How many orchids in a collection is normal? - Orchid Board

SheilaJ · #1 06-23-2009, 12:09 AM

So today was my long overdue annual Spring Repotting of the Orchids. I usually try to do this on a day when I am home alone, as I make a huge mess of the kitchen and other family members tend to want to do silly things like eat and drink in there.

Anyway, I mentioned to my husband that it's a big job, as I now have 40 orchids. He asked me, "Is that normal? To have 40 orchids?"

Now, how in the heck do you answer that question??!! I think I said something like, "Well, some people have only one or two, some have a dozen, or forty, or a hundred or two hundred, then some of them eventually end up building a greenhouse" (I figured it wouldn't hurt to warn him what may lie ahead...)

In hindsight, I should have asked if it was normal for a grown man to collect model trains and sports figures, but my brain didn't work that fast...

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.)

lambelkip · #2 06-23-2009, 12:25 AM

most of the orchid growers I know have 100+ orchids in their collections.
I'm not sure how many I have, but I'd guess it's around 150

Becca · #3 06-23-2009, 12:35 AM

Well if it helps any....I live in a tiny house, maybe 900 sf counting the finished basement....any my orchids, most of them, live in my Grand Cayman Orchidarium....and my Exo-Terra Wanna-be Orchidarium.....and my plantstand....lol.....how many do I have 75+ and I started growing in late 2006 to 2007. My hubby says my orchid obsession is like his firewood cutting obsession....so he kind of understands....so maybe some day in a friendly discussion you should find a way to relate your hobby to his like you mentioned so he can understand....and keep up with the greenhouse hints....you wouldn't want to come as a surprise when the time comes because your going to need his help probably....lol....just break him in gently...lol.

SheilaJ · #4 06-23-2009, 12:58 AM

Actually, I probably won't ever do a greenhouse. I looked into it a while back and decided I prefer growing under lights instead. So now, when I want to buy that monster 4000 watt light, he'll realize what a bargain it is compared to a whole greenhouse!

lambelkip · #5 06-23-2009, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheilaJ

Actually, I probably won't ever do a greenhouse. I looked into it a while back and decided I prefer growing under lights instead. So now, when I want to buy that monster 4000 watt light, he'll realize what a bargain it is compared to a whole greenhouse!

4000 watts? that's a whole lot of electricity, it'll be a huge increase in your electric bill

quietmorning · #6 06-23-2009, 01:47 AM

**Laughing**

My husband and I had the SAME conversation tonight - only I have ONE (1) ORCHID. (I was window shopping on the net.)

We both decided that the number of orchids is relative to the number of orchids available!!

Though I know me, and I know I could go hog wild, so we'll keep it to affordability for a while. . .'cause goodness knows we have the space.

snow · #7 06-23-2009, 02:14 AM

could someone explain what,s normal?
we don.t have that worg here in canada eh?
word''.obsessive compulsive jah ''eh''.

Cookiemonster · #8 06-23-2009, 02:52 AM

First of all- All Orchid Growers are insane to some degree, I havent met a sane one yet.

Secondly "normal" is what you want it to be, I guess what anyone should do is to grow the number of orchids that they can actually take care of and have space for *cough* (i should listen to this advice)

Thirdly this is a hobby and if it makes you happy, without endangering yourself or others- I cant imagine what the fuss is.

I get away without having anyone tell me Im crazy when I get new plants- well my bank account shoots me dirty looks on occasion but that's about it. Oh and when I have friends over- "wow you have.... a lot of plants"

I have about 50ish and growing for 2ish years!

natasha · #9 06-23-2009, 03:37 AM

i think lots of people are crazy about something. i love chids, now about 200 in less than 2 years. i haven't collect anything this much for so long time, and i don't have any other long-term obsession except for my pet cats (21 of them) and my husband.

my husband, on the other hand buys dvds, pc games and ps3 games which are way costlier than pots of chids. i usually spend about rm100 (about usd30) per month to buy new chids. he spend about at least rm150 per game (usd43)

Baz in Oz · #10 06-23-2009, 04:09 AM

I would have told him 10,000 is on the low side of normal and that he should stop being a tightwad and get to work building a 100,000 square foot orchid house otherwise..............