Mentoring program

NWOS Mentoring Program

Why Have A Mentoring Program?

The mentoring program is to help an interested NWOS member pair with an experienced grower with the idea of helping each other through our experiences and knowledge. The program allows members one-on-one assistance with their orchid growing questions. Topics may include watering, fertilizing, pest and disease control or other growing area concerns.

Program contents

We can be your guide on topics or as a resource for information if you wish. Those wishing to learn all aspects of growing are welcome to contact us and if desired a complete review of growing techniques can be given. Or maybe you wish to focus on one aspect at a time.

PROTÉGÉS

Any NWOS member can be a protégé. We offer both remote and in-person learning as circumstances permit. We endevor to make this process and fun and as benificial to you as possible.

MENTORS

Those willing to offer their help to others and join as a mentor are encouraged to join as a mentor. We have a team of growers that can help other mentors and do not require expertise in all plants. We welcome enthusiastic participants who enjoy helping others in their journey of orchid culture.

Ready to get growing?

If you would like to sign up to meet your own mentor or to be a mentor please contact Steve Dorsey.

Mystery Diseases

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As summer is slowly arriving, our orchids are putting on their new growth as the temps are rising and occasionally the sun peaks through the grayness. Along with this welcomed event come new diseases and pests.

Orchids From Seed: An Overview

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Where do orchids come from? Your local Trader Joe’s, Costco maybe even a Lowe’s? That is where many of us first ran into them in our daily lives. May of these are the products of an a floral empire running vast cloning labs. But before they were clones, the plants…

Hobby Greenhouse: From Start To Finish

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Sometimes there comes a time in a hobbyist’s career that they decide to build a greenhouse to house their ever expanding collection of orchids. Here is a presentation of my journey in building a greenhouse for my collection.

What Can I Be Doing Better?

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Sometimes despite all of our efforts we run into a problem with our orchids that we can’t solve. Asking our orchid community for advice is often a help, one of the other community members has likely seen the issue before and will have a helpful solution.

Growing Orchids Without Pots

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Growing orchids mounted may be referred to as growing on plaques, mounts, slabs, and rafts. It isn’t complicated and one of the easiest ways of growing. Like all orchids, timing is important as you want to do any readjustments of the plant when the new roots are starting…

Orchid Seed Workship

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Growing orchids from seed may seem daunting, but this workshop was given to show that it is quite achievable in a home setting without elaborate or expensive equipment. All the items used were easily obtained. And while some seeds such as Paphiopedilum may take years to bloom,…

How and when Do I Water My Orchid?

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It seems like such a simple question. Yet more orchids are killed by improper watering than any other reason. If you research your particular orchid online, you may find a variety of answers to that question. Why is this so?

DIY LED Lights for Orchid Growing

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For those wishing to expand their lighting set up, and not finding a configuration that fits their layout, you might wish to consider making your own LED light system. I will cover all the basics, but understand there are details omitted. If you wish to know more, please feel free…

Bringing a new plant home

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You’ve got this new plant from the raffle table, plant auction, another grower, etc. Now you are anxiously ready to start its new home with your plant. But WAIT! Now is the time to consider what you are bringing along with your new find. Bugs? Fungus? Bacteria?

Spider Mite Control

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Red Spider Mite: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/user:Trancelius They are ubiquitous. They float on air currents and move readily between all kinds of plants including orchids. Sometimes we are tipped off to their presence by webs. Other times we see damage on leaves. We call them spider mites but those found on our orchids…

Is this fertilizer good?

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Water Soluble Fertilizer I started writing this article in response to the questions I get from newer growers when they go to buy supplies and see fertilizers touted as great for orchids. They find bloom boosters and specialized “formulas” for each type of orchid with specific months to be fertilizing….