Orchids

My three year flowering orchid was a present for Mothering Sunday - a gift that keeps on giving. My NDN goes to Thailand most years in the winter and she usually brings me back a box full of orchids - which also last a long time. They come individually packed with little plastic water containers - amazing.

When we lived for a few months in Devon, after coming back from Kenya in 1970, we went to visit an orchid grower's nursery somewhere near Exeter. I fell in love, but at that time they were a luxury too far for us.
A few years ago, I 'rescued' an orchid from Lidl. It was looking sorry for itself and very neglected, as were a lot of their other plants. It has repaid me by flowering several times. I've had quite a few over the years. B&Q is a good source and my local garden centre has some more unusual varieties though these are a good deal more expensive.
Once a boyfriend bought me an orchid corsage at Nairobi airport. I felt like a million dollars and the flowers lasted for weeks in water after I got back to Scotland. The relationship didn't.

Do you know what , i am totally thrilled with all your replies , inbetween the snooker that is.

thank you so much , daft bat [nearly said old] i thought I was the only one who knew about them .

many thanks for all the hints and tips .



although i am not off yet

At least one of mine was a retirement present 3 years ago, others have been present from dinner/lunch guests over the last 2-3 years. I treat them appallingly - slosh a glass of (tap) water in every so often and they still flourish. I wonder what glories they might achieve if I treated them better

The wild orchids have just begun to flower in the woods next to us here in Sussex. They are truly beautiful

I love the wild British orchids, so beautiful - if small.

I too love orchids, I have many, I'm so lucky as OH works for a company that have orchids in their reception and every three months they are replaced with new ones and guess who gets the castoffs ... so many different colours and forms.. and as others say they seem to thrive on neglect although they do seem to love rain water rather than tap.

I do love them (orchids as well as DGC!) and mine certainly thrive on neglect; I haven't repotted any of them for years, but they are still exquisite.

I have pictures in my mind of my DM and DMiL on their respective knees peering at a Man Orchid and trying to work out just why it was called a Man Orchid. {smile}

DGD 2, aged about 6 at the time, looking at my huge white orchid: " Nannie, that is so beautiful! How did you make it?"

3 years ??

That must be some kind of record !

Does Guiness beckon?

I have several orchids and have always been successful with getting them to flower again; however my DS gave me one from Marks and Sparks over three years ago and it has flowered for the whole time - amazing. I started buying them after I was watching a television programme on flower arranging and someone suggested that if you find it expensive to keep on buying fresh flowers, buying an orchid was good value for money as they can last for several months.

I had lots but turned out dd was allergic to them so they had to go! Have citrus plants instead now.

I did not they like a bit of neglect .

The one she bought me is in shade , because the georgian house I live in has very few windowsills .

I have to say though I am hooked .

I have several which I have had for years and years - they thrive on total neglect which is about right for me. When one is "over" I move it to a guest bedroom or a bathroom and bring another one downstairs to take over and so on. Not too expensive in M&S, Sainsbugs or Waitrose to indulge yourself.