What other plants do you have in your collection?

[got ants]

I had about 20 or so bonzais, then started on rare palms. Those started to get really expensive and losing them to the cold sucked hard.

So then one day I took a ride with a bud down to the Redlands to get some orchids to sell before Mother's Day. I ended up with 4 Phals left over and slowly got caught up in it all. Then started to collect Florida natives, then species, and now I think I'm wandering into Cattleyas.

So the past winter really screwed with my head, I lost so many orchids I'm debating just giving it up, or becoming more specific (catts) so I can better manage my growing technique.

I've had other hobbies, and regretted changing them (usually selling off one hobby to fund another). I collected old fishing tackle, vintage skateboards, and I've held onto a few pieces of each, but regret giving some up. Especially when markets change and I see my investment could have been better managed financially.

Orchids on the other hand, has been very costly. Having plants die is way worse then selling something for less than you paid, or at a lower value than the market went to. I bought fishing lures for $10, and sold them for $50, then watch the same lure sell two years later for $200. But, now that same lure would go for $10.

Same thing with skateboards, but growing stuff has been very costly to me. Half of my rare palms died last winter, and the loss of chids as made me wonder if its really worth it.

I'm not looking to make money on them (palms/orchids) but the losses are really frustrating, hence me thinking on going to a niche species like catts.

I know, I'm rambling, but it took me 2 1/2 hours to get all the orchids back out today. UUUGHHH!!!