Our orchids have all fallen off (SIGH)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

They were so beautiful for months, and now they've all shriveled up and dropped off, one by one. All that's left is a long naked stem. Here they were in all their glory:

[Bullwinkle925]

1. Sorry to hear that. Mine have as well.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

2. It just adds to my current general sense of malaise and ickiness

[Bullwinkle925]

3. same here

[auntAgonist]

4. those are gorgeous, I would love

to grow some but I don't know the first thing about them. I don't have a green thumb :(

Maybe I'll buy a book and try to get started.

aA
:hi:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

5. It's not hard, really

Buy a good plant to start with. Water once a week with distilled water (not tap) and some orchid food. Don't get water on the leaves. That's about it, really!

[auntAgonist]

6. it's that easy? ...

I always thought orchids were very delicate and needed a LOT of attention. I knew an elderly gent who had a greenhouse at the back of his home dedicated to orchids. (prize orchids) He dedicated SO much time to them and had a LOT of awards. I guess that's where I got the idea that they needed so much. It seems to me he had an orchid that only bloomed once a year and lasted for only a few hours. He and his cronies would gather on that particular night to watch the blossom open. They were really into orchids :)

thanks, I think I just might look for an orchid plant. Do you have any recommendations for a hardy one?

aA
:hug:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

7. We've had good luck with orchids from Home Depot, of all places

Look for one with healthy leaves and blooms or buds. We have ours in a terra cotta pot in a south-facing window. We don't do anything special for it other than what I mentioned above.

[radwriter0555]

8. You don't need a green thumb OR a book. Orchids are the easiest plants

in the world to 'grow'. Just buy one. Make sure it gets sunlight without being in direct sunshine. Make sure it's planted in orchid bark and move it into an attractive vase or pot (I prefer glass to see the bark and pretty roots). They like to be somewhat moist but not soaking, hence the orchid bark.

Buy real orchid fertilizer from a real nursery. It's about 8 bucks and will last several years. Feed it according to directions which are coma-simple, and your orchids will delight you for years with a total of about 3 hours a YEAR in care.

Google it.. you'll be shocked at how easy they are. I have 5 now, and just love them. I brought 2 with me from the USA in my suitcase last year. They're hardy little suckers.