When do you become "discriminating"

[Gage]

Well, like most peeps here, I only have so much space. But mainly it comes down to being very picky about what I acquire. If my little tree only has space for 7 or 8 little hanging baskets, I can't have every color of the rainbow Vanda and Ascocentrum, not even every color I absolutely love. So I have to decide what my top top picks for orchids suited to that tree's environment would be. Then I start realizing that a few orchids I used to think were cool are kind of taking up space now. Like the 10 noid white phals someone gave me. I mean, I know they'll be pretty and all once they bloom, but gosh, I only have so much space and I could probably let myself be overrun with white noid Phal rescues very easily. So, I'm only going to acquire plants that I am absolutely crazy about. Next on my list are Encylia tampensis and Ascocentrum miniatum.

[Otis226]

Originally Posted by Gage

So, I'm only going to acquire plants that I am absolutely crazy about. Next on my list are Encylia tampensis and Ascocentrum miniatum.

Those 2 are high on my W.L. as well!
Tony

[tucker85]

There has to be a good reason for me to keep an orchid. Either it's beautiful when it's in bloom, or it blooms frequently, or it has a wonderful fragrance. I also try to have several different colors blooming in each season. I don't buy seedlings any more because they can take 4 or 5 years to bloom. I don't buy orchids that are difficult to grow because I'm not really looking for a challenge. If an orchid doesn't really thrill me after a couple of seasons, I'll give it away to a friend. After eight years growing I now have a collection of plants that I really like alot. They're like old friends.

[FairyInTheFlowers]

Well, I think I became discriminating very shortly after I began growing orchids, mostly because I wanted to do breeding, and Noids are a no no. As of now, I am an ID snob, as I refuse to buy an orchid without a name. Now I grow mostly novelty phals, and that has definitely helped in my discrimination. I refuse to buy any type of standard Phal, no matter what it is, as I find them boring. For phals, I stricly grow species or hybrids that are within the subgenus Polychilos (the novelties). Ploidity is also a big issue. If I find that an orchid is either tetraploid or aneuploid, I will avoid it like the Black Plague. As for temps, other than one fish tank that will be devoted to Masdies, my main growing area is for warmth lovers only, so that cuts out a big chunk of orchids, leaving me with only catts and and a Tolumnia beside my phals. Space is not really an issue, and it won't be for a while, and there has been no issues with time yet, either. As for my taste, it started with anything I could get, a phase which was very short lived, as I started out with two from an actual vendor. I then went crazy for rupics, but I was afraid of killing them. I then got into the Brassavolas, which I got a few, and now I have ended up with the novelties, which compose of a giant chink of my collection. I am now beginning to find an interest in a few other genera, but I will mostly me a novelty grower!

[Angurek]

I'll agree with what's been said that, as a beginner, you have an "I want it all" mentality. When I was still starting out, I bought (and killed) many plants that weren't especially suited to my conditions.

I actually don't like hybrids all that much anymore. Nowadays, I'm obsessed with species orchids. However, instead of buying every species I come across, I only buy those that are warm-growing and shade-loving, as per the conditions I can provide.

[Andrew]

Space certainly does force your hand in taking more care with what you buy and the time needed to maintain a large collection does tend to push you towards specialising in orchids with similar requirements to your conditions. Beyond that, I thought more people would have commented that some plants, through no fault in culture, just aren't that good. I'm not saying awards = good and I definately don't grow for show but often you get plants that are dogs to begin with; ie no vigour, poor flowering, average/ugly flowers; the breeding might be very outdated; or for whatever other reason aren't the best you'd expect for that type of orchid.

[FairyInTheFlowers]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Space certainly does force your hand in taking more care with what you buy and the time needed to maintain a large collection does tend to push you towards specialising in orchids with similar requirements to your conditions. Beyond that, I thought more people would have commented that some plants, through no fault in culture, just aren't that good. I'm not saying awards = good and I definately don't grow for show but often you get plants that are dogs to begin with; ie no vigour, poor flowering, average/ugly flowers; the breeding might be very outdated; or for whatever other reason aren't the best you'd expect for that type of orchid.

Wow! You worded that very well, and I have to agree! That is why seed raised plants can be a sort of gamble. You might see a picture of one plant on a vendors website, but that does NOT show the possible variations! There is already a risk when buying a seed grown species, with all the genetic variations. Now imagine a primary hybrid, with only two species in it's background, you are going to get even bigger bigger, unpredictable variations, some of which you might not like. Now, go further and imagine some of the complex Catt, Onc, and Phal crosses! There is so much genetics in the background that the possibilities are endless. The reason I am saying this is because I am in this situation. I have a C. Loddiaca that I haven't seen bloom yet, and the plant is pretty big for my standards, but being that I haven't seen it bloom, I can't tell if it is worth keeping or selling at my OS.

[fotofashion]

Andrew: Thanks for your comment on orchids that may really not be worth keeping. I imagine I have a few of those but they have not bloomed yet so as to make that judgement.
Just yesterday I was offered several nice plants free but didn't accept them because I have decided to be more choosey. The one I did accept wasn't flowering but it has interesting parents. I'll look it up to see if my choice was smart or not.
But then, where do you look for plants that are worth keeping, awarded or not. Of course "worth" keeping is rather subjective isn't it? That is my condundrum right now. I'd like to upgrade what I have but am unsure where to go to achieve this. I would like to get out of the "ordinary" and into at least better if I cannot achieve "extraordinary". (Extraordinary may be too expensive for me).
Again, thanks for your very instructive and interesting comments.
Beverly A.

[silken]

Originally Posted by ezil

Silken, are you sure about that? Summer in Canada can be very short - which means more time at home. I know retired people here who either take plants with them (now there's dedication for you!), or have them in an enclosed area where lights, ventilation an misting are on timers. A lot easier to handle, and they travel a lot! If you do succeed in cutting down, please let me know how you do it: I've tried, but ended up with more plants than I ever intended and a growing wish list....

ezil, When we travel (other than in the summer) we go to places like Egypt, Africa, India etc. We can't bring the orchids with us on those trips

I do have mine in the greenhouse also with lights on timers and fans running 7/24. There is a cooling system for summer and a furnace for winter. But because I have quite a variety, they still do need different watering schedules. My milts in the summer need water every 3 days. So since we are staying at the lake at the moment (home every week for a few hours) I have brought them into the house in their little humidity greenhouse and put them in the living room to stay cooler and less extreme temps. Still every week they are totally bone dry. I was going to haul them to the lake with me but I have at least 14 (I should count) milts and 2 masdies that need the frequent water, and along with 3 cats (real ones) and everything we bring to the lake it seemed like too much hassle.

I don't want to get rid of my orchids, just put the brakes on. We have lovely weather on the prairies usually from April or May till Oct. In the winter I have no problem staying busy and with luck a decent trip once every winter.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

#1 lack of space. #2 lack of time to care for them all.

I think this pretty much sums it up for me as well. My main one is #2 lack of time to care for them all. It's made me much more discriminating in what I buy. #1 lack of space is a consideration for certain types as well. I still have space but it's not suitable for all types so I have to choose something to fit the space I have.