COLD DARK ROOM

CarolM

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I tried doing a bonsai.. I killed it.
I consider myself to be pretty good at growing plants, bonsais and orchids I always manage to kill though[emoji22]
I am told if you put your orchids in the bathroom they do well as the steam creates moisture in the air for them and you only have to water them once a week. The trick is to put water in the pot and let it drain out. Or you can put three blocks of ice in once a week.
 

CarolM

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He loves to garden! Outside... With things he can eat, like veggies and fruit. Lol
He says I have too many plants- I say he has too many tools. He buys a tool and I buy another plant[emoji6]
Perfect compromise. Both of you get what you want. But just an idea - make him responsible for the Christmas tree. It should be the same principle of growing veggies.
 

Bambam1989

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I am told if you put your orchids in the bathroom they do well as the steam creates moisture in the air for them and you only have to water them once a week. The trick is to put water in the pot and let it drain out. Or you can put three blocks of ice in once a week.
I tried that along with lots of other "tricks" I read about. It just never worked out. Orchids are simply GORGEOUS.
It's been a couple years since I last tried though, maybe I'll give one another go..
 

CarolM

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I tried that along with lots of other "tricks" I read about. It just never worked out. Orchids are simply GORGEOUS.
It's been a couple years since I last tried though, maybe I'll give one another go..
I love orchids as well. You just have to water sparingly and find that spot which they like.
 

JoesMum

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Oh no. I have an artificial one. But have always wanted to buy a real one but one with roots and all. The idea would be to keep it in a pot and every Year bring it inside and decorate it. That way it would stay green the entire time and you would have the lovely smell of a pine tree. And you would not need to buy a new one every year and nor would you have to clean pine needles afterwards. But you would need to make a pot stand with wheels so you can move it easily once it starts to get big.[emoji1]

Sounds like a great idea, BUT...

Trees grown as Christmas Trees are designed to grow very fast as the growers need a fast turnover. The roots are really only left on them so they can take up water and lose needles less quickly.

If planted in the garden you end up with this problem in no time at all. This one next door took about 10 years!
IMG_6223.jpg

They don’t do particularly well in pots. You can get slower growing conifers that are suited to pots, just don’t get one grown as a Christmas Tree!
 

CarolM

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If it's a small enough plant, they do great in your closed chamber for baby tortoises.

I wanted to put a zambezian orchid in my enclosure. But wasn't sure that it would be safe.
 

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CarolM

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Sounds like a great idea, BUT...

Trees grown as Christmas Trees are designed to grow very fast as the growers need a fast turnover. The roots are really only left on them so they can take up water and lose needles less quickly.

If planted in the garden you end up with this problem in no time at all. This one next door took about 10 years!
View attachment 226521

They don’t do particularly well in pots. You can get slower growing conifers that are suited to pots, just don’t get one grown as a Christmas Tree!
What do you mean , just don’t get one grown as a Christmas Tree. Can you not buy one at nursery. A baby tree and plant it in a big pot. Then you treat it the same as a bonsai tree by trimming the roots and airing the roots. After airing the roots and trimming them you repot it in your pot and you shape the tree part. That way you can more or less dictate the size you want.
 

JoesMum

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I am told if you put your orchids in the bathroom they do well as the steam creates moisture in the air for them and you only have to water them once a week. The trick is to put water in the pot and let it drain out. Or you can put three blocks of ice in once a week.

I have an orchid in my kitchen that I have had for just over 2 years now and it’s only stopped flowering for about a month in all that time. It’s on a North facing windowsill. I water it weekly like you said. :)
IMG_1514835457.156523.jpg
 

JoesMum

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What do you mean , just don’t get one grown as a Christmas Tree. Can you not buy one at nursery. A baby tree and plant it in a big pot. Then you treat it the same as a bonsai tree by trimming the roots and airing the roots. After airing the roots and trimming them you repot it in your pot and you shape the tree part. That way you can more or less dictate the size you want.

If you buy a slow growing conifer from a nursery that’s fine. Just don’t try the bonsai trick with something grown as a Christmas Tree; they’re like Sulcatas - never happy in small spaces :D
 

CarolM

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I have an orchid in my kitchen that I have had for just over 2 years now and it’s only stopped flowering for about a month in all that time. It’s on a North facing windowsill. I water it weekly like you said. :)
View attachment 226534
Aahh that is beautiful. I have not had much luck with keeping the flowers on. Still trying to figure out how to do it correctly for that.
 

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