Hello - newbie to the OrchidBoard

[orchidfan]

I'm new to the site, to boards, to forums, and to posting so I hope I'm doing this right. I did my member profile but then learned I also should have done an intro so here goes: I grew up with a father who was a serious orchid hobbiest, with his own smallish greenhouse full of assorted orchids. We used to go to the Lager and Harrell (think I mispelled it) greenhouse in NJ regularly. Used to watch, listen and learn. I have always wanted to have my own orchids but life was always too busy etc - I'm now on permanent medical disability, with lots of time and decided it was time to get my orchids. So I went a little crazy earlier this summer and purchased a bunch of plants. They're all outside (live just north of Philadelphia PA) for the summer and doing well while I get my "sun/orchid room" ready for the winter. Here's what I (a.k.a. nutjob) bought: a bunch of assorted Cattleyas (standard and compact), assorted laelias, dendrobiums (mostly nobile but others I'm not sure), Cymbidiums (2 miniature, 3 standard), 2 brassias, 2 brassavolas, a few miltonias/miltoniopsis, some oncidiums, some paphipedilums, some phalenopsis, and, just for the heck of it, some zygopetalums. I already have one room with skylights and plant lights that will be dedicated to the orchids (and a freezer) come fall. Most of the plants are young. Then I'll expand to other rooms as needed in the future. Needless to say, I've been reading a lot, buying the stuff I need to take care of them, reading some more and researching the web a lot for more helpful stuff. So I'm grateful to have found you guys - hope I've done this intro right and that it wasn't too long.