Why my collection will never be large

[camille1585]

I think we have the same tastes when it comes to Catts! That red one is drop dead gorgeous

[Discus]

I bought that one just before it started blooming; the picture the seller had looked nothing like it; very broad petals with a lot of yellow - I prefer what I got to what was on the example pic though!

If you like it, there are more pics scattered about my blog; use this tag to find them: Orchids on a Balcony: Kagaribi Dawn

[The Mutant]

Oh dear, you don't know me guys.

Let me just tell you that I'm a very stubborn person with very clear ideas of what I like and dislike. I can change, I'm not denying that (it would be horrible if I couldn't) but some things never change when it comes to me. I've not liked stripes on Phals since I started to like them (I didn't like any Phals until my friend started to get some for herself, so as you can see, I'm not completely hopeless). I've never liked green on any flowers ever - I doubt that will change.

It's like this with everything I like and get into, and my friend is my complete opposite - I like a limited range of things within a certain field of interest, while she likes much more within the same field. I've realized that I don't have the necessary "collector's gene" to be able to get large collections of anything really. I have more of an "anti-collector's gene", meaning I never buy anything that doesn't strike my fancy "just because" and anything I don't find useful/desirable I throw/give away. Like some people I've known that buy their favourite group's album more than once only because it was released with a different cover this time. I would never do that just as I never buy all the albums of my favourite groups only because I like the group, I buy them if I like that particular album and not else.

Maybe one could say that my field of interest/focus is narrow but very intense and that it takes a smaller miracle for my field to widen.

If I haven't started to be interested in any more genera than the three I mentioned before within a year, I would say I'm pretty much set. Let's see what happens, shall we?

---------- Post added at 05:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:20 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Discus

I bought that one just before it started blooming; the picture the seller had looked nothing like it; very broad petals with a lot of yellow - I prefer what I got to what was on the example pic though!

If you like it, there are more pics scattered about my blog; use this tag to find them: Orchids on a Balcony: Kagaribi Dawn

I like the colours on this one, but I would never buy it since I don't like the lip on Catts.

[Discus]

Heh. I can just imagine your "stubborn-ness" being like a red flag to the bull mentality of certain orchidiots.
With the tens of thousands of species, and hundreds of thousands of hybrids, I imagine there will be something outside the classic flat simplicity of the phal that will pique your aesthetic interest. That said, there's nothing wrong with focussing on one thing!

I guess I'm more at the Pokemon end of collecting things (Gotta Catch 'em All!).

[The Mutant]

*sniggers*
Oh, trust me, I know that bull mentality when it comes to the things I'm interested in.


Yup, there's already Paphiopedilum and Cymbidium (again with very specific restrictions on like and dislike though) that I KNOW will join my collection one day. Some of them are just to gorgeous/appealing to sit out on.

Well, I've always been picky with everything I care about; food, plants, books, types of breeds when it comes to cats and dogs, you name it! This combined with my anti-collection gene is what make me doubt my orchid collection will ever reach those impressive numbers some of you guys have.

To use Pokémon terms; I'll only catch some!

[Discus]

Oh, if you've added paphs and cyms to your want list, I reckon you could get into the 40-60 plant range easily enough

[denite25]

lol....im the same way. ive always said im going to only have phals and nothing else....but guess what i went out and fell in love with a den anosmum....to think....a den. so now im thinking my group will start growing...yaay

[lund0682]

Yes, there are counless orchids to chose from - and yes, it's wise to 'never say never' - but I have to side with the original post. With so many to chose from, it's ESSENTIAL to have some criteria to begin your obsessive new hobby. I certainly have traits that I prefer in my orchids. How else could I decide what I want to buy next?

I admit that my tastes MAY POSSIBLY change over time, but for now I cling to my preference for phals, paphs, the occasional Dendrobium, and a few other misc. guys. (not counting what's on order from Oak Hill and hasn't been delivered yet).

I just wanted to chime in to encourage the original poster.

[Andrew]

The Mutant,
That sounds good in principle until you realise that one plant does not make a species. Phal equestris will make a large collection in itself even without the albas.

[Connie Star]

Orchidiot- I like that!
I keep telling myself I need to stick with just a few genera- Masdies, Phals, paphs, the occasional Den- but then I keep finding beautiful Oncs, phrags, pleuros, dendrochilums, psychopsis catts..... Oh dear- Am i hopeless?