BBC Gardeners' World

Comments

• Nicepersonlikeyourpicture

  14 January 2008, 09.10PM

  I love your picture of the moth orchard! Who took it? I've grown some at home myself. They look very pretty! Could you give me some tips on growing them better? Thank you for your help Adam

• GenuineGardener

  14 January 2008, 09.02PM

  I love all your work its amazing. Me and my friends love you so much we made fan club.

• OrchidLoverChris

  17 January 2008, 08.25PM

  I really enjoyed this article. It could have been me who wrote it! I feel entirely the same way. Orchids are beautiful and great value for money.

• Another Orchid Lover

  24 January 2008, 04.13PM

  Over recent years I have collected about 19 Orchids of different types. Some have been bought for me as presents, but mostly I buy them from my local garden centre when they are reduced! They give me much pleasure, but I too am running out of space! I stand mine in an old dish once a fortnight with 2 pints of room temperature rain water for about 1 hour with a little feed added. Liked the article on Orchids in a recent magazine.

• Orchid fan

  27 January 2008, 12.12PM

  I also thoroughly agree with your comments and have had orchids in flower for five months. With so little maintenance required and such vibrant colours, they make an ideal gift for somebody less able to be continually watering etc.

• aletta barrett

  12 February 2008, 05.57PM

  My comment is really not wheather to dig or not, but a question to you expert allotment holders. I cover my allotment for the winter in late autumn with a very large weed-control fleece. This is lovely in the spring as when it's time to dig, I find that there are no weeds to dig or pull out. While this is good for me, my husband on the other hand says that I am depriving the soil of all nutrients and that the worms will not want to churn it up. Someone out there must know. I wait in anticipation!

• Robbie

  30 January 2008, 10.29PM

  WOW, nice to think that others enjoy this magnificent plant. I was given one the year before last at my sisters wedding and it has not stopped flowering since. Only two weeks between flowering and then they last for what seems ages. Any advice on Propagating Moth Orchids. Robbie

• Adam Pasco

  01 February 2008, 06.22PM

  Moth orchids aren't easy to propagate Robbie. The commercial nurseries use a tissue culture technique to raise thousands of identical plants, but amateurs can't do this. On one occasion, when I trimmed back a faded flower spike to a nodule on the stem a new stalk developed with a complete plant at its tip, with roots and leaves. When quite large I cut this off and potted it up. So, you can gets new plants for free, even from orchids.

• Lover of Plants

  02 February 2008, 01.40PM

  I am addicted to orchids they are the most beautiful plants don't you agree. The first time I got interested in plants was when my aunt got me an Orchid for a present now I can't stop admiring them and getting another unique one every time I catch my eye on a nice one.

  Are there any other plants you can recommend for me? Thanks Adam, Jakie

• Joey

  03 February 2008, 09.13AM

  I love Orchids, I think they are the most magnificent plants. I love the one in your picture how many have you got?

• 01 January 2007, 12.00AM

• novice

  03 February 2008, 01.49PM

  I was given a Cymbidium Orchid for christmas the flower has died and I cut it off. The plant seems too big for the pot can I split it if so when and how. Appreciate any advice. Valerie

• Pauline Carter

  08 February 2008, 04.05PM

  Me too. I've run out of window sill space. Orchids are such a good investment.

• Linda Goldsmith

  14 February 2008, 02.53PM

  My daughter loves potted orchids and buys them regularily. When they stop flowering she throws them away. Now forgive me, but they seem to expensive to throw away after flowering. I have been told that they will flower again. I have brought two home with me to see if I can bring them back to life. She says she only waters them very occasionally. She thinks that if she waters them to often they seem to die. I have cut them back to about 8inches from the soil, stood them in water for an hour or so. They are not potted in normal soil are they? What should I feed them on. I have left them in my dining room, which is north facing. Bright enough without any sun. Would this be ok. I love orchids but are generally too expensive for me. Maybe having these two sorry looking plants will give me the bug that all Orchid lovers have. Would be obliged if someone could help me out with my queries. Thank you.

• shelly

  14 February 2008, 10.11PM

  I have a moth orchard (pure white) it has 2 new stems with flowers but the first 3 flowers have a little knobs instead of stamens and the other flowers are normal what would they be?

• another orchid lover

  24 February 2008, 07.24PM

  I too love orchids being a retired florist there wonderful, great colours, they are undoubtedly the most beautiful plants on the planet!

• James

  02 March 2008, 08.11AM

  I have recently started collecting orchids too, they're great! I have 2 phalaenopsis and a 3' cymbidium so far and as I work at a garden centre there will surely more to follow. I found this orchid website with some useful information, hope it helps!

• JUNE

  04 March 2008, 02.30PM

  I too am an orchid fanatic . I first got hooked after visiting Madeira where they grow so easily all the year round and outside! Can you suggest why my three cymbidiums have chosen not to bloom this year? They are 3 years old and have bloomed before. I put them outside 9in a shady spot all Summer till Oct, but new bulb growth but no flower.Hope you can help. THANKS J

• Lynda

  06 March 2008, 04.55PM

  I agree, orchids are lovely but I seem to be unlucky in getting them to flower. I have three and they all had lots of lovely fat buds which all dried up and dropped off! I feed them every two or three weeks, from the bottom with a little feed added. They look healthy and new leaves are always forming but no flowers! Anyone know what I am doing wrong?

• Elly

  14 April 2008, 01.14PM

  I have had three Phalaenopsis orchids for some years, two of which have flowered again from a bud on the flower stem, but not for at least a year. However the stems on all three have since gone brown and completely dried up, and so I have cut them down near the base of the plant in the hope a new flowering stem will appear, but so far no luck. Have you any advice please on how to make them flower again? The leaves are however very healthy and producing new ones from time to time. They are watered with a very little tepid water weekly and sometimes Baby Bio added. Hope you can offer some suggestions.

• jobi

  15 April 2008, 10.41AM

  Hi, I've just bought my first phaleonopsis and I'm a bit scared I might kill it. although it didn't cost me loads I'd like to keep it going for as long as i can. Can you give me any tips on how to look after it? thanks

• Isi

  08 May 2008, 11.59AM

  I have a moth orchid with no flowers, it was cheap and bottom of the pile, somebody broke the flower stem off right at the base so no nodules to cut to. Otherwise it seems to be a nice healthy plant. How can i get it to produce new flower stems?

• Adam Pasco - reply to Jobi and Isi

  12 May 2008, 10.48AM

  Jobi, just follow my advice in the blog above. I keep all my moth orchids on a north-facing windowsill out of direct sun, but in good light. About once or twice a week, fill your kitchen sink with water, then dunk the whole pot and roots under water for a good 10 minutes. Remove, stand on the side to drain, and put back on your windowsill.

  Isi, just be patient and look after your plant as described, and you should find a new flower spike developing within a few months. On average I've found my orchids produce about two new spikes a year, so you should get one within 6 months.

• Kate, gardenersworld.com

  12 May 2008, 05.32PM

  For anyone looking for tips on caring for orchids, here is a great video clip from Sarah Raven on caring for orchids. Kate