smitten then bitten

[eyewanders]

Well... It has begun. I've lurked here for a little while and figured it's time to say "HOLA!"

Been an on again/off again rabid houseplant grower for close to two decades, interrupted by traveling and occasional housing arrangement that have made it difficult - most recently a lovely apartment with all North facing windows and not enough space. At any rate we just moved to an awesome and bright new duplex home with an amazing and a garage and yard and windows on every side! So my old habits quickly took root (see what I did there?) again.
Over the years I've had a grand total of three orchids (all given to me or otherwise just obtained accidentally) and never bothered to really look into specific care, treating them with fear and wondering why they didn't respond to my otherwise greenish thumb... Our new landlord, bless her, actually gave us a little housewarming gift - a tiny (bought cheap from Lowe's I now think) little phalaenopsis that I just loved. After giving a lot of needed care to my existing plants and grabbing a few others for our new space, I came home with another orchid from local plant shop, an awesome galeopetalum I loved... Then another... then another... then another... We're up to 7 total in about 2 weeks time. Must stop for now.
So.... this is how it begins? I still love my other plants, but now that I'm beginning to *much* deepen my understanding of these little blooming, it's become a slight obsession. They're like pets.
Anyhow... hi!

suneater by Kevin Rosinbum (Eyewanders Foto), on Flickr