I stopped--ran out of room for more. :(

I have very little space left so I have to be picky.

Well, I was only going to buy one (a gift for a friend) and I came home with SEVEN today.....Here's how it went down:

Went to the local greenhouse (a really good one with great selection of unusual stuff year round) looking for an orchid for my friend. Went back to their main display and found onc hybrids, catt hybrids, den hybrids, and paph hybrids. Many in spike....So, I picked up an Onc. Tsiku Marguerite 'NN1' for my friend, and the other one looked so good I had to get it for myself. BTW, I already have one at home, so now I have two.....

Then, I started looking at the catts. Found a Pot. Love Avenue 'Serenade' with three buds peeking out of the sheath, so that had to come home, too....

Then I ambled over to the clearance section (or, as they label it "tired tropicals") and what should I find but more orchids, all for half off. So, the Iwanagara Apple Blossom with buds just showing had to come home, as did the three no-ID Den phal hybrids (two of them are showing spikes)....

I figure the no-ID dens will be great Christmas presents for my orchid-loving friends--once I find them (lol).

Catherine

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Um yeah, so, as of a few hours ago I was perfectly content with my little collection. I have 4 (out of only 9) in spike/bud/bloom, so why would I need more right now?
Well, as of just a little while ago, I made my collection an even 10. Hubby and I went to the grocery store to pick up milk and such and, well, I just took us on a little detour toward the flower section. Why not? They're pretty, we were just going to look... But alas the mini $7 phals caught my eye, and well, hubby thought the saturated harlequin pattern was cool and so did I and how could I resist??? He wasn't stopping me.... I blame hubby.
I succumbed to temptation tonight my friends.

Here she is. "Little Pearl" the tag says.

Nice. I love the asymmetric pattern types as well.

Well, how could you not buy that? The price was right and it is gorgeous! I would have done the same thing. In fact I did it a couple of weeks ago with an onc twinkle. it's yellow and goes with the living room. I had to have it and the hubby didn't stop me.

I've tried, but never worked. lol

C'mon, who doesn't like shopping? the great joy of buying new things! ;)

Space and time are about the only limiting factors for me as well. Isn't it the same for you guys too?

I wouldn't mind having a big greenhouse full of orchids, but then I think it will take the fun of it away as I would end up being a full time slave working for them. I already feel like I'm a part time slave for my plants anyways. lol

I occasionally "thin out" my collection for change.
They are plants that I keep all the time, but some of them, I lose interest because I don't find them attractive any more, or because I can always "restock" them if I wanted.
I also do not like dealing with large over-grown plants, so I tend to give away.

If I see ugly leaves, I toss them. If plants do not seem to thrive in my care, I remove them.

When I have available space, I go shopping. yay!!!
Or sometimes it is the other way around.
When I see something beautiful, or paphs in bud (always on the look out for "better shape and color") I just go for them.
Then I come home and have to make some tough decisions. :biggrin:

It has been a lot of fun so far. :)

I just got a few pots of large green complex paphs in bud. I am soooo looking forward to the open flowers!

I have one green complex that grows well but never ever flowers again. I noticed that some complex bloom every year for me but some every other year, and that green one, never ever again.

I also have some spotted complex that grow and flower well, but I do not like them that much.

So depending on how much I like these new green ones when they open up, I will make some decisions.

Oh, by the way, I don't really buy orchids during the cold seasons. Another limiting factor! :biggrin: