Orchid yearnings/compulsions

[Mountaineer370]

Originally Posted by plantxart

You don’t have to be limited to windowsill growing, a lot of people grow under lights and terrariums

Agreed, but one still has to have the space for those other options.

This is a topic near and dear to me. I currently have only ten orchids. Yes, you read that right. I am green with envy of those of you saying you have 30 or 50 or 100.

I get such pleasure out of caring for my orchids, watching them grow and spike and bloom. In a way, it's a type of meditation, for lack of a better term, and I feel it's beneficial for my mental health.

But my only available space is on my kitchen/dining room table. The ten orchids and three fairly large African violets take up all the space I can give them and still leave a small area where someone could sit at the table and eat.

I would very much like to have more orchids, and some days, it gets to feeling like more than a wish, it feels like an actual need. I'll find myself wasting hours browsing vendor sites, deciding which ones I would like to have, and then realizing the futility of it all. So, yes, it is an unfulfilled yearning.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Dimples

I’ve been toying with the idea of making my windowsills larger. More room for larger pots and more plants!

Oooo, not to enable, but... I have a windowsill "extender" shelf my dad built me many years ago for a kitchen window that needed more plant space. It's movable. Will take a picture!

[jiblylegs]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Some years ago, I had an obsession with Angraecums. Fortunately, I got that under control. White flowers that are basically shaped the same...why? And, yet, I still have four different species of Angraecums.

What’s wrong with that! 🤔 Angraecum leonis is probably my favorite smelling plant in my collection. The scent is so pleasantly sweet. 😃

[dbarron]

Well my drooling continues apace. I currently have three possible picks:
Paphs at Paph Paradise, Mini-Cat at SVO, Asst at Hausermanns (including paph, cat, oncidium, dendrobium).
I expect to pull the 'Buy' in the next few days (ahem, funds become available). Due to the failing nature (and replacement) of a fridge, I think only one can win. Now....what do I want worst?
It's fun to make up carts, but even more fun to open boxes and anticipate growth and blooms.

[Leafmite]

Originally Posted by jiblylegs

What’s wrong with that! 🤔 Angraecum leonis is probably my favorite smelling plant in my collection. The scent is so pleasantly sweet. 😃

I do have four different species of Angraecum, including a leonis so I clearly still enjoy Angraecums but I have convinced myself that I do not need to buy every Angraecum I see or find online.

I did almost buy more orchids and a few other tropical plants but I reminded myself that there is no more room! None!

[Dalachin]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Oooo, not to enable, but... I have a windowsill "extender" shelf my dad built me many years ago for a kitchen window that needed more plant space. It's movable. Will take a picture!

Please do post a pic, I am totally building a sill extender this weekend. I’ve been toying with buying a cat perch and adapting it but certainly there is a better way. I want to set up a cool humid area for my dendros and paphs that would appreciate it for winter, but the small aquarium I want to use is just a touch too wide for the sill.

[dbarron]

Well ok, Fred Clarke got my money this morning.
I really only wanted one plant, but I found two I liked, and then looking at $27 postage, I thought I better get three to spread that postage charge out a bit. And yes, I do think like that.

Pot. Little Circle (Pot. Golden Circle 'OPRL' x Pot. Little Toshie 'Gold Country' AM/AOS)
Slc. Bella del Caribe (Slc. Angel's Fantasy 'Solar Flare' FCC/AOS x Sc. Beaufort 'Hartford's Elwood' 4n AM/AOS)
Pot. NEW HYBRID (Pot. Ruby Delight 'Ruby Splash' x Slc. Mem. Trudi Marsh 'Sun Flair')

So, given I haven't grown a cattleya in years and years, I will now have three. I have a south facing window to winter them in (which has nothing in it at present). I did try to go for mini and compact, and multiple flowerings per year expected.
Set my expectations, am I likely to see flowers within the year?

[Roberta]

Flowers within the next year are not only possible but likely. Those first two, especially, very likely. Those mini-catts bloom on very small plants.

[dbarron]

Well *that'd* make me very happy. I can't wait (well I guess I can..but you know what I mean) *lol*

[dbarron]

Ok, the little ones came today. They're respectably 6 inches, 4.5 inches, and 3 inches tall.
The six incher has a sheath, but I thinking it'll be blind. All have new leads starting though. I haven't yet wrapped my mind around which is which and looking at the labels only informs me for a few minutes (before fading). *lol*
Oh...after I hit submit, an insight took me. The six inch is Little Circle, the 4.5 is New Hybrid (unnamed I guess), and the 3 is Bella del Caribe.

Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me if the next leads on any/all produce a sheath (if I don't keep them too cool this winter at least).