss gets to be too much, I just pull a handful off and throw it on some other orchid.

Nick

Nick,

Could you please shares a few pics? from different stages would be great. I would like to try this too, I think it will be good for the summer, I can't run home in the middle of the day to mist them. I just have to find a place that sells this moss.

Thanks!

No pics, way beyond my computer capacity. This moss is tough, no need to run home and mist it. If you want some, email me and I'll send you a starter bundle.

Nick

Thanks so much, Nick. I will try around here first and if I can't find it any where I may email you. Thanks again!

Apple

There are 3 types. One is real fine haired, the other 2 are green and bluish-green. I don't know their names but you want the bluish-green type it seems to work best. All are called Spanish moss, the good one is the commonest one as far as I know. Of course it's not really moss but a tangle of succulents.

Good luck, Nick

This tells you all you want to know about 'Tillandsia usneoides' but are afraid to ask.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_moss

Nick

Thank you for the link and the tip on the color. I never see a live one so this is very helpful.

On Wikipedia, it says snakes like to live in the moss. Yikes! I hope they don't make their way to my plants. Snakes make my hair stand on end! :-)

Thanks,
Apple

I love snakes, killed a good sized rattler once in Arizona. Tasted like chicken when we broiled it.

Nick

The only other thing about this moss is that if it likes you it won't be long before you'll be supplying others with starter samples and/or throwing it away. It grows like a weed. On the other hand if it doesn't like your conditions, it won't grow. If there is none in collections around your area the latter may well be the case. Try it anyway, don't hesitate to send me your addy, I throw the stuff away.

Nick

I only ate alligator meat once or twice and it tasted pretty good but I'm still scared of snakes. I might be able to eat it if I didn't know what it is :)

One place told me over the phone that they have the moss but I didn't have a chance to go get it yet. I hope they didn't mean the dried one.

Are you still interested in the "Lemon Chiffon"?

Found it locally, thank you.

Nick