I'm still scared of killing all my plants. How do I get over it?

[Wolfrott]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

The best advice I've ever heard regarding this was the following from a grower and seller:

I can't tell you how to keep them alive, but I can surely tell you how to kill them. You know you are a true orchid grower when you've killed more than you can keep alive!

THIS. My grandmother has been growing orchids for over 50 years, and so she and my mother can agree with that quote!

[Orchidbyte]

I've been growing plants for over 40 years, I currently have about 1000 plants in my yard, I can easily say that I have killed more plants in my life then what's in my current collection.
I had an Angreacum that I grew from a seedling, it got big over the years and bloomed several times, it was a beauty. Then one day it started dropping leaves and within a few days it was dead, I still can't figure out that one, it still had good roots but the stem just turned to mush. I felt sad, but it found the trash can anyway.

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Orchidbyte

I've been growing plants for over 40 years, I currently have about 1000 plants in my yard, I can easily say that I have killed more plants in my life then what's in my current collection.
I had an Angreacum that I grew from a seedling, it got big over the years and bloomed several times, it was a beauty. Then one day it started dropping leaves and within a few days it was dead, I still can't figure out that one, it still had good roots but the stem just turned to mush. I felt sad, but it found the trash can anyway.

Yeah, I am working on being able to throw things in the trash can, but I feel so guilty! Like I am throwing away a friend so unceremoniously!! Haha, oh well. I only have about 1.5 years' experience so far, and will learn quite a lot by the time I have 40 like you!

[SimJam]

Omg these comments are too funny. But I totally understand how you feel.

I guess us newbies arent jaded enough yet.

[Wolfrott]

Originally Posted by SimJam

Omg these comments are too funny. But I totally understand how you feel.

I guess us newbies arent jaded enough yet.

You will also learn that if you neglect them, they'll thrive better half the time! It's so frustrating, LOL.

[Wathepleela]

I’m still a newbie (6 months + of growing experience) and currently still stuck at the stage of MOURNING when one died on me (which I ALWAYS hold myself in part if not totally accountable for,) especially one of those hybrid varieties (read Noid) that came to this world by happy happenstance (meaning you don’t expect to run into another one like it). I mourn and mope as I do my daily rounds of taking care of the others, hang their pictures on the wall (metaphorically speaking,) etc.

The one remedy that has proved to work so far (but not indefinitely) is to get extravagant ala Henry the 8th (I have let go of one beauty therefore I must have another one even more luscious!) As a result I no longer care if my balcony runs out of space or the bathroom out of hooks as my orchid shopping has become more frequent of late. One “positive” outcome is I’ve also become bolder in my handling of the herd. I regard myself an “expert” when it comes to potting and mounting “techniques”, considering it a success if the plant doesn’t die too soon after being put through the experiment.

One valuable lesson I’ve learned, as some posts here have already mentioned: a little dose of NEGLECT now and then will make them chids happy as you wouldn’t believe. There soon will come a time when my collection reaches CRITICAL MASS then it'll be time for us to move to another bigger place, a house with a terrace maybe. Which reminds me of a French marquis once upon the time who lived in a castle. He only occupied one room though, after one season or two the room inevitably got piled with stuff to the ceiling, “I simply move to the next room," he said, "and let the servants take care of the rest.”

Once in our new “castle” the plants will have their own garden/terrace/pavilion or the likes, instead of sharing the balcony with the clothes drying business (folks don’t user dryers in this part of the world) or the bathroom with me as of present arrangement. They’ll be settled and content, and I can afford to give them as much benign neglect as their hearts desire!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Wolfrott

You will also learn that if you neglect them, they'll thrive better half the time! It's so frustrating, LOL.

Yup!! I've had prized plants die despite constant pampering, but 2-3 years ago I had a lot on my plate and my orchids got neglected for nearly a year. Surprisingly, I didn't lose many, and learned that even a Phal can survive a month without water and still be fine! Most of the plants grew and bloomed pretty normally too. Ironically enough I lost a good part of my collection shortly after that period, when I was caring for them well but I got a bad infestation of mealybugs go through the collection...

But as others have said, once you've killed enough you a) learn from your mistakes and b) become desensitized to killing more orchids. In 10 years of orchid growing I must have killed at least 70... Now I only get upset if I kill one which I really loved and can't find a replacement (I have a list of 7-8 in that category, which even years after make me sad thinking about them).

Losing orchids was also more upsetting as a student, because I had spent hard earned money on them, and buying orchids was something of a luxury. Now I won't say I'm rich or anything, but I have a very decent salary, and if I kill an orchid I just think of the fact that it frees up space to buy more!! (unless I killed a favorite. Then I'm very sad, but still go buy more!!)

[Zabeta]

I had to laugh when I saw this thread (I just joined, so I've been scrolling through the list). I've only had orchids for less than a year, and I certainly wouldn't yet call myself a "grower" - I have houseplants, and now I have more orchids than anything else, and orchids are all I'm buying.

BUT I haven't managed to rebloom any plants, hopefully just because it's too soon.

AND I spend lots of time worrying about them: Oh no - there's a spot on a leaf! It must have an incurable virus!; Heavens, did I rinse that coconut husk enough, or will I wake up one day and find my oncidiums dead from the salts?? WHY CAN'T THEY GROW FASTER? Etc.

And when something good happens, like a new root or something, I'm ridiculously happy and make my partner look at the plants and listen to me talk about it. So yeah. All this is to say, I totally sympathize.

[dbarron]

Welcome, Zabeta, fellow orchid fever sufferer, you have described us all, I think.

[wintergirl]

I must admit that I have not killed any orchid yet. (key word yet) But then again since I have retired I have no life and spend too much time watching my orchids. I do get upset if I lose a leaf or my plants have a setback. I might need therapy when I suffer my first loss though.