Handy Tips

alphabet orchids

Sellers of Unusual Species
and Primary Hybrids

Handy tips

Re-potting your orchid
(Phalaenopsis, Oncidium, Dendrobium types)

* Get all your equipment prepared:-
                                                                - Fresh orchid compost
                                                                - Correct size pot
                                                                - Clean sterilized knife
                                                                - Crock for the bottom of the pot
                                                                - Plant label
* Remove the plant from the original pot, you may wish to sterilize this pot in order to re-pot your orchid in.
* Gently knock all old substrate from the root ball.
* Using the clean knife remove and dead all diseased roots, and discard these.
* Place some of your crock in the bottom of the new clean pot
* Position the plants crown at just below the pots rim. For monopodials place plant centrally, but for all our species place new growth to the centre of the pot.
*gently start to add your substrate around the roots of the plant firming as you go.
* Once you have filled your pot with substrate firmly compress around the plant so that it is totally stable.
* You can gently tap the pot to make sure there are no gaps in the substrate and then firm down again.
* Write out a plant label with the name of the plant and the date that you have repotted it.
* Leave the plant for a week prior to watering. Water lightly to start.
* Keep humidity high so as to promote new root growth (if in growing stage).

Purchasing your first few orchids

Before purchasing a new orchid

Care should be taken that you can provide the correct environment
Research the plant
Check its growth habits
What are its growth seasons
Is it cool, intermediate, warm or hot
Is it an epiphyte, lithophyte or terrestrial
Is it deciduous or evergreen
How much light it requires
How much water it requires
How and when to give feed
All this information is not to scare you but to make you think what you are buying
The worst thing to do is spend a lot of money on a pretty looking plant only for it to die a few months later
Most orchids in cultivation are very easy to grow
Start with an easy plant
A few of the terrestrial ones are very easy to care for in the house with no special requirements i.e. Ludisia discolour - even when not in flower the leaves are very decorative
While phalaenopsis are popular plants, they can be in flower for months on end, but when not in flower they are pretty boring to tell the truth.
Oncidium generally only flower annually
Zygopetalum need cooler conditions
Dendrobium generally has a dry season in winter to promote flowering. This is a huge genera so impossible to give general cultivation tips
There are two types of Calanthe, deciduous and evergreen; they are mainly cool growing so are a good plant for this country. They do however have a dry season over winter which is also when they flower
Cattleya like plenty of light with a slight drying period over winter
Epidendrum are fairly easy to cultivate as long as you are aware of what the actual plant is i.e. species or hybrid
Masdevallia if grown cool and in constant moisture are easier than some other species grown.
Vanda and related genera although extremely pretty flower need very specific growing needs. High temperatures with high humidity and high light levels. Their roots hang freely in the air. In the house they are best grown in very large glass vases that have a water reservoir in the bottom.

I just want to add that although purchasing your first orchid can be daunting, most plants are very robust and easy to care for. As orchids have been historically considered difficult and expensive (of which a few definitely are) most could easily be cultivated on a window sill with very little difficulty. If you have any questions please do email us and I will do my best to answer any questions and alleviate any worries. I look forward to hearing from you.

Other Hardy Orchids For Sale (non-native)


Picture	Name	Description	Price
	Bletilla ochracea FS	A medium sized hardy to -10 terrestrial. Will grow in any normal free draining garden soil/compost mix. Can tolerate full sun. Plenty of water when in active growth and flowering. Give less water after flowers have dropped. Flowers late spring to mid summer. protect from heavy frost in winter. supplied as a bare root bulb are as a growing plant if order from late spring to summer.	£19.99

	Bletilla striata (Purple)FS	A medium to large sized terrestrial. Hardy to -12. growing. Free draining mix. Can tolerate full sun, but prefers shelter from midday summer sun. Plenty of water when in active growth, normally mid to late spring can tolerate drought after flowers have faded(late summer).Fowers late spring. Very easy to care for. just plant and reap the rewards. Supplied a a bare root bulb or as a growing plant if order from late spring to summer	£6.50
	Bletilla striata Variagata -- FS	Same culture as Bletilla striata just that the leaves have a yellow variagation. A very pretty variation of the original species Supplied as a bare root bulb or as a plant if ordered from late spring to summer.	£6.50
	Bletilla striata white flower variagata -- FS	Same culture as bletilla striata, just an alba variation. so have brilliant white flowers. supplied as a bare root bulb or as a plant if ordered late spring to summer.	£6.50 out of stock due back in spring 2012
	Bletilla striata white flower	Same culture as bletilla striata, just have white with a pink hue flowers. supplied as a bare root bulb or as a plant if ordered late spring to summer.	£6.50 Out of Stock due back spring 2012
	Bletilla striata 'Kuchibeni' lipstick FS	Same sultaure as betilla striata (above) but had white petal and a pink edgeing to the lip (hence the Japanese word for lipstick) supplied as a bare rood bulb or as a plant if orded late spring to summer.	£9.99
	Bletilla striata 'Yellow Striped' FS	Same as Bletilla striata (above) a very rare and beautiful colour variation rarely seen out out of Japan. supplied as a bare root bulb or as a plant if orderd late spring to summer.	£15.00
	Bletilla striata 'Soryu' Blue Dragon FS	Culture same as Bletilla striata (see above) this is a wild colour mutation, very sought after due to the blueness of the flower. Stunning plant for any keen gardener or orchid collector alike. supplied as a bare rooted bulb or as a plant if ordered late spring to summer	£15.00

	Cremastra appendiculata -- FS	A medium sized terrestrial orchid. A tuberous growing plant with winter green leaves, looses leaves over summer. Ideal for woodland setting, protect from heavy frost. Flowers may to june. sold as an active growing plant. or as a tuber if purchased over summer	£12.50
	Cypripedium flavum -- FS	Grow in mouture retentive free draining soil. In light shade. Flowers in spring.	£27.99
	Cypripedium reginae -- FS	Grow in moisture retentive free draining soil. In light shade. Flowers in spring. The easiest of the species to grow	£24.99
	Cypripedium Ulla Silkens -- FS	Grow in moisture retentive free draining soil. In light shade. Flowers in spring. One of the easier Hybrids to grow.	£25.99
	Dactylorhiza alpestris -- NFS	Grow in any moisture retentive soil that never dries out. flowers in full sun in spring. Has a winter dormancy	£7.49
	Dactylorhiza aristata	Grow in any moisture retentive soil that never dries out. flowers in full sun in spring. Has a winter dormancy	£15.00
	Dactylorhiza elata -- FS	Grow in any moisture retentive soil that never dries out. flowers in full sun in spring. Has a winter dormancy	£12.99
	Dactylorhiza majalis -- NFS	Grow in any moisture retentive soil that never dries out. flowers in full sun in spring. Has a winter dormancy	£7.49
	Dactylorhiza sphagnicola -- NFS	Grow in any moisture retentive soil that never dries out. flowers in full sun in spring. Has a winter dormancy	£9.99
	Eleorchis japonica -- FS	A very small bulbous terrestrial orchid. Is best grown in a shady damp area in the garden. has a winter dormant state, but needs moisture all the time. A bog garden would be ideal. can tollerate temperature down to -15'C. flowers in the summer. supplied as a naturally small bulb smaller than 0.5cm. or a growing plant if purchased late spring to summer.	£9.99
	Eleorchis japonica 'Alba' white flower -- FS	Culture same as above Eleorchis. Has a pure white flower. A great variation on the original species. Supplied as a naturally small bulb (smaller that 0.5cm) or as a plant if purchased late sprint to summer	£21.99 Out of Stock
	Epipactis gigantea - FS	A medium sized clump forming very hardy terrestrial. Grown in moist areas in direct sunlight. A bog garden would best suit this species but as long as soil does not dry out will grow well. winter dormant. flowers mid-summer supplied as a bare rooted plant	£12.99
	Habenaria radiata -- FS	. A miniture sized bulbous terrestrial orchid. Hardy to -6'C if grown in well drained media. plant in dappled shade. protect from server heat and direct sunlight. needs to be kept fairy dry in winter with adequate watering in growing season. flowers in summer. supplied as a single bulb or plants if purchased late spring to summer.	£3.50 Out of Stock due back spring 2012
	Habenaria radiata 'Ginga'	Same as above but has a variagated leave that is slightly curly and crinkled	£4.50 Out of stock due back Spring 2012
	Oreorchis patens -- FS	This rarely-offered terrestrial evergreen woodland orchid from Japan is deciduous in summer, with bright green slightly pleated leaves fall to late spring. The 8" spikes of yellow flowers bloom in spring. Easy in very well-drained woodsy soil, not too dry. These are nursery propagated and grown blooming size plants. Hardy to about -5'C supplied as a growing plant. or a tuber if purchased late spring to summer.	£12.50
	Pogonia ophioglossoides -- FS	Grows in acid rich soil in marshy (bog ) conditions. flowers in late spring to summer. light shade to full sun. is clump forming. Has a winter dormancy.	£14.99 Out of Stock
	Spiranthes "Chadd's Ford" - FS -	A medium sided terrestrial that quickly form a large clump. keep constantly moist, bog condition ideal. flowers late sunner until first frost. smells like vannilla in late evening. supplied as a bare rooted plant	£8.99

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