I'm obsessed... you?

[KrissieLynn]

I've been "collecting" since mid-February. Within two weeks, it went up to 7. I'm now up to 21, with my last purchase being scented NOID phal and a Lowe's "bag baby" BLC. Windward Flare back on the 10th... Darn those clearance racks at Lowe's!!!

Thankfully, the 3 wood tray tables I have 18 of them set on match the finish on the dining room table.

The 19th phal is still in "ICU", and my BLC and a Brassavola 'Grand Star' (not a rescue) are in my walk-in closet by the window.

Did I mention I have a binder/"garden journal" with all of my orchids written down in it? Each one has its own page, with where I got it and how much it cost and a description, and then I take notes about new growth and what not...

[jeremyinsf]

I have been looking for a Psychopsis Alba for quite a while. Went into the orchid store today to get 'supplies' and they had them for the first time ever. In bloom. With second spikes coming. And they were only $20.

So I got four.

And two masdevallias.

And then came home and updated the spreadsheet.

[hcastil3]

krissy, I have a journal with the same info as well hahaha... also I've decided to draw each one of them as it comes into bloom. it takes me forever to draw. today one of my bigger orchids came into bloom..

its a cattleya that was made specifically for weddings by a breeder named David Blue.. one bloom opened but I see at leat other 5 bulbs ..

to make it even more special today is my 3 year anniversary with my wife..

IT KNEW!!!!!! its pure white blooms

and I'm glad you found what you were looking for.. too.


I love getting new orchids

[KrissieLynn]

Originally Posted by hcastil3

krissy, I have a journal with the same info as well hahaha... also I've decided to draw each one of them as it comes into bloom. it takes me forever to draw.

You DRAW them?! WOW!! Wish I had that kind of talent...

I draw mine by taking pictures of them, and put the pictures on the page with the name (real or made-up if it's a NOID) & info. I also put in pictures of roots or new growth, or other weirdness - half of my orchids are neglected & abused clearance rack rescues and the pictures give me a visual reference of how they have changed in my care.

[Joseia]

Originally Posted by Vrana

I use plastic net pots sunk right in the substrate for the terrestrials in my viv. That way the plants benefit from the nutrients and moisture from the surrounding 'ground,' but I have the option of checking on them/moving them around if the need arises. A good thing too, because while my jewel orchids LOVE the constant moisture, I nearly lost my supposedly moisture-loving masda to soppy root disease and was able to take it out just in time for it to.

I'm thinking of building a vivarium for my orchids, and based on some good threads on this board, I will probably start with the Exo Terra case and go from there. One of my main concerns is ventillation and humidity control. Do the openings in the Exo Terra box allow good airflow from the front?

[hcastil3]

Hmmm welll Iput acrylic sheet cut to size to fit on top of the mesh of the Exo terra opening, you can use glass too but I just found acrylic much easier to work with.
I line the sheets with silicone to make the top air tight and I left the air strip at the bottom of the Exo terra untouched
My humidity stays around 93 % but it will go up to 99% and 72 to 87 degrees...


Keep in mind this is a. 36x18x36 Exo terra ... For circulation I use 2 t inch computer fans that were modified to run off ac power.. I hid them by constructing some ductwork as seen by Grimm on you tu e .. so it should be farely easy to maintain humidity .. how big is your Exo ?

[Jinxy]

LOL this is so funny, how these little plants take over our lives...... I love the book/spread sheet idea

[KrissieLynn]

Originally Posted by Jinxy

LOL this is so funny, how these little plants take over our lives...... I love the book/spread sheet idea

Yep it's crazy- I've gotten to the point where my co-workers just shake their heads at me, but I'm going to be 'babysitting' one for a co-worker here soon since its not doing well and mine all are...

I got the idea for my book/binder from a garden journal sold at Target. I had it, but there weren't enough pages in between plants for me to keep using it...

[CTB]

The addiction just keeps growing, I have probably 500 orchids, alive and I have a journal entry for each one, dead or alive each one is numbered, named, bloom dates, parents, notes, if I have a pic of the bloom and repotting info. My journal is written and on a spread sheet. Two scrapbooks of pics.

I would be lost without the information, and refer to it all the time. I also keep a notepad on my phone for notes about sprayng and fertilizing dates. My spreadsheet is downladed to my phone so when I am at a show or shopping I can refer to it so I don't buy duplicates or one that didn't do well.

So, keep your information up to date with each purchase. The numbering helps out because if I can't read the name I can usually make out the number and then cross reference.

Now that's what you call an addiction!!!!!!

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by KrissieLynn

Did I mention I have a binder/"garden journal" with all of my orchids written down in it? Each one has its own page, with where I got it and how much it cost and a description, and then I take notes about new growth and what not...

I do this as well, I have papers that I am always updating (that reminds me that they need to be updated) and I have index cards that I don't change to often the index cards are great to just open up and I can see where I got a orchid and on what day I got it and any other info I may need, and I want to get pictures of the plants in bloom and put them in a photo album with there names on the back.