Hello, from a complete Newbie in New York

[lucRiv]

Hi everyone,
Just registered today and am excited to learn from people with tons of experience. I have ZERO experience with orchids, except from one bad experience two years ago with an orchid. I don't even know what kind it was. Reason for my starting up again? Orchids were my Mom's life. She could grow them like anything! Everyone was jealous of her. And then, 9 months ago, with no warning, she died of a brain hemorrhage. Both my Dad and I knew that all of her plants would die too. We felt terrible. We're down to 3 of her plants now. I don't know why, but suddenly I feel this insane need to "save" these plants and get closer to "her" by taking an interest in something that meant so much to her. So... I'm trying to save the 3, plus I've gone out and bought some new ones as well. I'll be doing a lot of reading to try and do her proud - in her honor.