Time caring for Orchids

[Hoa Tony Nguyen]

It is clear that I spend more than 6 hours per week to care for my orchids, on top of the help that I got from my MOM!!!
My collection is pretty sizable (at least 1000 orchids!). Watering alone would take me at least 2-3 hours every Sunday, many more hours would be spent to re-arrange, repot, clean-up, spray the orchids with insecticides, and at least an hour or more to take pictures! And I also got help from my MOM who looks after my collection during the week! EEEEeeeeeekkkk!!!

Cheers. Hoa.

[wetfeet101b]

I probably spend 2-4 hours a week of doing "real" work. Repotting, fertilizing, watering, inspection, etc.
The rest of the time is just wandering inside the GH and patrolling the other plants trying to see if there is anything that needs fixing.

This time of year is usually when "orchid work" slows down for me as all orchids have been repotted (those that need it) and groomed and I am just watching the plants grow and waiting for flowers.
It is also the most dangerous time for me since I have very little work to do in the garden, I spend a LOT of time browsing online orchid vendors...

[desertgal]

About 2 hours a week as I carry mine to the kitchen, water, drain and carry them back to their shelves. I'm slower that I used to be and I can only do about 6 to 8 at a time.

Katie

[Shaydra]

About 2 hours a week as I carry mine to the kitchen, water, drain and carry them back to their shelves. I'm slower that I used to be and I can only do about 6 to 8 at a time.

Katie

Only 6-8? I only manage to carry 2-3 at a time!

[sadie]

I spend approx 2 hours per week, but that is mostly just schlepping them all to the kitchen sink or outside to water them. I am counting the days until I can just use the hose or a watering can in the greenhouse.

It seems I rarely have time for more than just watering. This weekend my in-laws were in town, and in a nice coincidence my mother-in-law wanted to see how to repot orchids. As I had SEVERAL in dire need, I took advantage of the opportunity. I think she had in mind just seeing one get repotted, but I split up 3 compots and repotted 5 more.

When I read the question I thought, what it should say is how many hours a week SHOULD I spend caring for them.

[twlarry]

I hand mist my orchids every day and in it self that doesen't take a lot of time. I have been doing a lot of repotting the past week. As my collection grows I will try to automate the misting and the watering. I will get in my new greenhouse in mid march I hope. Then I will be asking all kinds of questions.
TWLARRY

[padams2359]

At most 2 hours a week. Since putting in the sprinkler system in the oak tree that most of them hang under, I do not have to deal with them nearly as much. The fertilizer goes into the sprinkler system every week or so. I put ground sprinklers up in the tree so that it is like a small rain storm every other day for about 30 minutes.

[Hillbilly Bob]

BD Does the time in the poll includes naps in the greenhouse or is that a different poll

[Brutal_Dreamer]

BD Does the time in the poll includes naps in the greenhouse or is that a different poll

hehehe... no, guess naps should count since you are probably dreaming of orchids while napping in there.

Cheers,
BD

[nen]

I am jealous!
I have about 100 plants (haven't counted recently) and grow indoors in my lounge..I soak all of mine ...average time 15 mins...and it easily takes me more than 6 hrs split into a couple of days to water them all!