How many orchids in a collection is normal?

[orchids3]

Normal?
My collecting started in 1978-has continued thru three moves including a year in the Philippines (talk about a kid in a candy store) The collection moved with me. I just repotted the majority of my inside colection (20 X 40) greenhouse and used 3000 lbs of potting mix over a two week period. I need to count the inside collection. Now the outdoor collection consisting of over 2000 cymbidiums ---- aw heck I need to move to a farm. I need some more orchids.

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by orchids3

Normal?
My collecting started in 1978-has continued thru three moves including a year in the Philippines (talk about a kid in a candy store) The collection moved with me. I just repotted the majority of my inside colection (20 X 40) greenhouse and used 3000 lbs of potting mix over a two week period. I need to count the inside collection. Now the outdoor collection consisting of over 2000 cymbidiums ---- aw heck I need to move to a farm. I need some more orchids.

I don't know if that is normal but it's great to read every body's stories about the ever expanding collection!

Nicole

[jkofferdahl]

Aside from my orchids, I also smoke and collect pipes. I have about 100 of them, which is still less than the orchid count. My wife once asked me why I have so many if I can only smoke one at a time, to which I reminded her that she can only wear one pair of shoes at a time, too!

She's not questioned either of my hobbies since.

[Don Perusse]

I guess the Cookiemonster put it best by saying "the number you can take care of and have the room for". But I do love the other comments. Close to 200!

[natasha]

i think i'll stop at 500, which i think may be achievable only if i move to a corner house or built a balcony. maybe the current space may be somewhere about 250 chids. but anyway, we all may never stop buying new ones, since we all do collect living specimens and as everyone knows every living thing will die!

by the way, orchids3, your collection is really really large! your green house is half the size of my property footprint!

[Brenda Aarts]

Just did an inventory a few weeks ago as I was scared about approaching the 200 mark. I "only" had 172. Quite normal I would say (????). Went on a field trip on Saturday and purchased another 35...not too sure if that is normal!! Lots were cat. seedlings so sounds worse that it really is...not that I'm trying to justify. I do think though that the seedlings willl eventually grow bigger....which may lead to problems down the road, so I'm now at 172 + 35 in about a 2 1/2 year period. I really don't care if people consider me to be normal, I'm happy and that's better than alot of people these days!!

[natasha]

Originally Posted by Brenda Aarts

I really don't care if people consider me to be normal, I'm happy and that's better than alot of people these days!!

ya... others always think that i'm not normal since i'm in high school... the thing is, i always have different interest that my peers. but i'm happy the way i am, and the person i become.

btw, orchids too make me happy. when i feel sad, confused or unhappy i'll go out to my porch and watch my chids. much better if my cats accompany me too. i'll feel better afterwards.

[AboutOrchids]

Originally Posted by SheilaJ

He asked me, "Is that normal? To have 40 orchids?"

I'd answer that it's abnormal to have so few.

[PleuroPal]

I'd have to agree that once the care and watering becomes more of a hassle than a pleasure, you've hit your reasonable limit. But that's just me.

[orchids3]

When I was working - the orchids were my place of rest and relaxation after work. Now when my wife cant find me - she shouts where are you? If I dont want to be found I dont answer.