Erm... How do you control your spending?

[Leafmite]

I sympathize with you. Orchids are quite addicting and belonging to forums and orchid societies as well as having access to online orchid vendors hasn't made it any easier for me to control my spending. Over the past few years, I have gotten rid of most of my older, large orchids and basically am starting over with smaller orchids, many of them seedlings that will take two to five years to bloom. I think I am done, though. I am getting one more orchid through a group order and I think I have all that I can reasonably enjoy, properly tend and actually fit into the home this autumn when winter comes. Now, if only I could control my spending on OTHER plants, all would be well.

[Salixx]

I would like to eventually specialize... but I'm not sure what to specialize at yet... which is part of the problem! I want to try everything to see what captures my heart. I am, overall, more drawn to minis and compact plants that have a (good) fragrance, but also want a few large plants . I have a few groups that I really like, but mostly there are orchids that I know I don't want.

For some reason, Phals and Vandas (minus agraecoids and Rens) as a whole do not interest me in the least. Same goes with the big, frilly cattleyas.

On the other side, there are few bulbos and pleurolthallids that I don't like. Maybe I like the weirdo plants? =D

Fortunately, the only other plants that interest me currently are of the carnivorous and aquatic kinds and they are heavily outweighed by the orchids.

I guess I should be happy I'm not as in to aquariums as I used to be. Talk about expensive hobby and a lot of work!

[Leafmite]

For me, I am very glad not to be into ponding.

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by Salixx

I would like to eventually specialize... but I'm not sure what to specialize at yet... which is part of the problem! I want to try everything to see what captures my heart. I am, overall, more drawn to minis and compact plants that have a (good) fragrance, but also want a few large plants . I have a few groups that I really like, but mostly there are orchids that I know I don't want.

For some reason, Phals and Vandas (minus agraecoids and Rens) as a whole do not interest me in the least. Same goes with the big, frilly cattleyas.

On the other side, there are few bulbos and pleurolthallids that I don't like. Maybe I like the weirdo plants? =D

Fortunately, the only other plants that interest me currently are of the carnivorous and aquatic kinds and they are heavily outweighed by the orchids.

I guess I should be happy I'm not as in to aquariums as I used to be. Talk about expensive hobby and a lot of work!

You're still new to the hobby, give it a bit longer and you'll figure out which direction you'd like to head. You might also try the one in, one out method--ie if you bring a new plant in, one has to go out; it takes discipline, but anything you have which refuses to rebloom or grow well is a candidate.
When I first started out about 25 years ago, I too wanted one of everything; though I mostly stuck to paphs and phrags; moving into a greenhouse brought me around to cymbidiums and Australian dendrobiums--it was cost prohibitive to heat a greenhouse in the Midwest over the winter to grow most paphs and phrags--so they got traded off/sold so I could buy one of every cymbidium...LOL
When I left the Midwest, I sold off the bulk of my collection, keeping only my Cym. goeringii and a few odds and ends; 5 years later I still have the majority of those few plants and a growing collection of Sophronitis and it's hybrids. The point to my rambling: our focus changes for a variety of reasons over time; sometimes though, it's more satisfying to grow one thing really well vs. growing a smattering of things..
Just my 2¢,
Adam

[zelda]

I used to not like cattleyas because of how big and frilly they are but now I can't stop acquiring big frilly cattleyas. Funny how our tastes change. I still love my slipper orchids.

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by zelda

I used to not like cattleyas because of how big and frilly they are but now I can't stop acquiring big frilly cattleyas. Funny how our tastes change. I still love my slipper orchids.

Lol, when I first glanced at this I thought it said I still love my stripper orchids...which might be apropos where frilly cattleyas are concerned...


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[gngrhill]

I am just trying to get a whole bunch of different kinds until I find out what does really well for me and what I just can't grow in my conditions. For instance : So far I have found I can grow nobile type Dens, but the Phal type not so much and the little species types, not at all.

[Leafmite]

I do not plan to specialize but now that I have tried all the orchids that I really wanted to try, I think I will just see what thrives for me in this bunch and if I am left with just one type of orchids in the end, so be it.

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by gngrhill

I am just trying to get a whole bunch of different kinds until I find out what does really well for me and what I just can't grow in my conditions. For instance : So far I have found I can grow nobile type Dens, but the Phal type not so much and the little species types, not at all.

If you are able to grow the Nobile type, you should most definitely be able to grow D. moniliforme, D. anosmum, D. lamyaiae, D. unicum & D. hainanense; these species are all very culturally similar to the nobile hybrids--a couple of them grow a bit warmer (anosmum, lamyaiae, unicum), the others are much more temp tolerant.

[WalkingHorse]

It could be worse. You could be into horses or the double whammy of horses and orchids then you would really be in trouble. I wouldn't know anything about that! Consider yourself fortunate as it could be worse.

Seriously though I think specializing/finding your niche in the orchid world helps control the urge a lot.

PS Hi everyone! Long time lurker. Have enjoyed this board so much!

PSS So embarrassed. Posted this first in the wrong place. Had two windows open. One was this post and the other researching yellowing leaves on Vandas. Don't see how to delete the other post. Ugh.