Hello from West Virginia

[aaronsaxton]

Hello everyone!

A friend of mine John Merril recommended me to the AOS, so my girlfriend Maria & I (Aaron) joined just today.

We are hoping to get a group together to form a society in West Virginia.

We have about 100 orchids of various types, and my favorite is my Ghost Orchid which we are proud to say has a flower spike, and we hope to see it bloom in a few months.

Aaron

[Marci in SoFL]

Hello, Aaron, and welcome! My DH and I have been members of the AOS for many years. With 100 orchids in your collection, you are undoubtedly quite an accomplished grower. May I ask how your grow your Ghost Orchid and bring it to bloom? To say that is quite an achievement would be an understatement!

Marci

[Kathy-WPalmBeach]

I ditto everything Marci has said....welcome!! --- and what an acomplishment to bloom the ghost orchid in WVA!!! We have tried many times to no avail here in S FL where theoretically it should be easy!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[aaronsaxton]

Hello Marci,

Thanks for the warm welcome. I am still learning a great deal about orchids - it was my girlfriend that introduced me to them a few years ago and I've been hooked ever since.

With the Ghost Orchid there are just so many factors to consider that it would be difficult to put it into a single post. I found Keith Davis's instructions to be the platform I base all my factors on.

I am keeping notes of all conditions - but I am not sure that everything I am doing is acceptable - I may be doing enough right to outweigh any possible aspects that are negative.

I just purchased some more Ghosts from Oak Hill Gardens and I am putting them through separate trials of conditions to see what happens. I expect this way to weed out things I have done that I am fairly certain were right, and to weed out those actions which I "got away with".

I am happy to share once I get this step out of the way. I think in 2 months I will know where to steer people if they ask.

I would love to get my paws on some adult Ghost Orchids to repeat the bloom process as I am almost certain I have that down to a fine art.

Aaron

[Marci in SoFL]

Aaron, I have read Keith Davis' article and to refresh myself I just did a search at the AOS main site and found it and more, so thanks for the memory jog. Best of luck with your project. We look forward to seeing photos of blooming Ghost Orchids in WVA!!!

[orchid nut]

Aaron
Welcome from Memphis. I have also tried growing one but it decided to give up the ghost(so to speak) and dry up. I followed Keith Davis's instructions to the letter but to no avail...DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!
Do share your accomplishments with us as they develop.
Tell you girlfriend that she did a good thing by turning you on to orchids...ORCHIDS ROCK...my fave ...minitutes
Jim

[aaronsaxton]

I'm very hooked into getting these guys into bloom.

I wish I had more adult specimens that I could play with and get them to bloom - having one is great, but I am certain if I had other adults I could do the same with them.

Alas, I will have to wait 2-3 years until my others are large enough. I wish people would drop off their ghosts with me so I could return them with flower spikes - as it is I get giant Cymbidiums dropped off at the door instead!