Do you choose orchids wisely?

[shadytrake]

Originally Posted by vmax3000

I like to "look" like I know what I am doing, so I buy them with confidence (and too much abandoned according to my spousal unit). I practice image management as often as I can. Living in Waco, Texas, I really have no business having masdevallias, draculas, scaphosepalum and sigmatostalix....but, I do . I learned most of what I know by being really bad at it. I think I am now at mediocre. Here's the thought, if I fill the greenhouse faster than they die, I will always keep up the image! Actually, I do buy too many, but when I fall in love, I have tried to research the plant and it's needs so I can be "prepared". Then, I give myself permission with a seedling (cheapo). If it survives, then I am golden. If not, then I try to do a little more research and decide whether it's worth another try. I just got a Leptotes calodictyon that I will try in my terrarium...this one is the one that has scared me the most . I'll be reading the threads on this one voraciously! Great poll and I loved reading through the posts! OB is fabulous.

This is SOOOO me! Although I am fastidious about the research now that I have filled the greenhouse and I don't want them to die. What is so interesting to me is that some that are considered easy....like Phals (for most) I don't have very good luck with.

I recently took a chance with some Paphs, Phrags, and Cyms which I kindof avoided previously thinking they would be super difficult for me personally. They seem to be doing pretty good.

I do know that I pay attention to the temp requirements now because I just don't have the right setup during the Summer to keep the cool growers.

I am just hoping the 3 masdies that I just had to have will surprise me and enjoy the tropics of Memphis, TN.

[vmax3000]

Oh Shady, can I relate! I moved my draculas into the bathroom where they sit on a south-facing window sill that is strongly shaded after ~9 am...I think I live maybe 2 miles or so from the blast furnace doors and they are opening for the summer bake-off and the season my husband refers to as "Hell"...see, we do have 4 seasons! Hell just comes in the midst of summer around here! I will probably have to move the Masdevallias and some of the pleuros, soon. As a gift, spousal unit is building me an evaporative cooling unit. I am looking forward to having it. Right now, my cooling is strictly me swinging around a hose in the gh and trying not to beat my plants or drown them while cooling them off. Ah, the struggles of an addicted orchidist!!! Hang in there. Tn is so pretty, even if a touch warm and humid!

[Eagleluv]

I try to lower my risk of loosing a orchid by looking for healthy leaves. I have been lucky so far and only lost 1 plant which really hurt because the bloom was awesome. Next few weeks are going to be awesome, 4 orchids are just about to bloom.
I love my babies!
Risk is all about surprises. You only fail if you didn't try.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

No.

My brain goes out the door and my eyes do the talking.

Then I try to figure out how to grow them.

I'm lucky I end up with plants I can grow most of the times.

A few times, it's a miss.

Then there's also the lack of sufficient awesome info out there on the net unless you're part of an orchid community where people are willing to share.

[natasha]

my first loves are cattleyas and cymbidiums. i spend hours gawking at pictures of them. it doesn't help that the only chid book i own have such great pics of chids. somehow, cymbidiums are too expensive here, not easily found and the flowers didn't last long in the tropics. catts are rare too but more affordable. i settle for mostly dendros and vandas. they are easier to find and much cheaper than catts. and my dendros flower a lot too