It’s Alive!

Earlier this summer I made the mistake of mounting my phalaenopsis orchid on a tree knot with sphagnum moss and hanging it on the curtain rod. It was okay for awhile, but I probably overwatered, underwatered and soaked it too long just to try to make it happy there. When it started to die I emailed a friend (hi, Carol!) and asked for help. She asked the type of orchid, which I hadn’t really thought about, and then told me probable causes for its impending demise (see above). Yeah.

My phalaenopsis earlier this year.
Phal in 2015

I didn’t really think about the different types of orchids before I bought that one. I think I got it at a big box store or the grocery store. I can’t remember. It didn’t bloom for several years until I moved it to the right window. I was so happy with it that I decided to “help” it even more. Bad move.

So, I’ve been reading and studying different types of orchids. I know all the things I did wrong now. I will try, try, try not to do any of them again. My poor phal died back to just a few living roots. Argh!

This is how I saved her.

New growth!
Phal loves her terrarium.

I put very damp sphagnum moss in a large candy jar that I wasn’t using any more. Then I just set the phal roots on top of the moss. Not down in the moss, just on top. I put plastic wrap on the opening so the lid wouldn’t rust and then the lid. Several weeks later the little Sal Phal has new growth! Look at those sweet little leaves shooting up from the roots! I’m so sorry, Sal, that I almost killed you. Thank you for coming back!

I have since bought a dendrobium aggragatum. I may eventually mount it on the wood knot that I once used for Sal. It is a totally different type of orchid. I will let it stay in the pot it is in till Spring, though. I can’t wait for those beautiful yellow blossoms to appear. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I am still studying my new babies and will keep you updated with my, and their, progress.

 

Oh, well

I didn’t get any sewing done Saturday. My allergies have me whipped. They are really bad this Fall, and it’s still SO HOT! Blech!!! I can. Not. Wait. For. Cool. Forty degrees (Fahrenheit) sounds so nice right now.

My husband actually got sorry for me today and turned the temperature down on the AC. I had just washed the dogs, which is always an ordeal, and clipped their nails. Fleas have been really bad this year too. They have had them all summer and we’ve tried sprays, Frontline, and baths all the time. They just keep coming.

Waiting…

and waiting for help.

I spent quite awhile yesterday on the phone on hold with GoDaddy for another site I manage. They were very helpful, but their “hold music”–ugh!

I lost count of how many times I heard a Dixieland version of Down by the Riverside. I mean, it’s an okay song and the band was good, but every time they came back to me to say, “Thank you for holding. I appreciate it. I was just checking in to let you know I’m still working on it,” back on hold again, it was AGAIN Down by the Riverside. It started over from the beginning every time! I actually got to hear a couple of other songs, but they were fresh and I didn’t mind.

As you probably guessed, I didn’t get any sewing done.

Today I worked at Locally Grown Gallery in Oak Ridge where I sell some things. I also do their books. Let me just say, I’m not a mathematician. I’m an artist. Locally Grown opens at 11 and closes at 5 and it took most of the day to get that done. I’m a slow typist.

Tomorrow I babysit my two grandsons. I won’t get any sewing done then. But I will have fun. Here’s to sewing Saturday!