Orchid fatigue... - Orchid Board

Pilot · #1 03-08-2013, 12:03 PM

Anyone suffer from it? I love all orchids but I'm finding myself wanting to give my collection away. I've bought orchids just recently but they're rare or hard to find plants. I've been focusing in Neos and other Vandas but also things like Phal gigantea and other warm loving species phals. I dunno...I have orchid fatigue I think.

I'm apparently battling mealy bugs right now too and so I'm dousing the plants with alcohol to kill those buggers. I will compile a list of plants I want to re home and will treat them for pests before sending them off.

Stay tuned for a list.

quiltergal · #2 03-08-2013, 12:12 PM

I'm right there with ya buddy! I have gone from 100 orchids down to about 48 at the moment. Sometimes I feel like they suck the life right out of me.

Pilot · #3 03-08-2013, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

I'm right there with ya buddy! I have gone from 100 orchids down to about 48 at the moment. Sometimes I feel like they suck the life right out of me.

I know, right?! I'm considering a misting system to bring more balance to the situation. What orchids have you kept?

quiltergal · #4 03-08-2013, 01:13 PM

Paphs, Phrags and species Phals. I still have a couple of bulbos, a Ctna. Why Not and an ascocentrum that I will keep for the time being. I have a couple of Paph divisions that need a new home, and a couple of prosthechea divisions.

sweetjblue · #5 03-08-2013, 01:35 PM

Ryan,
Having to spend extra time trying to get rid of bugs can wear you out! Guess we've all been there one time or another, so I do feel for you.
I went to same route as you before too.
So if your looking for a good home for some of your babies, I have one right here!

Judi

Pilot · #6 03-08-2013, 01:41 PM

Judi, you're interested in some plants? Ill compile a list this weekend. The mealy bug issue isn't that big a deal as I see one here and there but yes I do spend a lot of time looking for them.

I have some phals and Oncs I think I'll post in this thread. Some of them I got just because I wanted something in bloom and others I got because I love the flowers. So ill focus on the flowers even if they're not in bloom for now and re home the others.

In the past month I've gotten three orchids... A bean leaf neo, a variegated sogo Vivien and yes... A variegated sedirea! I love the plants that are beautiful in or out of bloom.

My interests seem to be falling with those species orchids and ones I know I can care for without intensive watering every day. I have one plant that though its never bloomed for me I seem to love. It's a 4n max ten. It's such a weird looking plant!

Here is my new sedirea, which I just won in auction last night. I paid too much for it. Oh well.

sweetjblue · #7 03-08-2013, 01:51 PM

Ryan,
I've never seen a variegated sedirea before, but can totally understand why you fell in love with it!! It's gorgeous!!!!! Wouldn't have been able to pass that by myself!!
Yep, be happy to help you out! Mostly interested in Phals. And if you ever decided you made a mistake giving a certain one away, well it could always go back home!

Judi

Pilot · #8 03-08-2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetjblue

Ryan,
I've never seen a variegated sedirea before, but can totally understand why you fell in love with it!! It's gorgeous!!!!! Wouldn't have been able to pass that by myself!!
Yep, be happy to help you out! Mostly interested in Phals. And if you ever decided you made a mistake giving a certain one away, well it could always go back home!

Judi

Yeah I fell HARD for this one. I've always loved sedirea and now that I know there are more kinds than just the standard I'm in trouble. However, I mount these like I do my neos in those small decorative pots with moss strands wrapped around a mesh pot and then the plant atop that... I have to admit I fall for the Japanese art of growing these orchids and even own a few bonsai... So its something about the presentation etc I love so much.

Would you be up for a NOID or just named varieties? I have pics of them all in bloom in case you want to be choosey, which is ok.

bethmarie · #9 03-08-2013, 02:30 PM

I battle orchid fatigue sometimes, though in my addiction I'm always looking for another one even when fatigued. I find that I bond with some of my 'chids and don't with others. Taking care of the ones I feel bonded with feels great; care of the others feels like a chore. So I've been doing something similar to what you're doing. Lately, I've been rehoming the plants for which I'm just not feeling the love. It's been liberating, and helps me enjoy my collection again, instead of dreading another slog through the records to see who needs what. Thanks for your post, Pilot. It's nice to know I'm not the only one.

Talila6 · #10 03-08-2013, 02:49 PM

I got a bulbophyllum lasiochilum. I am not sure i am taking care of properly. I might just give it back to the orchid club member who gave it to me when I joined the Wisconsin orchid society! I think it requires too much attention since I travel a lot and need someone to care for my plants. I don't want to burden someone with a plant that requires almost daily watering and misting.