Hello Orchid nuts

[New York Scribbler]

Hi fellow Orchid nuts. I'm Jay and I live in Queens NY. I have been interested in house plants for as long as I can remember. My mother always had various plants all over the house and also flower gardens in the yard where I grew up in Indianapolis. The plant bug stayed with me and I don't think I have been without some plants in my windows during my 40 years of life.

In my early 20s someone said to me "You're good with tropical plants, why don't you have any orchids?". And that's when my orchid affair started. Within 5 years I had 60+ plants on a tiered shelf system in a huge East window supplemented with a pair of 500 watt hanging halogen spotlights. Then I had some health issues, had to move, lost my big windows etc. and lost all my plants.

Fast forward a dozen years and I'm now married and living in Queens NY. I wouldn't call my wife a "plant person" but she did manage to keep a geranium that she received as a "Welcome to America" gift for 10 years, just barely. For the last couple years I'm slowly starting again with orchids. I have a few Phals that I convinced my wife that we needed, hoping the long lasting blooms would convert her. She bought me an Oncidium Sherry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' at this years NY Botanical Gardens orchid show (the scent was a big hit), and I have an Lc. Final Blue 'Royal Purple' that I snuck in to an Amazon order (compact blue cat and smelled amazing).

Life happens though, as it usually does. I donated one of my kidneys to my amazing wife because she needed it and I had a spare, I am currently unemployed due to health problems, and still I lean on my green guests for calm and piece. Looking after growing things and getting them to bloom and thrive is a rewarding hobby that is good for my soul.

That's the truncated version of my orchid story and I'm looking forward to expanding it. Maybe with an Oncidium Marguerite, and a Paph or two.. And maybe a Phal equestris because it can bloom forever.. Oh, and more compact Catts! And....


Jay

[No-Pro-mwa]

Hello there Jay. What a story you have. Welcome to the board and I hope both you and your wife will both have better health in the future. And cheers to more orchids.

[New York Scribbler]

Thanks Shannon. This seems like a nice orchid community with great information. I wish this stuff was around 20 years ago when I started

[DeaC]

neighbor! You write so well but most of all I wish you both great health and success with your plants. Plants of all kinds are a therapy and I'm sure over time the collection will grow.

[New York Scribbler]

On a side note, my wife is from the Philippines and sometimes when I show her pictures of orchids from the Philippines she will recognize them and say that she's seen them on some of the properties her parents own. We travel to Aklan, (the large Island south-west of the capital Manila) where my wife is from every year or two. My mother in-law has orchids in her trees and on posts throughout her property. She has some purple Dendrobiums and Vandas that I'm not familiar with. She also has at least two types of Phalaenopsis on a large fruit tree in front of the house. I haven't been able to see them bloom, but one has mottled leaves. She doesn't know what they are, her house help takes care of the yard, but she thinks they are all native.

I'll post some pictures when I get a chance. Maybe I'll look into what it takes to bring a few back to the US... The Phalaenopsis in her trees have keikis that have keikis with keikis. She'd never miss a couple

Jay

---------- Post added at 02:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:48 PM ----------

Hi neighbor! Thanks for the well wishes, we are doing just fine. My orchids are loving this sunny, mild weather we've been having. I have north-north east windows for the shade loving plants that get about 2 hours of the earliest morning sunshine and east-east south windows for the plants that enjoy 5 hours of morning sunshine. I'm using my willpower to make my Catt grow multiple leads.. So far it seems set on being linier.

[estación seca]

Welcome!

[WhiteRabbit]

[bellini girl]

and

[Leafmite]

Hello and welcome!