How do you keep/have all those Orchids!? - Page 4 - Orchid Board

catherinecarney · #31 04-03-2014, 11:11 PM

I just went and made a count--I'm at 75 orchids, not counting the two compots and a flask of seedlings....WHERE did they all come from and HOW did they all get home???? Sigh....I do know that half a dozen or so will be leaving with my mom later this spring (I've infected her with the orchid bug so I'll have a home for my extras).

Most are seedlings/compact plants/minis, so they don't take up huge amounts of room--but they've filled the south facing windows in the living room and office and I've built three lighted shelves for them in the LR too....My goal is a 10 x 12 greenhouse off my bedroom that will double as a fish room and passive solar heater, but that's a few years off.

It only takes me about five minutes to mist them all daily (the half gallon pump and spray bottles you can buy at nurseries and farm supply stores make this possible), and even soaking the ones that need it weekly doesn't add that much time--which is a good thing since I have a job and a small farm....

Summer is pretty easy since they all move outside to a covered south facing porch that receives dappled shade throughout the day.....

Catherine

Joseia · #32 04-03-2014, 11:11 PM

I don't see how you folks with so many orchids manage to take care of them all. I was up to 20 and found the amount of time required to be overwhelming, having hundreds would be way more than I could handle. I am now down to 14 orchids and that seems like a good number for me. I live in a small condo with limited space, so it is easy to talk myself out of buying every orchid that I just must have.

I am new to all of this - got the first orchid as a gift in September 2012. For the first few months, I went on a buying spree and bought a lot of plants without knowing anything about them - I went nuts with the Lowe's bag babies. But with some more experience, I have come to realize that my favorite orchids are Neo hybrids, anything with Brassavola in it, and Latouria-type dendrobiums, so any future purchases will probably come from those groups. OB is the worst place for me lol - soooo many temptations!

Leafmite · #33 04-04-2014, 02:00 AM

The collections certainly do grow quickly, don't they? I will have about sixty-seven when I get my last order. I plan to get rid of a few but...

catherinecarney · #34 04-04-2014, 09:42 AM

My collection is probably growing faster than it should, but it's still manageable and the plants seem to be thriving.

Josiea--one thing we all find is that our collections will grow to the size we can manage for our situations. There are shortcuts we can take (such as the half-gallon pump sprayer that I use for misting) and it helps to set priorities (I'd rather work with the orchids and aquariums than watch that extra half hour of TV each day, but that's what works for me). Do what works best for you! The important thing is that you enjoy the hobby.

Catherine

Daethen · #35 04-04-2014, 01:26 PM

I actually found that more was better than less (to a point). If I have quite a few then I don't kill them with kindness.

Sharry · #36 04-04-2014, 01:45 PM

"I'm already starting to see how time could be an issue because I always want to stare at them or mess with them" (I think it was Lotis who said this)

Yes sometime I get the feeling that orchids are an alien life form that a colonizing us. We sense that things are out of control, but we ... just... can't... stop.

That being said I only have about thirty: Most at home that I try to contain to two windows and three plants at work. Since I do like to take time to ponder them and have limited time I try purchase selectively. If I can't stop thinking about it, then I get it.

Joseia · #37 04-04-2014, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catherinecarney

My collection is probably growing faster than it should, but it's still manageable and the plants seem to be thriving.

Josiea--one thing we all find is that our collections will grow to the size we can manage for our situations. There are shortcuts we can take (such as the half-gallon pump sprayer that I use for misting) and it helps to set priorities (I'd rather work with the orchids and aquariums than watch that extra half hour of TV each day, but that's what works for me). Do what works best for you! The important thing is that you enjoy the hobby.

Catherine

Yes, that makes sense. In addition to that, over the course of the past year and half I have discovered which orchids appeal to me, and I have slowly gotten rid of the ones I bought early on and replaced them with plants I really want. I've also gotten rid of the orchids that were just not doing well, and am keeping the ones that are thriving in my environment. Having a bunch of happy plants doing well is so much easier than having to nurse the ones that are not.

james mickelso · #38 04-04-2014, 03:19 PM

This is how. Quick, easy, and cheap. This was the early version. Now there are around 150 crowded into this 10x10. Just visqueen sides and a plastic top.

catherinecarney · #39 04-04-2014, 03:26 PM

Joseia--

You're following a normal progression for anyone who gets into a specialized hobby. I've been through this same cycle with killifish and goodeids (both extremely specialized areas of the aquarium hobby). The first phase always seems to be "OMG, I finally found the rare whatsit (insert plant/fish/whatever here), I HAVE to buy it since I won't see it again," and we buy everything in sight regardless of whether we can provide reasonable conditions or not. Phase two involves finding out what will grow in our conditions (along the way we tend to kill some plants/fish). Stage three is whittling down our collection to what we really want to work with and can grow and breed....

I'm into stage three with the aquarium fish and can safely go to club auctions and rare fish sales and buy selectively. Orchids, not so much--probably a late stage two, though at least I'm not killing many any more. However, as I proved at the past two orchid shows, it's not safe to let me loose near the vendors with checkbook and credit cards in hand....

Catherine

lotis146 · #40 04-04-2014, 11:03 PM

Yes I do think I said that...Lol. I often work on my computer (laptop) next to my group. Strangely enough I find great satisfaction (thus far, I expect will change as time goes on) in tending to the weak/overwatered ones. I am loving watching them progress, so cool. Even one of 2 rescues I got from Lowe's and thought was definitely gonna die but now looks like it'll survive even with a long road to recovery.

Wils. 'Peach Cobbler' arrived today with a surprise young Phal. Brother Lawrence x Yellow Brite lites and I'm thinking about what I need to do to arrange a proper space for everybody now.

It's wild how many different hybrids and species are out there! So hard to decide which ones to say yes to. I haven't yet visited an Orchid greenhouse but browsing online (with pictures) is crazy!

Venturing into new species I've found to be really exciting. It started with one Paphiopedilum and now I've got an Oncidium (Wilsonara), tomorrow a Zygopetalum & next week Tolumnia. This Wilsonara is a totally different beast wow! And from what I've come to understand it's a great plant (specimen). I'm just starting to learn what it is to figure out what's best for you. I feel like I've just been given a homework assignment now having new species!

What made your favorite plant your favorite? Growing conditions? Size? Flower shape?

Thanks for this conversation everybody!