The Virtues of Orchid Growers

[My Green Pets]

I was just staring at the spike growing out of one of my orchids today, talking to it, telling it how pretty it was and how nice its spike was coming along and what a pretty girl she was! ...um anyway yeah

So I was thinking 'Golly, it's going to take a looooong time for that spike to grow, and form buds, and bloom...'

And it hit me!

One must be patient to be a successful orchid grower!

Patience is the key!

Would you describe yourself as patient? What other virtues do you think come from growing these wonderful plants?

[Jayfar]

I've always been a very impatient person, but growing orchids (which I've only been doing for 3-1/2 years) has made me much more patient than I used to be. When I started I would only buy plants in bloom (locally) and in-spike (via the Internet). Now I'm just as likely to buy a near mature size plant.

[tucker85]

I'm mostly a cattleya grower. Cattleyas take a huge amount of patience because I take care of them for 12 months just to have flowers for 3-4 weeks. I think I need my head examined.

[cbuchman]

I think we all need to have our heads examined! I think I've learned patience from my orchids or should I say that I am learning patience....

[Bud]

A checklist to measure each day how we live up to our virtues:
1.Temperance: Eat not to Dullness. Drink not to Elevation.
2.Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling Conversation.
3.Order: Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.
4.Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5.Frugality: Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself= example: Waste nothing.
6.Industry: Lose no Time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.
7.Sincerity: Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak: speak accordingly.
8.Justice: Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.
9.Moderation: Avoid Extremes. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10.Cleanliness: Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Clothes or Habitation.
11.Tranquility: Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.
12.Chastity: Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dullness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another's Peace or Reputation.

*Patience is self-discipline that controls our primal instincts and motor responses as some other animals possess to survive. The Lion patiently hides in the bush for the prey, the birds as they nest patiently for days and the dog who patiently awaits its master by the door.
One cannot be impatient without being patient first….but then comes the threshold of pain.

[AnonYMouse]

I am not a patient person. Orchid growing has not taught it to me. If anything, its made me crazier!

[flexdc]

I am very impatient except for growing plants. I will buy orchid seedlings and nurse them for years on end until they flower, or I will pick up discarded plants and take care of them for years until they flower.
However, I have no patience in waiting for people or out comes and let's not even talk about driving. I think it all comes down to what our hears desire.
Andrew