How many Give it Up, do U

[charlesf6]

have Orchids Growing right now?

[fishmom]

Are you serious? Why would anyone be here if they didn't have orchids any more? (I'd put a grinning emoji here if I knew how!)

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by fishmom

Are you serious? Why would anyone be here if they didn't have orchids any more? (I'd put a grinning emoji here if I knew how!)

Sorry I misrepresented the question. It was aimed at how many orchids are u raising right now?

I was maintaining around forty plants, lose one get two more back e.g. and now I am nearing about 70

Just trying to get an upbeat on how many the Board peeps here are caring for all at one time, that's all folks!

[Oyarzabal]

1200 to 1500 99% cattleya species.

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by Oyarzabal

1200 to 1500 99% cattleya species.

You gotta be kidding?

[mere_dog]

Originally Posted by charlesf6

Sorry I misrepresented the question. It was aimed at how many orchids are u raising right now?

I was maintaining around forty plants, lose one get two more back e.g. and now I am nearing about 70

Just trying to get an upbeat on how many the Board peeps here are caring for all at one time, that's all folks!

Lol! My first response was like some above, 'when do you give up?' Sadly (for me!) I gave up a 200+ mostly species, carefully curated collection about 10 years ago when my personal life became so overwhelming that caring for the orchids became a burden. So I sold and donated 95% away. Little did I realize that caring for the orchids was what was helping me to keep going. That was me in NY, on LI.

Today is me in FL, for almost 4 yrs, and I have 250+ orchids. As is happens, none of the 5% made it through the transition. I am learning how to grow in my lanai in FL, vs in a spare bedroom in NY - so a lot of different orchids for 1 vs the other.

There are days where I want to sell off a few again (and those would be the vandas - lol!) because I start to feel overwhelmed. Then I step back into my 'real life', and I know that the orchids are what is keeping me happy. They are my meditation.

So, to your true point...
I grow only in my pool cage and lanai, because the frogs and varmints will eat whatever they want to in the outside world. Although about half of those pesky vandas live outside of the safety zone, just because. Well, because if you don't want to bloom for me, then you have little need for security!

I have a 2 gal pump sprayer that I use daily for the mounted orchids, and also to fertilize/kelp/whatever else weekly. Those in ICU or seedlings get the hand spray bottle treatment, daily or as needed. I also have 2 reptile/vivarium tanks for the high humidity folks.

My water is from a well with a TDS of 700 and a pH of 7.4, so I use RO water. And so I have to add Ca and Mg, because most fertilizers don't include these essential nutrients. During the week I only water with the RO, so there is never a salt build up. Those outside of the lanai proper (higher light guys) get whatever rain comes their way in addition.

I work from home, so I spend my lunch break spraying and poking and fussing as much as I can.

[fishmom]

OK Charles, I have between 75 and 100, closer to 75, and trying to cut back. It's getting harder for me to lift the big pots.

[BrassavolaStars]

I have not counted in the past month, but the last time I counted it was around 186. I think that total is now probably up to about 200. I should do an inventory at some point this week. About 40% are Cattleyas, 25% Angraecums, and the rest is a mix of Zygos, Dendrobiums, and some odds and ends. I do have about a dozen slippers also.

[Oyarzabal]

No. I am not and that is not counting a bunch of baby seedlings I am raising from seeds.

[KingKong]

86 at last count but getting 10 more this week.

Now getting to the point where I am getting more than I should so I can pick the best ones and sell ones I don't want to keep.

So many times I will buy a blue phal or one that should be purple one and it turns out bright pink lol. Not going to keep my pink ones. Someone else can enjoy them.