How has your collecting/growing changed?

[RandomGemini]

I've only been growing orchids for a year, but how I grow has changed a lot. I think most of it has to do with figuring out how to grow orchids for the environment that I want to grow them in.

Best thing I ever did: Get a desktop humidity and temperature monitor for my growing room. They have them at the hardware store. Makes all the difference in the world to know what your conditions are like, so you know what you are capable of growing successfully.

I only allow myself to impulse buy plants at Trader Joe's. I used to do it at the hardware store, but here's the thing... orchids at Trader Joe's are CHEAP... and they are NICE. Shopping there lets me expand my orchid 'vocabulary' so to speak, without breaking the bank to do it. 8$ for a nice looking paph hybrid, just to try out as an experiment so I can see if I can grow it? Why not!

Last thing, most important, I've learned how to grow orchids for the environment that I grow them in. I can't grow plants mounted. Well, I probably could, but *I* can't, if that makes sense. It's not how I grow. I don't want to fuss with all of my plants daily. I like having something to spend 5 minutes doing every morning, but if I have to water daily, I get annoyed. So, I got creative with some plants, tossed others that didn't make the cut for my style of growing. The trick for me, is that I don't feel bad about any of that. I was learning. I lost a 35$ plant and learned a hard lesson with it. Now, I don't buy anything if the internet gods say it needs daily watering, unless I can drop it in my terrarium or a pot filled with moss that gets set in a saucer of water that I just refill. If it needs more effort than that, it's not the plant for me.

[lotis146]

This is interesting, thank you for answering everyone. At the end of the day even as we live in different environments, grow differently, and prefer different (and much of the same) plants, species or hybrids anyone, we still seem to come back to the same notion. It's not just about learning the hobby it's about learning ourselves within this hobby.

I've HAD an orchid for 5 years or so, my second I got (along with two others) 2.5 years ago (the other two died), my third (first Paph) last spring, then this winter I blossomed into the hobby more completely. My collection has grown immensely but what has stayed the same is my desire to water often. Like RandomGemini I'm not into daily watering even if I like to hover around them almost daily.

I have quite a few different kinds of plants (genera, only one species plant btw) but I learned quickly not just to chase after beautiful flowers. I love, love Cattleya flowers but when I saw the plants of the big boys in person I wasn't impressed (no offense). Even before that I discovered that big plants aren't (at this point) for me.

In my short amount of time I've also become slightly less finicky when it comes to handling and worrying about them; I've learned how tough they actually really are (at least those I have). So my biggest change is the most obvious: more confident. But also not as focused on just the flower so much as the whole plant.

[digriz]

I've been growing them for about 7 years now. I still have that first one I got from Trader Joe's but I've stopped buying the discounted ones from Home Depot and the like, there are simply too many more interesting orchids out there. I've been acquiring several species Phals and I'll probably start slowly giving away the rescue ones I have to make space for more species.

[NYCorchidman]

I have been growing plants and orchids basically my whole like. Wow, that makes me sound old, but I'm not, not that I have anything against it.

Ok, back on track, I really got into "addiction" status in the last few years, buying and dumping a lot, and also keeping a lot as well.

Of the most commonly available genera, paphiopedilums were my least favorite due to their leaves and flower shapes. Well, now, they are the center of my collections. I just love their mottled leaves and flowers, well, certain shapes. I haven't completely gotten over yet, but for the most part, I'm fascinated.

My most recent changes are:

One, getting into seedlings as I want to test my patience and also see if I will get lucky and find something really cool.

Two, I'm starting to buy neos. only two for now, but want many many more!

Three, I'm not a species person, but I already have a few. just for fun.


Also, a bit old change, but phalaenopsis have become décor plants for me. They are so cheap and so long lasting, and so many different colors always available, I tend to just buy in bloom and then toss once flowers fade.
Please, don't take this harsh, phal lovers. I am just taking advantage of the changing market. and they tend to take up a lot of space with huge leaves. lol

[digriz]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Also, a bit old change, but phalaenopsis have become décor plants for me. They are so cheap and so long lasting, and so many different colors always available, I tend to just buy in bloom and then toss once flowers fade.l

*GASP!*

[RandomGemini]

Originally Posted by lotis146

I have quite a few different kinds of plants (genera, only one species plant btw) but I learned quickly not just to chase after beautiful flowers. I love, love Cattleya flowers but when I saw the plants of the big boys in person I wasn't impressed (no offense). Even before that I discovered that big plants aren't (at this point) for me.

You should try some of the mini cattleyas. My daughter has a Potinara Chief Sweet Orange and I just picked up Cattleya Walkeriana var. Semi-Alba, which is VERY small. Cattleyas are the least fussy plants I have purchased to date. They don't want a lot of water. They just want good light and warmth. I can pretty much water them when I feel like it and as long as I don't overwater them (which is so NOT a problem for me as an orchid grower, I'm more likely to forget to water for a couple of weeks than I am to overwater an orchid) they just grow stuff.

The larger Cattleyas are not my cup of tea either, but the minis and compacts that stay under 6" or 12" tall? I LOVE those. You still get all of the bang and flash in terms of color that you will see from larger cattleyas and there's something about the smaller size that seems to make the flowers look "right" to me.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

...... I tend to just buy in bloom and then toss once flowers fade.

Ohhhhh youuuuu monster!

[fotofashion]

I recently started buying more expensive plants of a good size hoping they would stay alive. I bought a Phal gigantea ($150) and a vanda, flowering, large ($250) and others in the $50-$100 range. So far, so good. I have also figured out that thin leaved types just don't make it under my very warm conditions. So, even though I love their looks, I cannot fulfill their needs.
Beverly A.

[stonedragonfarms]

I would say specialization has been the biggest change for me; I have always grown cool and cold growers, but a few years ago I shifted almost exclusively to cymbidiums and dendrobiums. Fast forward a few years and a move across the country, and my growing has become even more concentrated; I have a few cymbidiums, but the bulk of my bench space is taken up by Aussie natives and their hybrids. I see myself settling out with this group, though it is difficult to find some of the more stellar hybrids from this group in the US (and documentation is a huge expense in taking plants in from Australia); I guess I just need to get my tweezers out and see what I can come up with hybridizing myself.

[nofickenway]

I have only been into orchid about six months, but I have been rather aggressive and actively developing my collection. I have a dedicated room and spend time with them daily - mostly at night; since relatively recently having mounted several oncidiums, I find that they are happiest hanging from bark. Since I like to mist, they get a few shots every day.

Changes:

I no longer buy rescues...too much work for so little results. Especially phals - who dislike me anyway.

I have found that oncidiums and dendrobiums seem to love my culture ,so I have been focusing on them more...I also have a grammatophylum (a gift) that is really, really cool and grows like a weed...cannot wait to see it in bloom. I love paphs - they are far and away my favorites - but they are only lukewarm to my conditions. I have not given up yet, though!


Since dedicating a room to my hobby, I have added a T5 and two small grow lamps for suplemental light. I also have gone to a mix of small orchiata bark and sphag for my seedlings, which they have responded to happily.