How do you limit your collection?

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I wouldn't need the lights! I get bright indirect light through most of my windows! A few get direct sun in the morning and later afternoon. That's where I put my Vanda seedlings.

Sorry I misunderstood.

[Trollsvans]

Limited growing space + marriage!
The wife enforced a "one in, one out" policy (for her as well, she likes greenery too, but isn't interested in orchids, ferns or bromeliads).

I also tend to be into plants that are rare in the trade around here, or are of the "not in your bedroom if you want to keep the family" type, like the more smelly Bulbophyllums (only viable orchid growing window is in our bedroom).
I find that having a list of absolute must-haves (not just "ooh, that's a pretty one!", I mean "if I can only have ten plants for, these are the ones!") in conjunction with the "one in, one out" policy helps to resist the impulse purchases.

[bethmarie]

Originally Posted by Trollsvans

Limited growing space + marriage!

Hmmm... maybe I should consider marriage...

[ThePinkCucumber]

Originally Posted by bethmarie

Hmmm... maybe I should consider marriage...

Might not always work that way - my husband totally got infected with the orchid bug!

[judith_arquette]

Originally Posted by ThePinkCucumber

Might not always work that way - my husband totally got infected with the orchid bug!

Mine is a terrible enabler. Not only would he surprise me with them after coming back from the store but he was always telling me that I should go online and pick some out... I finally had to put my foot down (as hard as that was), and tell him I really needed to learn how to stop killing the ones I already have.

[ThePinkCucumber]

Originally Posted by judith_arquette

Mine is a terrible enabler. Not only would he surprise me with them after coming back from the store but he was always telling me that I should go online and pick some out... I finally had to put my foot down (as hard as that was), and tell him I really needed to learn how to stop killing the ones I already have.

Haha, our terrible supportive husbands!
We're building a house now, and he's dreamed out this amazing sun room, where originally we said it would be a north-west facing porch, but then we said maybe we can make a winter garden to sit in when it's nasty and cold in winter, and now the plan is to make it the orchid room. Then I'll really have to be careful, it's easy to go nuts when you have space!

And at the beginning I also felt guilty about buying more, as I murdered a few phals, so I told myslef I'm allowed to get more only if my zygo survives. We had just him for a year and he survived with any issues, so yup, the collection has grown, nobody's dying so in that sense we do not have an excuse anymore!

[theloyalplum]

Originally Posted by ThePinkCucumber

Haha, our terrible supportive husbands!
We're building a house now, and he's dreamed out this amazing sun room, where originally we said it would be a north-west facing porch, but then we said maybe we can make a winter garden to sit in when it's nasty and cold in winter, and now the plan is to make it the orchid room. Then I'll really have to be careful, it's easy to go nuts when you have space!

And at the beginning I also felt guilty about buying more, as I murdered a few phals, so I told myslef I'm allowed to get more only if my zygo survives. We had just him for a year and he survived with any issues, so yup, the collection has grown, nobody's dying so in that sense we do not have an excuse anymore!

ORCHID HOUSE. I'm young still yet I have grand plans (more like dreams but whatever) of having a spot somewhere. An orchid room directly adjacent to the master bedroom. Several greenhouses/enclosures for different temperate zones and biomes. One singularly for plumerias. And a grand orchard of lychee, mango, avocado and longan and papaya. Sigh... one day.

Make sure you have everything sealed nice and tight. Heating and cooling a room is no joke, and rot and water damage is just as bad!

[ThePinkCucumber]

Originally Posted by theloyalplum

ORCHID HOUSE. I'm young still yet I have grand plans (more like dreams but whatever) of having a spot somewhere. An orchid room directly adjacent to the master bedroom. Several greenhouses/enclosures for different temperate zones and biomes. One singularly for plumerias. And a grand orchard of lychee, mango, avocado and longan and papaya. Sigh... one day.

Make sure you have everything sealed nice and tight. Heating and cooling a room is no joke, and rot and water damage is just as bad!

Absolutely, it'll be a big project once we're ready to build it. And, our is connected to the master bedroom And baby lychee, almond and plum trees already growing!

[bethmarie]

Originally Posted by ThePinkCucumber

Haha, our terrible supportive husbands!
We're building a house now, and he's dreamed out this amazing sun room, where originally we said it would be a north-west facing porch

A sun room! Now I know which husband I'm aiming for

[theloyalplum]

Originally Posted by ThePinkCucumber

Absolutely, it'll be a big project once we're ready to build it. And, our is connected to the master bedroom And baby lychee, almond and plum trees already growing!

Great minds think alike. You better post progress on it or I'll just be stuck dreaming!