winnowing your collection
 

As my collection grows- it has passed 150 named plants + NOID's I realize there are plants whose flowers I really am not enamored of. Others don't seem to thrive, probably my inadequate nurture. What do you do with these plants. I hate to throw them away but don't wish to palm them off on some unsuspecting newbie.
How do YOU go about winnowing out your collection so that it is of a size you can care for. Have any of you run into this situation? What would you do with these plants.
:scratchhead:
Beverly A.

I've started selling them on eBay. In some cases, I made more than I actually originally paid for the plant. I've also been doing that with divisions of plants that I plan on keeping, and have likewise made a few bucks. Nice way to make a collection start paying for itself. :biggrin: Failing that, you could try contacting your local orchid society/club, if there is one in your area. I'd be willing to bet there would be some members who would be happy to take those discards off your hands. And again, you might be able to make a few bucks.

Stephen

Another idea Bev.... Is that you could use them as a fund raiser for the club. If you have a list of what you would like to get rid of I may not promissing but may be willing to take one, two, or more off your hands. I am not talking for free I would pay shipping and something for the plants if something stikes my fancy.

you could donate a few to a raffle fundraiser. they used to have one every meeting at my cub, but they havent recently

At our local clubs, they have the monthly raffle, and the yearly auction. I didn't have anything to donate at the Davie OS auction, so I brought in 5 stick mounts I made out of cypress and lychee. I figured maybe $5, but the lot brought in $15 for the club.

At the Miramar OS auction I brought a small Enc Tampensis mounted on a cypress stick mount, and it sold for $26.

If you are not a member of the Houston Orchid Society, you should be....:biggrin:

Beverly, I just went through the exact same thing. I didn't want to throw out any that I paid "good money for" so I went through them with a critical eye and pulled any that either weren't thriving or that I just decided I didn't really like. I put them in a tray and took them to our annual OS swap and sale.

One thing that I did that helped me find new homes for them was preparing a care sheet including a photo (if not the actual bloom, a representative photo from google). I then told the prospective adopters the challenges that I had with the orchid or that I just didn't like the bloom or whatever.

I re-homed at least 15 or 20 chids and only took home 5! :) It was hard to give them up but I have to feel better that I gave them to someone who will give them more attention than I did.

I probably have about 10 more that need to go but I haven't seen them bloom yet so I'm going to wait and see.

winnowing your collection
 

Thanks for the excellent ideas and comments.

BTW got ants I AM a member of the Houston Orchid Society. That is partially what has gotten me into so much trouble. :evil:
Beverly A.

Do you know Millie Perner?

I've thinned the herd in a variety of ways. I have given several NOIDs to friends (gotta share the addiction you know). I have donated some to my local OS for the sale table at our orchid show. I have sold some here in the classifieds. I have also sold some at my local OS meetings. I still have too many, but I'm getting to a point where I'm having a tough time deciding what should go.