I've had a few orchids over the last 10-15 years. They've bloomed, then I usually manage to keep them alive (barely) for a year or two, then they die, no reblooming. I tried to give them what they want, but it was, I think too little or too much. Times when they didn't get water often enough followed by times when I over watered. I didn't know what I was doing and was too distracted by life. The missus has talked about wanting orchids, but she's just going to enjoy the flowers. I'm the one that's going to learn to not kill them, and hopefully, keep them healthy enough to bloom again.
I'm trying again, but this time I'm older, with more time and more commitment. I've had one now since Nov. I was doing OK with it, then I think it get over-fertilized, but I've corrected the issue before it got too far. It's putting out a fair amount of new growth. I'm hoping that it blooms again in the next 6 months, but I may have set it back a bit. And with the amount of new growth that it has, it may need a break before it's ready to flower again.
When I bought it.
Cattleya Lc. Chyong Guu Swan 'Ruby Lip'
Then because I was doing pretty well, I bought another.
Oncidium Bnfld Gilded Tower 'Mystic Maze'
Then my mom was in town and bought me another. This is basically the same type that you would get at many/most grocery stores and big box stores.
Random Phalaenopsis.
Then I went to a local orchid shop for supplies. They were having a 20% off sale, so I ended up with this.
Grammatocymbidium Memoria Nathan Newman 'NN'
I should have looked that one up before I bought it. It's currently about 2.5' tall and was in a 4.5" pot, but now I'm having to repot it into an 8" pot. I'm afraid it's going to end up being 4-6' tall. Someone on an orchid board told me that I have a St Bernard puppy.
I was doing well with the first one, but then ended up over fertilizing. I have repotted it into a larger pot and gotten advice on fertilizing.
The Phalaenopsis is still blooming and is doing pretty well, but it was in the potting media that they come in which is good for the nurseries that grow them and sell them, but actually bad for the plant. I was hoping to be able to wait to report it after the blooms had fallen, but they are fairly long lived and it has put out new buds, so I had to repot it anyway.
WHen I lived in a house, I had yard plants. I have a slightly greenish yellow thumb. I'm smart enough to let mother nature take care of plants when I can, but in the apartment, that's not an option for me. These seem like they will actually be fairly easy once I get the hang of them. They should be attractive and interesting, and the learning curve and
attempting to master the method will stimulate my interest.