Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I buy orchids?
Below are the metro-Atlanta orchid nurseries. Please call or email for hours of operation
- Marble Branch Farms, Walhalla, SC www.marblebranchfarms.com (864)718-0152
- Atlanta Orchid Company, Conyers, GA www.TheAtlantaOrchidCo.com (770)634-6153
- Peach State Orchids, Woodstock, GA www.peachstateorchids.com (770)751-8770
- Jewell Orchids www.jewellorchids.com (706)742-5065
- Many local garden stores including: Home Depot, Lowe's and Pike Family Nurseries
- Atlanta Orchid Society Meetings. There are often people selling plants at our meetings.
- The Atlanta Orchid Show in November has hundreds of orchids for sale.
- Are orchids difficult to grow?
It depends. You need to understand the needs of your particular orchids and the types of conditions that you are able to offer. Light level, air movement, water, humidity, fertilizer, and temperature are all important considerations when determining how and where to grow your plants. Many orchids are perfectly happy growing on a windowsill or under lights, while others need a greenhouse for optimum growth. Some like it warm and humid, while others like it dry and cool. Orchids have adapted to a wide variety of environments. Understanding your conditions and selecting the proper orchid for your conditions is the key to having a satisfying experience. With a little care, you can grow orchids too!
The majority of our membership grows orchids on windowsills or under lights, and some members put their plants on their patios during summer months. There are tens of thousands of orchids, including many native orchids that you may already have growing in your backyard! Orchids are extremely diverse, and we all experiment a bit to learn what grows best under our conditions. Typically people start growing orchids on their windowsill, then as that area becomes too crowded, they start growing plants under lights, then many start growing plants in a greenhouse.
- I don't have any orchids, can I still join?
Absolutely. Our membership includes people who have been growing orchids for decades as well as people who just started recently. Most of us started growing orchids after buying 1 plant from Home Depot or elsewhere, then got a second, third and became hooked on the hobby.
- I'm a novice orchid grower, will the meetings be too advanced?
Meetings are designed to appeal to everyone who loves orchids and wants to learn about these fascinating plants. We have a different guest speaker each month who focuses on a particular kind of orchid. The speaker generally brings plants to sell, answers questions, and has an informative slide presentation. Our speakers come from all over the world, and many are experts in their respective fields.
- I have some orchids that are sick. Can someone help me?
A lot of information about pest control available on the Internet by doing a keyword search. However, sometimes is best to have someone look at the plant. From time to time, everyone's orchids experience pests/diseases, so feel free to bring plants to one of our meetings for diagnosis and advice on caring for the plant. Sick plants may look "sick" because if they have a fungal infection, bacterial infection or are in the wrong kind of growing environment (e.g., the wrong kind of light, humidity, water etc). Also, an unhealthy plant may have a variety of problems so it is best to let someone with experience look at your plant and offer suggestions. In some cases, it is best to start over and practice on a healthy plant, so don't be afraid to discard a plant that is seriously unhealthy and replace it with a healthy plant.
- Where can I learn more about orchids?
There is a lot of information available on the web for free, as well as a plethora of books written about orchids available at almost every bookstore. For a list of national vendors as well as other relevant information, you can visit www.orchidmall.com
- Do you ever have orchid sales?
We have a summer fund raising auction held at the American Legion off Piedmont Road in Buckhead, as well as a large show/sale every November at the Botanical Gardens.
Our November Show and Sale, held at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens on Piedmont Road, brings vendors from all over the country. Usually the November show is held the second week of the month, beginning on Friday at 9:00 am and ending on Sunday at 4:00 pm. This show takes a lot of work (and is a lot of fun), so please inquire about volunteering. If you cannot volunteer during the setup or take down phase, please consider bringing some snacks or meals for our vendors/volunteers. All the food that the vendors/volunteers eat during the show is donated by people like you!