ah crap, I think I'm addicted

[Vanda lover]

I can recommend Burr. Nelly Isler. I love mine!
I know, it's a terrible addiction. But there are worse ones.

[diego_p]

Oh my goodness, so many replies. I've been so busy I haven't been able to get back to this. Thanks guys. Do any of you not have a greenhouse? If so, how do you do it? Right now I got a table that's right by the window. I wish I could get a greenhouse for myself but i think the winters in south dakota are just too harsh to try that.

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I can recommend Burr. Nelly Isler. I love mine!
I know, it's a terrible addiction. But there are worse ones.

I know what you mean. I got into orchids because I wanted to grow something that wouldn't get me in trouble. (I used to grow Marijuana) now I don't. but seeing the diversity of the orchids and the long life that they can achieve with the proper care makes it so much more worth growing than a plant that has a short four month cycle. Plus some orchids have a fragrance Better than the other plant.
I think this is why I've really gotten into them, I don't have to hide something I'm proud of growing, and the colors just liven up a room along with their fragrances.

[MattWoelfsen]

You are growing big, eye catching (when in bloom) orchids. I hope you will discover the smaller orchids, like Neofinetia falcata. You can collect many of these orchids and go under the radar--even hide them in a coat pocket! LOL

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by diego_p

Oh my goodness, so many replies. I've been so busy I haven't been able to get back to this. Thanks guys. Do any of you not have a greenhouse? If so, how do you do it? Right now I got a table that's right by the window. I wish I could get a greenhouse for myself but i think the winters in south dakota are just too harsh to try that.



I know what you mean. I got into orchids because I wanted to grow something that wouldn't get me in trouble. (I used to grow Marijuana) now I don't. but seeing the diversity of the orchids and the long life that they can achieve with the proper care makes it so much more worth growing than a plant that has a short four month cycle. Plus some orchids have a fragrance Better than the other plant.
I think this is why I've really gotten into them, I don't have to hide something I'm proud of growing, and the colors just liven up a room along with their fragrances.

Nelly Isler has fragrance, too. Orchids certainly brighten up a winter.

---------- Post added at 10:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 AM ----------

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

You are growing big, eye catching (when in bloom) orchids. I hope you will discover the smaller orchids, like Neofinetia falcata. You can collect many of these orchids and go under the radar--even hide them in a coat pocket! LOL

I would love some Neo hybrids such as Darwinara, but they are really hard to find here. I am not fond of white but Neofinetia are so popular that it has me curious.

[Daethen]

You can do a greenhouse in South Dakota! I am in Wisconsin and have one. I bought a cheap kit. Had found some cheap 4 x 8 sheets of glass on Craig's List. Framed the glass and "sheathed" the kit in glass. Repurposed an old electric basement heater, bought some light fixtures on sale and there you have it. Not only does it do an amazing job, it was cheap! And as a reward, one of my cattleyas is producing 5 spikes! This is a big beautiful FRAGRANT catt too.

[diego_p]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

You are growing big, eye catching (when in bloom) orchids. I hope you will discover the smaller orchids, like Neofinetia falcata. You can collect many of these orchids and go under the radar--even hide them in a coat pocket! LOL

Yeah I've always wanted to try a mini plant. Kawamoto has a chrisnetia green light (neo falcata x chrsitensonia vietnamica)
an ascocentrum garayi, an amesiella monticola, and atrias Emily Clarkson. Hopefully I get a hold of one or all. Lol.

[lotis146]

Funny how addiction related threads just blow up. LOL.

I am no doubt a member in this camp. I went from 4-5 to 50+ in less than a year. Watch out for eBay - I've had mostly great experiences - because you'll find a little bit of all kinds of awesome. I don't dare you to search orchid plants on there, you'll be all day and find yourself with a list of well, far too many shoes to buy her.

Are you asking for general suggestions or trying to stick to a certain species? Are you mostly concerned with flowers and don't care too much about the overall look of the plant? Or do you care a little bit about it all? (For example, I don't exactly like the big Catts in terms of plant but their flowers are unbeatable, nonetheless they're too much for me.)

I don't have a greenhouse but I have a lot of plants. I keep them on shelves of a small "greenhouse" kit from Big Lots while others sit on 3' high by 2.5 long from Lowes (if I remember). I've got some hanging, some on windowsills (well that's changing because I worry about the cold coming from the glass). All in all though I'm still working things out. Hey, if it's possible for you and you haven't already, you could always win her over with the plan to finish the basement (and have part be a grow room. Then in the summers you can decorate your yard/porch/deck with your beautiful plants (they'll thank you for it.) If you can get her hooked then no more convincing is needed, just be prepared to have to find a way to share space if she wants different orchids!

[Vanda lover]

Ebay isn't much of a temptation to Canadians who want to buy orchids. There are no Canadian sellers and very few American ones who ship to Canada. If they do ship, no one can afford it. I have bought a couple from other countries which I suppose is risky but I had good luck with them.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I don't have a greenhouse either. I wonder how costly it would be to heat. I wish I did have one. I had my dear husband make me a shelf and I do have allot of windows so I have allot of light.

But I have to bring them all to the kitchen sink to water so it is getting allot of work watering them all. I really need to stop buying more. I just got 3 more....ok officially nuts now.

[Orchid killer]

Originally Posted by palm521

for every 4 plants buy her a pair of shoes. !

i am about to hit 800 species , and about 400 different ones. to the point that i had to double my greenhouse space, trust me ,the shoe thing always work likes a charm.

the good thing is when you have so many, you can always smuggle one in without her noticing anything at that point it is 10 plants for 1 pair of shoes. you see the more you have the cheaper it becomes?

the other option is to let her choose, 1 , spend money with plants and stay at home. or 2 , spend money with your friends in a bar, that is usually filled (the important part) with tons of woman looking to get laid.

if anyone is a female and wants to get away with orchids just replace woman by men to the sentence above. hahahaha

(sorry ladies) , just helping out our new addicted orchid friend. here

excellent mate ... she'll have more shoe than Emelda.