Thirty Years Clean and Sober ...

[Leisesturm]

ended last Friday. After 30 years without any kind of houseplants or orchids in my life I rebooted my interest in growing things (properly) indoors with an order from Carmela Orchids. Seven plants: one in bloom, one in spike, all healthy, all lovely. I'm very pleased.

I live on a different coast now than then; compact fluorescent were just becoming a thing; I didn't know about this forum then (did it exist?).

I found you guys searching for "fragrant Cattleya hybrids" on Google. 30 years ago I was not married to a wonderful blind woman that surprised me with two flowering Phalaenopsis for my 60th three years ago. I plan to specialize in fragrant species and hybrid orchids to entertain her because the other plants that interest me (African Violets and Cyclamen) have no scent.

She meant well getting me those Phals. She couldn't know that where we lived they couldn't survive without artificial light and humidity. I like to do things right, I never could do right by the Phals though. I tried. Kept them going for 3 years but eventually <hangs head> ...

But now we just bought a little condo with a balcony facing east that is way too small to actually use. I plan to enclose it in greenhouse plastic. In the meantime the new arrivals are under an LED plant light (those deffo did not exist 30 years ago) and I mist them every couple of hours.

I've been lurking for a few days and I think I have knowledge and experience to share here. And if the fragrant Cattleya thread is any indication, I think I will learn plenty from quite a few of you too. That was certainly not the case in the other forum I knew about where by far the majority of visitors were newbies in way over their heads with impulse purchases or gift plants that they hoped to re-bloom.

If you haven't noticed ... I love to write ... ciao.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

[Ray]

Welcome.

OK. Where did your forum moniker come from?

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Welcome. We have some other chatty members. You'll fit right in.

[Leisesturm]

Originally Posted by Ray

Welcome.

OK. Where did your forum moniker come from?

No one has ever asked me that. I've used it for decades on just about every online forum I have participated in. It translates as "Quiet Storm". It's a fairly accurate description of my persona.

I did make some attempt to find out how a native German speaker would write the name but never could find out. Water under the bridge. Your name I recognize from my earlier involvement with things orchids.

Thanks for the welcome. I never missed the big AOS spring orchid show in NYC between 1990 and 2000. Wonder if our paths crossed at any of them?

[Roberta]

Welcome!

Along with Catts, take a look at the Neofinetia sub-forum. They are small, easy to care for under a variety of conditions, and wonderfully fragrant especially at night. (They are "officially" Vandas now, still Neofinetia falcata in my book) Dangerously addictive however...

[Ray]

I think "leisesturm" is close, if not exact.

No, never did a show in NY. Several speaking engagements all over, and shows in PA and NJ only.

[nhbeek]

The amazing variety of wonderful scents among the cattleya-alliance is what has drawn me to the hobby. A majority of species cattleya, brassavola, laelia, etc have their own unique and beautiful fragrance...

It is this variety (neverminded the differences of form) that elevates orchids above cheaper and easier plants in my mind.

Best of luck with your new adventure.

[RJSquirrel]

30 years with no orchids.. by the end of the month you should have about 2 or 3 hundred ordered up.

lets us see your haul when you come back from the orchid hunting safari

good luck