Record Holder?

[Orchidbyte]

I Live in Los Angeles area and have about 250 orchids in our 8'x6' greenhouse, another 150 or so growing outside in a shade house, another 35 mounted on trees in front yard.
Also about 30 trash Phals. Indoors, and a vivarium with about 40 minis in the house.

As for the rest of my yard there is well over 1000 miscellaneous plants, cactus, bromeliads, ferns, plumerias, tillandsias and many others.

My wife and me a dedicated plant freaks, I have been growing plants since I was 9 and got into orchids when I was about 19. Met a guy in collage who had a nursery and would go collecting in Mexico, found orchids at his nursery and was addictid from the start. I went on one collection trip to Mexico with him, lasted a month and we bought back over 5000 orchids and over 5000 miscellaneous other plants.

That was my start and I am a very happy orchid and plant grower.

I must be a pro because I know I have killed more plants then I have now.

[lornaheath]

OMG!

My 25 plants are plenty enough for me and I do feel that they are enough. I can't even begin to imagine the caring that has to go into as many as you have.

I absolutely salute you for taking care of so many. Can we have a pic or two of your greenhouse or your shade house. (Never heard the term shade house before). I want to see those you have tree mounted too. Absolutely fascinating.

What is the term for a collection of Orchids? I think it must be like having an Orchard of Orchids.

Lorna
x x x

[IcePenguin]

I have somewhere over 300 orchids. Stopped counting long ago. About one third of those are mounted. I'm very particular now on what new ones I pick up

[Orchidbyte]

Originally Posted by lornaheath

OMG!

My 25 plants are plenty enough for me and I do feel that they are enough. I can't even begin to imagine the caring that has to go into as many as you have.

I absolutely salute you for taking care of so many. Can we have a pic or two of your greenhouse or your shade house. (Never heard the term shade house before). I want to see those you have tree mounted too. Absolutely fascinating.

What is the term for a collection of Orchids? I think it must be like having an Orchard of Orchids.

Lorna
x x x

HI, here are a few pictures of yard

1st pic. entrance into backyard
2nd pic. view of shade house
3rd pic. view of inside greenhouse
4th pic. Vivarium
5th pic. tree in its dormancy state with orchids attached and there are many more now. they get full sun from Nov. till June shade rest of year.
6th pic. orchids roots attached to tree

[butterfly_muse]

I am so jealous you get to keep them outside!! That's AWESOME! Mine would die if I left them outside.

[lornaheath]

Oh that is sooooo Amazing. I am totally in awe of your back, plants, trees and everything. You look like you have a shaggy rug hanging there with all those roots. They are absolutely Brilliant. Awesome as you say in the US.

I thank you so much for those fantastic pictures.

You ought to be Very, Very Proud of yourself. What an achievement.

Fabulous.

Lorna
x x x

[Discus]

Originally Posted by lornaheath

What is the term for a collection of Orchids?

I like "menagerie" although that's usually for animals; I know no equivalent for plants. Perhaps the collective noun should be an Obsession of Orchids?

[lornaheath]

Oh I likes that Hun.

[NYCorchidman]

I cut down my collection right before moving last year, but now the collection bounced back to around 200 again. and that is a lot for windowsill grower. lol

As much as I love them all, I honestly need to cut down some mainly because of the time consuming & energy draining watering rountine.

If I had a yard in the tropics or a large greenhouse where I could easily water everything without having to pick up every single plant, carry them to sink/tub, and return, I would love to have thousands! sigh~

I just took 4 hours watering alone yesterday and my lower back hurts now. hahahaha

[hcastil3]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I cut down my collection right before moving last year, but now the collection bounced back to around 200 again. and that is a lot for windowsill grower. lol

As much as I love them all, I honestly need to cut down some mainly because of the time consuming & energy draining watering rountine.

If I had a yard in the tropics or a large greenhouse where I could easily water everything without having to pick up every single plant, carry them to sink/tub, and return, I would love to have thousands! sigh~

I just took 4 hours watering alone yesterday and my lower back hurts now. hahahaha

I take a big bucket and carry it around to the orchids so I don't have to go back and forth... hahaha I know how you feel though

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:27 PM ----------

I only have about 80 orchids, I have 100 + plants that are non orchids, like cactus, house plants you know stuff ha..

Killed 100 orchids I must say........but some of them were just out of aflask that I experimented with until I got it to work.. so I'm glad I'm not alone