An orchid obsession in Northeast Ohio - Orchid Board

Ethan · #1 01-07-2009, 04:33 PM

I've had some extra time on my hands lately so of course I've been spending it with my orchids and on here. I realized today that although I've been a member of the board for about a year, I never really properly introduced myself! I've talked to a few people recently and have gotten a lot of help. I want to say thank you to all those people and I hope that someday I can return the favor.

So a little about me and my orchid obsession - I've been fascinated with houseplants for as long as I can remember, but I didn't get my first orchid until about 3 years ago. As I'm sure many of you can relate, one orchid led to ten more and my houseplants quickly began feeling betrayed.

My partner and I have a horse farm in Richfield, Ohio (about 20 miles south of Cleveland). We were getting tired of not having any room in the house for anything but plants so we decided to fulfill our dream of having a greenhouse. Well, the 12' x 20' greenhouse was finished in July of 2007. By December of 2007, after moving in all the houseplants and getting a bunch more orchids, there suddenly was tons of space in our house that we forgot we had - yet I suddenly found myself with no room for a single extra pot in the greenhouse. Surprise, surprise!!

Oh well - the point is that like many of you, I'm sure, my obsession began with one orchid and 3 years later I have more than 50 of them. The orchid bug bit and has left me with a life-long infection. An expensive hobby, yes, but more than equally rewarding.

My fav. orchids are catts and their related genera. Unfortunately I didn't start collecting them until a year ago and have yet to get any of them to rebloom. Lots of roots and green, but no blooms yet. Second would be phals - after I learned how to prevent crown rot, I have had a good deal of success with them. Of course I have a few favorites from other genera here and there...I don't have a list of everything I own, but I do have a gallery posted on this site with photos of most of them.

I just want to say to anyone who is just getting started with orchids - don't give up. I killed quite a few in the beginning and I still feel guilty - BUT I try to look at it as them sacrificing themselves to help me learn, so their brothers and sisters would not have to suffer the same fate.

hehe
but seriously - there is always something new to learn, none of us will ever know all there is to know about orchids, and why would you want to? That's the joy in raising orchids. Using what you've learned to produce that first beautiful flower on a plant that has never bloomed. That's why I'm here on orchidboard.com - to learn more and talk to people who share my passion. Despite my frequent frustration about not being able to get it right, the day I know all there is to know about orchids will be the day I lose my passion for them.

Happy growing!