R.I.P

[Becca]

Last night I finally talked my self into letting go of a few of my sickly plants I have been nursing along and haven't shown signs of any hope. They are still talking to me every time I walk by the trash can...lol. One was my very first orchid I had (an oncidium), I rotted all of the roots off and every time it puts new roots out they seem to dry up...I wonder if I should dig it back out and give it a shot in my new orchidarium.....but it would just be taking up needed space? Should I just leave it? The others were a NOID phal and a dendrobium. I thought of cutting the canes on the dendrobium and putting it in moss to see if it would produce any keiki's....but I just don't have the time to mess with stuff like that currently, I barely have time for watering!

[cb977]

Bravo! You've reached the next level!

I nursed my sickly first orchid for over a year thinking I could love this thing back to health...WRONG!

Bit the bullet, threw it out and moved on...best thing to do

[Oscarman]

Good move Becca.

A sickly/struggling plant occupies the same amount of space and needs more attention than one that is flourishing and displaying good culture.

[shakkai]

I don't know... while I can see the logic behind the point about space and attention, I get sentimentally attached to my plants - I couldn't throw away a living thing. It would have to be absolutely dead and/or dangerous to the other plants for me to get rid of it.

Becca, you are braver than I am!! Good for you!

On the positive side, everyone is right, you've just made space (and time) for new plants that will give you so much joy!

[Becca]

Originally Posted by shakkai

I don't know... while I can see the logic behind the point about space and attention, I get sentimentally attached to my plants - I couldn't throw away a living thing. It would have to be absolutely dead and/or dangerous to the other plants for me to get rid of it.

Becca, you are braver than I am!! Good for you!

Shakkai, I become sentimentally attached as well, especially since the first orchid I had was given to me by my sister and it was one she raised from a seedling, she is the one who fueled my addiction....that is why it still calls to me when I walk by the trash can....lol.

[Vanessa]

I know the feeling. I had some old dendros that were ugly as all get out...all leggy shriveled canes so I yanked them out of their pots and threw them behind some bushes. The darn things are still growing on the gravel and one is blooming laying on it's side with no roots. All have babies sprouting. guess they like neglect more than care.

[Gladys47]

Go get that poor baby out of the trash! Bad Mommy, Bad Mommy;}

[Charles]

You have taken the first step to becoming an orchid grower. Kill a few more and you might learn something. It's not how many you have, it's a matter of how many you have destroyed with the best of intentions.

[gixrj18]

I don't get sentimentally attached, I have no problem tossin' one if it doesn't make it. I just have a problem giving in to a challenge unless I've exhausted every possible option, trying to overcome it. It drives me nuts to own something that I can't fix. At least spend the time on "your first orchid", especially if it's trying to root....at least it's trying!

[Djarum Black]

I have the same issues so I feel for ya, Becca. I have resolved with myself that I can't turn a pathetic plant away if my life depended on it lol. I try and try until I full out kill them, and then I walk away knowing I did all I could.
Believe it or not, this method has taught me much. So while I see the positives of chucking what does poorly for the room (trust me I am tempted), theres something to be said for gaining hard earned expereince.
I honestly believe I appricate hard won blooms from previously sickly plants more then easy ones.