How many orchids in a collection is normal?

[Beverly]

I was up to 206 a few weeks ago. I just got 2 more Phals from Oakhill so now I have about 208.
I'm going to 2 shows in October and one of them will have some really good vendors.
Beverly

[cb977]

Bought my first one in March '05 and somehow a lot more have shown up here! I have no idea how it happened!

My list says 554 but I've been getting rid of the stragglers that weren't ever going to make it so I'll say 530

Oh yeah...I've never been accused of being normal

[cb977]

Originally Posted by DebsC

You people have no self-control!! Tsk Tsk! I'm thinking I'm the only normal person on this forum.

I've been growing for probably 15 years and I only have one cattleya....the other 200 belong to my cats!

Oh and Bird used to have one, but she ate it!

Good thing somebody here is sane.

[johnblagg]

Well I thought I had like 23 but then I moved all the ones outside inside last week.......Oops

I didnt count but the 4x8 sheet of plywood that held all of them last year plus other plants is now just orchids .......and not even all of them.Damn now I have to put up two more 400 watt hid lights LOL

[Bayard]

My limit is about 250 to 300 in the greenhouse (10 x 20 ft). Repotting is a chore, but this year a friend and I took turns helping each other and we knocked out about 30 a day.

[Claire25]

Normality is relative...At one point I had close to 3 dozen orchids (many of which were seedlings, but still...) growing in my bedroom under a suspended metal halide lamp. And I also had an ultrasonic humidifier going during the day, so that when I'd come home from work in the afternoon a fogbank would roll out of the room when I opened my door.

This was when I lived at home with my parents...I'm newly married now, and doubt that my husband would tolerate a bedroom setup like that. On the other hand, now I have a whole house of my own to fill with plants...
--Claire

[Angurek]

Originally Posted by SheilaJ

So how do you define NORMAL for an orchid hobbyist? And how would YOU have answered his question? How many orchids are in YOUR collection? (In case anyone wants to know, I have 22 phals, 10 minicatts, 6 phaius, 1 spathoglottis, and 1 mini dendrobium. The phals and the phaius tankervillae are doing the best.)

I don't think there is any "normal" number of orchids in a collection. I think people just grow as many or as few as they wish. In my case, I have a small collection because I can't afford to buy orchids all the time, and because I have a small growing area.

When I move to a house, though, that'll be quick to change.

[RenéeS]

It's fun reading this post! It's funny to see how many people are being thought of as weird because they collect orchids. A few weeks ago a fellow student came to my house to work on a project, saw my tropical forest aka living room and went 'what the hell is this..? I knew it, you are nuts..' . But people are quick to judge you when they see you do something they don't consider a normal hobby for someone in her 20's...
I have about 35 orchids and the same amount of ferns & other types of green plants standing around here. I truely wish it could be more orchids but they are pricy and I don't have as much room as I'd like . Then again it takes me an hr and a half to water the lot, even more when they need to be fed .
I've been growing for 9 years and at a certain point, half my collection got destroyed due to a badly isolated student house . I do love the fact that there are a couple of plants I've had for over 7 years and they are huge!

So, a normal amount to have in your collection? I think that'd be whatever you can afford and have room for!

[mujacko2002]

Mabuhay!

Well, i know i only have a few. And i don't count my plants/orchids because of some superstitious belief...so i can't answer the question. hihihihi

[Triffid]

What is Normal? What is Sane? It's all your own perspective really.

I would say it seems to be a factor of Interest, Time, Space, and Money. The more you have of each the larger your collection can grow.

Only a starter here, first a gift Phalaenopsis, and second a cheap but pretty Dendrobium. So grand total 2 after 3 months. Obviousley I Plan to get more. I Have much Interest, but lacking on the other three counts.