The Catharsis of Getting Rid of Orchids

[Zabeta]

For a long time, I couldn't bear to get rid of a living thing that I had committed to taking care of, even if an orchid was just not doing well in my climate and stressed me out every time I looked at it. (The humidity all summer where I live has been in the teens. One time the hygrometer didn't even give me a reading because it was so low.)

But then I decided to just throw one out. I had done everything I could think of, and it was not really growing. It was hanging on, but after over a year it wasn't recovering from its initial repot. So, I impulsively threw it in the trash. And immediately felt better.

Over the next few weeks, I did the same with other orchids that were ailing. I rationalized that my climate is so extreme, humidity-wise, that some orchids just won't do very well. Most of the ones I threw out were oncidiums that simply needed higher humidity than I could provide, even with a humidifier. I went from maybe 48 orchids to 37 or so (but then promptly acquired two more).

Now I'm left with healthy (though not perfect), growing, happy plants, some of which have spikes or blooms that I coaxed out of them. It makes me happy to see them and care for them, and I don't stress about my failures. Most of my plants are cattleyas and dendrobiums, though I do have four healthy phals and several tough oncidiums that don't seem to mind the weather all that much. And a few others.

It's not that I don't want to nurse an orchid back to health, but if I try and try for a long time with no success, I realized that I'm sometimes happier if I just acknowledge the failure and move on.

Am I a bad person? Just kidding. But I am wondering about the rest of you. Do you nurse an orchid indefinitely, or do you prefer to get rid of it if nothing changes?

[bil]

You are so right. By all means persist where there is a reasonable chance of success, but after that point, bin it.

Do it in front of all the other orchids 'Pour encourager les autres.'

[Zabeta]

Originally Posted by bil

Do it in front of all the other orchids 'Pour encourager les autres.'

Lol!

[rbarata]

No, you're not a bad person. But as we've read so many times in these forums, those orchids will come bacj just to haunt you... You know, one day you,ll notice they are growing nicely in the trash can.😀

[bil]

Originally Posted by Zabeta

Lol!

You laugh, but I find threats work better than all the kind words ever.

[Zabeta]

Originally Posted by bil

You laugh, but I find threats work better than all the kind words ever.

I have read that on this forum before (the many people who say they threatened to throw an orchid out, only to have it suddenly start growing). I've tried this method, but with no success.

[Subrosa]

I suppose you'd be a better person if you passed the plants on to someone who could do better by them but couldn't obtain them otherwise, but throwing away a plant does not a bad person make.

[lotis146]

I am the type to nurse it, or even just let it die on its own.

If I may, perhaps next time before tossing it donate it to your local orchid society? Or even orchid addict?

Nice to hear you've found some relief, it can be rather stressful to struggle and struggle with a plant only to continue to witness its demise.

[LizB88]

Originally Posted by Zabeta

I have read that on this forum before (the many people who say they threatened to throw an orchid out, only to have it suddenly start growing). I've tried this method, but with no success.

Is all in the tone of voice, you really have to mean it, and if the time comes and no changes you got to follow trough, the rest of the collection will soon start to show growth. It is funny, but it has worked for me. I have send some to the trash and point to another and say you are next! Next thing I know new growth or blooms.

[rbarata]

But remember, this technique should never be used if you have orchids in a garden... mowing the lawn could be counterproductive.