How do you care for an orchid?

I have two, and they require almost no care except water. It is the time of year they shed their blossoms so don’t worry. In the spring they will come right back.

I have a couple of dendrobium hybrids that I got half-price(no longer blooming) at Home Depot. I figured if they could survive Home Depot, I probably wouldn’t kill them. I don’t really give them any sort of special care, aside from using a fertilizer meant for orchids rather than an all-purpose type. As the blooms dry up, I remove them, then cut off the long stem when all the flowers are off. If you are asking about a dormancy period, I don’t think they need one.

Pretend you are a rain forest; that is where their natural habitat is. High humidity, canopy, monkey droppings.

Where does one purchase monkey droppings, I wonder???

@ccrow : Google Zoo Doo and you will find it (a mixture of poop from many animals) being sold at, among other places, the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky and Woodland Park Zo, Seattle. The Phila. zoo also used to sell the dried compost.

“If you want the chance to purchase Zoo Doo or Bedspread, send a postcard from Sept. 11–25 (2009) to: Zoo Doo, Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103pick-up. (Only one postcard per person allowed.)

Postcards will be randomly selected and Dr. Doo will contact only the lucky winners. Pick-up dates are Oct. 9–25 (2009). You’ll have to load the compost yourself, but the zoo will provide shovels.”