Is it an addiction???

[Leafmite]

I had to smile about your daughter not liking plants. My oldest daughter was never very fond of them but now she has a little succulant garden and, as of today, a cattleya at college with her. There is hope....

[terracotta7]

Yes, there is hope! Last week she asked my husband to bring her an aloe plant when he was near her college on business. Perhaps one day she will understand orchids, as well. In the meantime, I will refrain from putting any of my recent finds in her room...although it does have a nice window with good light. Hhhmmmmm. VERY tempting!

[Leafmite]

An aloe plant is a very promising start.

[nlm2951]

It's addicted. When I go to the orchids shows, my friend say that I act like a small girl in Disney World, but I love it, I have a GH and thats my peace, when I enter the GH

[bethmarie]

I'm in the buying more shelves and putting in lights phase. Which came after the phase of almost spending a small fortune to remove two trees that are blocking my best window for orchid light. Me, a tree hugger! I covet CFL and LED bulbs and fall asleep wondering how to get an Angraecum aloifolium from the UK to the US. Not enough room for a greenhouse; have a dream of converting the den to a sunroom. But I could stop anytime. Really.

[gardengirl13]

My b-day is in Oct too. I already have some ideas on what to spend some money on! I need to find some beginner orchids too. I have a few in my cart at orchids limited, but I'm not sure if a somewhat beginner can deal with them or not? I may have to look up your list. Where do you find suggestions here? I've kind of looked through and some of the things people are talking about just confuses me. There are so many different ideas on how to grow orchids it gets confusing.

[Silje]

Definitely.

I started by killing off a handful of oncidiums and some phals. I was amazed of how effective I was.

Somewhere, in the middle of the killing spree, I became dead set on actually managing to keep some of these plants alive.

It's only been a couple of years, but I'm now waiting for my green house which is supposed to arrive this week and I will make it my little orchid haven where I'm planning to spend a lot of my weekends and after hours.

The green house is actually desperately needed. I've come to a point where the chids are taking over my house completely. Now they finally get their own humid den to lay down their roots.

[mandali12]

Hello everyone:

Had to put my 2 cents worth. I consider myself a "newbie"(it's been a year or so for me) but am definitely addicted. When you are willing to do away with some necessities in order to purchase a couple of orchids...I'd say I qualify.
I thoroughly enjoy it, though!!! Love your site and am also addicted to it!

[nlm2951]

when I stared w orchids, I was down with my mother passing away from cancer, and orchids save me from feeling down, go out look at them, check for anything abnormal in the orchids, until I told my husband I need a GH, pls. going to the shows, going to orchids sales, reading books, found OB and is ok.

[terracotta7]

So great to hear from all you newly addicted orchid lovers!!!
I agree with Silje...you do have to lose a few in order to gain an appreciation for what it takes to keep them alive. For me, that is what the inexpensive ones from the local stores were for. Now I am starting to "hit the hard stuff" and pick things out at more reputable orchid growers.

Gardengirl, I think that I just would jot down orchids that other members would post about. Then when I had time I would go look them up, and see if they were suited to my home environment. I will probably never have a greenhouse or the $ to fill it, so I choose things that are suited to a human environment and do not need coddling. And...I go with what works for me. I seem to do best with oncidiums and those intergenerics, as well as dendrobiums. Believe it or not, I do not have as much luck with phals. I have a few that I have rescued from nursing homes or friends that love me because I love them, but I have others that are always losing leaves, harboring mealybugs, and are just plain obstinate about throwing a spike...even when they look otherwise healthy to me. And forget about cattleyas. I have only been able to get one to bloom once. I have a recently acquired potinara that has a sheath with something nice and fat inside and a new encyclia that I have high hopes for. But generally, I don't think I have the light for them.

So...keep experimenting, and asking questions of the more experienced members. Look at all the beautiful pictures posted. And when you finally have a successful bloom, be sure to let me know. I am already rejoicing for you...that is what happens when you share the addiction.