I still have my first orchid even though many have come and gone since. It’s a Cattleya hybrid Lc Netrasiri Beauty x Blc Varut Roonkamol. I planted it in sphag when I first got it and rotted its roots off. It recovered after being replanted in a wooden basket full of fir bark. Then it was largely neglected for two years during a period of fascination with other genera, many examples of which died slow, agonizing deaths while in my care.

I eventually learned that I can successfully grow nothing but Catts and Phals, so I have been striving to become especially good at that. Meanwhile, my interests have narrowed down almost entirely to species Catts and Phals.

With more light and better care, my first orchid began to really take off. It’s a big, fine-looking plant now and it’s currently in sheath. I think mine is a seedling rather than a clone, so I can only hope the flower will look something like the beautiful picture I saw in the listing when I bought it. About a year ago on another forum, I saw a picture of a blooming Netrasiri Beauty x Varut Roonkamol seedling, and that flower was butt ugly.

If my hybrid produces a flower like that genetically inferior little knot, I’ll be disappointed also, but I’ll keep the plant and care for it just the same. It’s like an old friend by now.

My first orchid, like probably many others, was phalaenopsis. It is still growing in my house, and it's gotten two buds right on its first spike. I don't know the color of flowers, but I guess it's purple.

Mine was a Sharry Baby given as a get well gift. I had no idea about plant burn and almost lost the plant. I recovered it, but it never bloomed. I then gave it to a friend when I moved to Kauai, who later told me it had a tiny spike with a few blooms on it right after I left. When I moved back she gave it back in worse condition than the burn situation. Now he's finnally healthy and I'm hoping for a spike this year. Any suggestions on promoting this?
Erin

My first orchid was a sickly Noid Phal that somebody gave to my Mom...she gave it to me as she knew i liked orchids. It bloomed a year or so later and was a huge beautiful white. Shortly after i gave it away to a new member in our society...it was their first orchid as well.

Great question Wendy! It's neat to see where we've all come from and where we are now in this great appreciation of Orchids

My first orchid was a Vanda Pat's Delight. It got it because of the flower that it has and also, my wifes name is Patricia....she loved it when we saw it at one of the orchid shows we went to.

Mine was Cym Don Quixote which I managed to kill........no pictures of it unfortunately.