Hello from the English Midlands

[Keithj]

Hi all,

I’m Keith, a retired research engineer, and I’ve owned and rebloomed a few Phalaenopsis and a Paphiopedilum ‘American Hybrid’ on our kitchen windowsill. In the last few months things have rather got out of hand and I now have three named and two No ID Phalaenopsis, the Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium humboltii, Promenaea silvana, Macodes petola, Cyrtochilum meirax, a No ID Brassia Hybrid, Zygopetalum ‘Sensation’, a No ID Oncidium Hybrid, two Dendrobium ‘Lady Colman’ and a No ID Dendrobium nobile with white flowers.

They seem to be doing OK and I’ve researched on line as much as possible but I’m sure that shared personal experience is the best way to learn anything so be gentle with a newbie!

[Dollythehun]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

[DeaC]

Greetings from across the pond.

[bellini girl]

and get ready to be inspired. Pretty soon your collection will double

[Keithj]

Originally Posted by bellini girl

and get ready to be inspired. Pretty soon your collection will double

Not sure my wife will be too happy if that happens!

Keith

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

[camille1585]

Welcome to Orchidboard!

If you stay around here a bit, you'll quickly see that there is nothing 'out of hand' about the growth of your collection! You'll sometimes read about people walking out of orchid shows staggering under the weight of all the new plants they bought, people expecting packages with a dozen new plants, people who happily let the orchids take over an entire room of their house, or those who resort to sneaking new plants in the house, past the prying eyes of a disapproving spouse (hint, miniature orchids are easy to smuggle in and hide on an already full shelf of orchids)...

[Keithj]

My wife’s already talking about having my wallet in her tender care when we go anywhere near orchids in future!

I am getting better at resisting temptation. There were some excellent No ID plants at a local garden centre the other day. One had beautiful pansy-like flowers and was bursting with health but I managed to leave it behind. We are going to the RHS Wisley Gardens tomorrow and there’s an orchid house there so I’ll definitely be revved up! I think there will be named orchids to buy, too, so neither of us is expecting me to come away empty handed.

Keith