Moth Orchids

[Hamad]

Please post some update pics!

sure over the weekend

Hamad

[mikhurram]

My first experience with orchids began in spring of 2005. My first orchids were of dendrobium type. Initially they were kept protected in a shady spot with morning sunlight. But within an year both the dendrobium died out. Later i acquired some Phalaenopsis followed by Cattleya varieties. Fortunately i was able to get hold of 5 bags of Orchid Compost by John Bowers UK. As an experiment all these orchids were placed in this compost. They lived for 3 years but never really thrived. By 2011 all the remaining orchids settled in the orchid compost died out. The main factor was the winter chill especially during December/January and February.

The orchids need a controlled environment like a Greenhouse installed with misting systems to control the temperature/humidity levels. The climate in Karachi is ideally suited for them. Even though i like orchids but am not in favour of cultivating them as they require fuss and care and are not ideally suited for Lahore and upper regions. It is better to try perennials which do not require fuss and pampering.

Fortunately i was able to find a link about Orchids which is also in Soomro's book "Karachi:Pleasure Gardens of a Raj City". I can say with a certainty that if you are willing to take care of these orchids as mentioned in the article then you will be successful, otherwise no. Rather than hanging the orchids mentioned in the article, it is better to place them in a orchid compost but nevertheless they would still need to be placed in a controlled Green House environment mentioned in the article below or like the Green House at Kew Gardens. They also require fertilizing during their growth stage to thrive.

Tried ground orchids once they never thrived and died within a few months. Pests like Mealy bugs & Scale are attracted to them.

http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/review/ ... eview8.htm

[Hamad]

Please post some update pics!

Tahir I managed to get some photos for you, it didn't send new shoot for flower but its a sub stem from the old flowering stalk but the bigger Orchid is sending a new shoot from the base now it may take some time to see if its a new flowering stalk.







as you can see in the third photo in red circle


Khurram

thank you for your suggestions I will definitely consider them in future, you also seems to be a very experienced Gardener to me, to start with you use to keep quite later slowly but surely you started to share your experiences its really great to have yet another gardener with very versatile and diverse experiences and we would be able to get benefited to have you, I must say Khurram you are a CHUPA RUSTAM

you experienced laterally everything its good to have open choice for plants few stick to tuber like myself few like Annuals and few like shrubs and trees or veggies but you seems to be master of all

Hamad

[Syed Adnan]

Dear Hammad,

Congrats on getting this brilliant plant , i will share some of my expereince with this plant, for me this is a very easy care free plant and the blooms are just awesome !

1. This is a phalaenopsis variety , its blooms can live for 3 months , it has a habit to rebloom from the stalk, so never cut the stalk until it is brown.

2. I use to give water once a week, soaking 30 minutes in water and draining, liquid fertilizer in every watering is must.

3. i keep it near south facing window and never spray mist on it, temp is controlled 25 to 30 C with humidity 50%.

4. To regenerate bloom you need to put it outside when temp reach 15 C for a few days .

5. High and low temp can kill this palnt as it is native to tropical regions.

http://www.gardeningpakistan.com/viewto ... lit=orchid

If you know from where i can get a good potting mix from PAK for ORCHID, i need to replant my Orchid.

[Hamad]

Adnan are you growing them in Pakistan or Jubail? if you are growing them in Pakistan then your tips might help me growing them and not sure from where you can get the potting mix but I heard their hub is in Karachi then Karachi should be a good source but their potting mix is bark pieces that you can easily acquire from any timber seller and if you need a specialist potting mix then I might visit Pak soon InshAllah I can bring some for you.

Hamad

[Hamad Ahmed Kisana]

while reading about orchids i came across these images and was astonished with their beauty and diversity.just can say..SUBHAN ALLAH..
These orchids are known as"Grinning Monkey Orchids"even teeth are also visible like teeth of monkey.

[Hamad]

wow my God, you are right all that we can say is Subhan-Allah and Masha-Allah
the one with full alien shaped body is more stunning

thanks for sharing

Hamad

[Munir]

Astonishing!!

[Mustansir Billah]

SubhanAllah monkey's head in hands.

[Farhan Ahmed]