January 2007

January 2007

Monday, March 14, 2011

my first orchid - any helpful advice to keep it alive?

Here is my first orchid, granted - it's just a cheap one from the grocery store, but still beautiful.  The directions tell me to water it once a week with 3 ice cubes, keep it in a room around 60 degrees and not in direct sunlight. Does anyone have any advice or tips to help me along the way to keeping this new baby healthy?  
I've been wondering why I am so willing to hand over hard-earned money for plants but not for other items that are needed in my home? Is this an addiction? Am I a plantaholic? Is there such a thing? I've always maintained that I can't understand what people with additions go through, having never been addicted to anything,  but maybe I can. I buy plants because they make me feel good. Isn't that why foodaholics eat? And shopaholics shop? I am standing up and publicly proclaiming to be a plantaholic - but please don't offer to help me, I'm not ready for an intervention!
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7 comments:

  1. JessMarch 15, 2011 at 12:53 AM

    haha, I killed my first orchid years ago... but my second orchid is still kickin' it in the kitchen window. I definitely am going by the 3 ice cube a week method... however, the rest of the time it gets whatever temperature the room is, which in the hot of the summer is like 78 degrees... what this has meant for me is that it blooms now (March) and in the fall, and looks like a flat pancake in the summer.

    And yes, it is an addiction. But as long as it isn't in place of food, or is living on the Visa card when that 10 dollar plant gets paid off 15 years from now at a total cost of 356.30 I think you can stop worrying about it and enjoy it.

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  2. UnknownMarch 15, 2011 at 2:51 AM

    Nice orchid, but I am sorry I can't help you. All the orchid I had are now dead.

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  3. BonnieMarch 15, 2011 at 6:19 AM

    Jess, point taken about putting plants on the credit card! Fortunately I don't buy them unless I have the cash or a gift card (I received 2 for Christmas to a nursery, can't wait for planting time.)

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  4. MargueriteMarch 15, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    I'm afraid I'm also an orchid killer but I've seen some great posts recently on how to care for them. Just yesterday Kate @ High Altitude Gardening wrote a post with lots of tips. You might want to check her out. By the way, I did a yearly budget not too long ago and found out how much I REALLY spend on plants. Yup, I'm a confirmed plantaholic too!

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  5. BonnieMarch 15, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    Marguerite, you're very brave to add up what you spent on plants. I don't think I want to know what I spend each year!

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  6. In The Orchid House With AmyMarch 15, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    Beautiful orchid! I don't use ice cubes to water mine as I am scared it will freeze the roots but let me know if it works.

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  7. meemsnycMarch 16, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    I don't know about the ice cube watering method. The instructions on my orchid said that it preferred rain water to faucet water. It's because faucet water has too much chlorine in it. If you are to use faucet water, let it stand 24 hours so that the chlorine dissipates.

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