Hello, my name is Paul & I'm an Orchid-holic.

[Paul Mc]

Well, my collection has sprung from a few to 38 in two years. Now, I'm finding that I want to reach 40. Will the addiction ever stop? Will I ever be satisfied that I have enough?! LOL...

[Jennyfleur]

Tee Hee, I know that feeling! I went from one to nearly 30 in about 18months! Since I grow indoors, I'm running out of room so I've been trying to limit myself in recent times.... mind you.... I did get a Burnham voucher for my birthday yesterday so that'll creep me closer to the 40 once I decide what to get!!

.... but I kinda think 50 is a lot nicer number than 40!

[Daethen]

In a word, NO. The addiction has no cure and will continue to grow. I have to say that you both show great restraint. I have gone from one to over 100 in 14 months. I do grow inside. You will find there is always room for one more. Welcome to the forum!!

[Gin]

No !!!!!lol when you think you have all the ones you want your taste in plants changes ... Gin

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Daethen

In a word, NO. The addiction has no cure and will continue to grow. I have to say that you both show great restraint. I have gone from one to over 100 in 14 months. I do grow inside. You will find there is always room for one more. Welcome to the forum!!

I'm like Paul and Jennyfleur, my collection grows somewhat slowly. 3 years of growing and I'm only up to about 40 (should be at 60 if I hadn't lost a a large chunk of my collection last year. I've replaced a lot since then) My student budget was largely responsible for that. But now that I'm working and have a nice paycheck for a first job, it's a whole different ballgame. I used to order 1 orchid at a time, now I'm buying 4, 5 or even 6 in one go. Ordered some more yesterday, will get more next month when we buy the project plant, and there's a show earby in early June.....

[RobS]

No Just start buying small orchids that's what I do to avoid overcrowding in the windowsill.

Good luck.

[quiltergal]

I'm at 80 right now, and I find that with working full time, and other things that need to get done in one's life that it's not a manageable number for me. The last orchid I bought was in August. It was a $5 Restrepia striata division from a society friend. Our show is coming up in April and I almost dread it because I know there will be lovelies there that I won't be able to resist. I'm going to try really hard to be good and only buy species Phals or slippers that I really like. I'm well past the Oooh pretty, must buy stage.

As Gin mentions your tastes change after you've been growing for a while. I've sold or given away many orchids that no longer appeal to me for whatever reason. If I could get the number down to 60 or 70 I'd be happy. Many are miniatures which also helps with the space limitations.

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I'm like Paul and Jennyfleur, my collection grows somewhat slowly. 3 years of growing and I'm only up to about 40 (should be at 60 if I hadn't lost a a large chunk of my collection last year. I've replaced a lot since then) My student budget was largely responsible for that. But now that I'm working and have a nice paycheck for a first job, it's a whole different ballgame. I used to order 1 orchid at a time, now I'm buying 4, 5 or even 6 in one go. Ordered some more yesterday, will get more next month when we buy the project plant, and there's a show earby in early June.....

Camille, You've got me beat. I went from two to 80 in two short years, and I just got 3 more masdies today/

[jeffg]

Ummm, I'm sort of embarrassed to admit this, but I went from around 5 "hanging out with the other house plants" Phals just 2 short years ago to the last entry in the log book being 283.

My actual collection is currently around 210 - thinned out by death and giving some of the bigger plants to my mentor (she has a greenhouse). Thing is, you can have 4 or 5 plants in the place of 1 big one! Like others, my tastes have also changed - some because I learned I cant grow them, and some by developing preferences... like paphs and phrags.

The "addiction" seems endless, and my fascination continues to grow. I feel as though I am as addicted to learning and figuring culture as to the plants themselves. Being in a community - here and my local OS helps it to feel "normal" In the end - there's always room for one more!

[Daethen]

Jeff, I am so glad you came along here. I was starting to feel like the overacheiver. Now I can just be one of the addicted crowd.

Paul, are you sorry you joined yet? Now you get to see what your future looks like.