Post by canuk1w1 on Oct 9, 2013 10:15:43 GMT -5
It started last May - moved to a nice place after being in an apartment with skylights but no real windows (3rd floor). So I decided to get some air cleaning plants - snake plant, Chinese evergreen and a red edged Dracena were the first, followed by a bamboo palm, peace lily, anthurium and 2 small dracenas. Started noticing fruit flies/fungus gnats and to avoid spraying chemicals and potentially harming my other plants I did some research on Carnis. Found OCPS almost straight away and bought a VFT (from a local grocery store, go figure...).
Then I learnt about the trading post - first came a batch of pings from Hal, followed by some dews and Neps and odds and sods from several other very generous members. Along the way I became acquainted with the LGS from my frequent weekend mad scientist trips. My last trip there Sunday was to buy (more) peat moss and an orchid - and she said she hardly sells peat moss to people under 70 any more! Making custom soils is apparently a lost art we are keeping alive...
After trying to decide between an Oncidium and a Cattleya I took the Oncidium, supposedly easier. I really liked the Catt, but it was almost twice as much and also more finicky. But she offered to sell me the Catt for half price if it was still in the store. Yesterday, I popped buy just before closing to pick up some labeling sticks. She asked if I'd like some "leaves" - I thought she meant cuttings or seedlings. Nope, mature plants that are past blooming and were probably going to be thrown out. So have a new Onc., 3 that look like Phals and another that is neither - of, and a nice Phal that is almost done blooming (flowers are fading...).
Not yet had time to take pics but soon - Friday I hope. I can see a fight soon between orchids and carnis.
Then I learnt about the trading post - first came a batch of pings from Hal, followed by some dews and Neps and odds and sods from several other very generous members. Along the way I became acquainted with the LGS from my frequent weekend mad scientist trips. My last trip there Sunday was to buy (more) peat moss and an orchid - and she said she hardly sells peat moss to people under 70 any more! Making custom soils is apparently a lost art we are keeping alive...
After trying to decide between an Oncidium and a Cattleya I took the Oncidium, supposedly easier. I really liked the Catt, but it was almost twice as much and also more finicky. But she offered to sell me the Catt for half price if it was still in the store. Yesterday, I popped buy just before closing to pick up some labeling sticks. She asked if I'd like some "leaves" - I thought she meant cuttings or seedlings. Nope, mature plants that are past blooming and were probably going to be thrown out. So have a new Onc., 3 that look like Phals and another that is neither - of, and a nice Phal that is almost done blooming (flowers are fading...).
Not yet had time to take pics but soon - Friday I hope. I can see a fight soon between orchids and carnis.