I love getting those boxes of orchids in the mail, too...so addicting....

Isn't it wonderful that Camille, can hop on a plane to visit her mother in France? That sounds SO cosmopolitan!

I also enjoy the thrill of receiving box(es) of orchids. Unfortunately, I REALLY need to stop having Christmas every week. I'm running out of space!

Me too.. I'm also running out of excuses to tell the "boss" as to why this is different than the others that I have already sitting and growing in my makeshift greenhouse area. :biggrin:

Yeah, I've been told that in 23 days (I'm retiring), I'll be on an orchid diet! I'd rather lose weight...

That's a benefit of living in Europe, and particularly in tiny Netherlands (which is only twice the size of Massachusetts). Amsterdam is a 60-80min flight from Lyon, in France. From Amsterdam I can fly to any of maybe a dozen different countries in less than 2 hours flight time. Whereas in the US you can't even cross the country in that time...

And yup, I love getting boxes of orchids! Too bad I don't get them often enough. And I'm getting to the point where installing a second shelving unit is necessary. Which means buying more orchids to fill it! Not sure my boyfriend will agree with it...

Does anyone know in general how long these little lovelies usually take from start of spike to bloom?

Yes I would like to know as well and general culture tips from you pros, I have never grown one.
Mine arrived yesterday from Marble Branch Farms and looks very nice. I may leave it in the pot since it is in a nice bark mix in a 3" pot, Marble Branch says that it is near blooming size. It traveled with a Brassocattleya Yellow Bird.
I also received a RBY. Everything Nice 'Showtime" Free!!
So Excited!. I will post pictures later...

I'm not sure if I'll keep mine mounted, but the roots are so long that I don't know how I'd get them into a pot...

Do you have a spike on yours?

I think so...
I don't know if I should be concerned about the brown areas on it, any thoughts?

That would concern me too. Makes me think the spike is going to blast. I had one blast on my Phal Violacea after it was shipped to me. :( I hope it doesn't. I'd love to see your flowers! Maybe it's just a little dirt or something.