So how many have you killed is up.. but how much have you spent?
 

So, the thread about how many orchids one has killed is up... but what i want to know is, how much have you spent on them...

-Make me feel better and tell me i'm not alone in this..

-I've spent over 1500 US dollars in orchids and supplies in 7 Months...........

-Please tell me there is someone whose done this as well..

I feel horrible now !!!! lol

p.s. this is between orchids, misting systems, lights, vivarium. and so on.

hahaha GOOD ONE, love this thread:-) The only problem is, let's hope our BETTER HALVES will never get to this thread and read it, I would be in biiiiiigggg trouble:rofl::rofl::rofl: You say $1500 in 7 months, impressive. I was doing real good till this June (didn't buy nearly anything except one piece here and there since last July), but than my usual SUMMER ORCHID FEVER came in June. Ok, in between all new plants, supplies like pots, mixes, mountings, wires, sun screen shades etc, I would say between $1300-$1600, I can't really say exact, I did so many trips to Home Depot, to my orchid needs supplier and bough so so many plants online and from sellers direct. I do incline more towards $1600 but do not want to admit it:-))))) We are talking 2 months, and you though you should feel horrible!

I'm not alone!!!!!!!! lol i know i better not let her find my notebook with prices... by the way, mine was not including pots, are media.. i forgot... so lets say around 1600 to 1700 with that.


thanks for reminding me.... I guess i'm worst than Ithough.. i will not buy another orchid for a good year or so...


maybe 2 lol..... i hope........

see the reason i bought so many is because winter is coming.. and i don't want to ship them when its cold.. so "I'm stocking up ":)

I'm probably at about twice the amount both you guys mentioned this year, easily.

I am not even surprised King, however, you are PRO, once I get to your level of knowledge and care, and most important, once I will own the house with garden, and not only small Miami apartment with balcony, I will be pretty BAD, i just know it:-)))))) Thanks God for balcony, I am limited, otherwise I am lost:-)))) Anyway, agree here, I did buy truly EVERYTHING that was on my list for this year, except last one, Habenaria Medusae, I am waiting for local Florida seller to ship me one within week or so. And THAT'S ALL FOLKS for this year! no other plant till next year:-)))) (God Do I Wish This Was Really True:-))

I wouldn't say pro...but I do tend to have interests in orchids that aren't always available here.

If I just stuck to orchids I can easily find in the US, my spending would be at about the same as you guys' amount. Maybe a little less.

Thanks guys, at least now I feel better, just keep an eye for me, I'm sure my wife will kill me and throw and bury my body in the mountains.....


anyhow i can't wait to learn as much as you King. anyhow. like i said.. no more for me.. and like i said.. I hope....


I'm being so honest but then, somehow i find myself with more plants

---------- Post added at 10:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 PM ----------

what is your collection like King? whats the most you paid for an orchid.. just one haha

You guys got bit by the leafless orchid bug, 'cause you guys are doing pretty decent with them.

Well...

I got bit by the Subfamily Orchidoideae bug because I found that I was able to grow some fairly easily.

Subfamily Orchidoideae, imo, has some pretty cool species associated with it. An example of a plant from this subfamily is Habenaria medusae. See what I mean? ;)

great...... now i want that one.... no, I will not cave in .. lol


How did first get into this ? was it slow or fast once you got the bug?

Medusae is so awesome, I can't wait to get one, I love to take macro pics and I want so so so bad to take pics of that one! I must check your Orchidoideae group right now. Ok, so what is your most expensive orchid. I have to say I did not spend ever over $100 for any of my plants, I think max was $90.

For one particular individual, I try not to go over $100.

I spent this amount on Phrag kovachii from Ecuagenera. It didn't work out so well.

Maybe I'll stick to buying a Phrag kovachii from Piping Rock Orchids instead. Same price, same size. Better quality.

I bought from Ecuagenera because Piping Rock sold out of the size I was looking for at the time, which would've cost me $100.

Ironically, not too long after I purchased the plant from Ecuagenera, Piping Rock had that size available again. :/

mine was 100.00 haha...



and a couple of 75 and 90

Read about Habenaria first, as I did, it is grown totally different than other orchids you have! Trust me, you are going to go to TULIP like growing:-) Very interesting, I hope I will manage to re bloom it next year:-) They run around $50, and you can see pics posted here in the threads like 2 days ago by Bob

Seattle orchid has a Phrag. kovachii but its expensive, blooming size though. Piping rock is cheaper then? i was hoping to get one but didn't want to pay 300+ for it.

Ok so we are at least still on the same page, cause when you mentioned in other thread (Bulgary orchids and custom troubles) that people pay $500 to thousands for orchids, I mean I know, I saw some plants worth $3000 and up, but God would I ever buy anything like that, no way:-))))))))))

interesting.. yeah, right now I finally managed to get leafless to grow, but i guess this is a whole other thing.

so I guess i better wait.

Yeah, same with you guys.

Sometimes it's hard to stick to a certain price range because of the orchid's availability.

If I can get the same species for less, I would, even if the individual was a seedling sized plant.

It's fun to see orchids grow big and finally bloom! :)

you say this now, but the day will come.. I'm sure hahahahaha, maybe not but you will be tempted....

Ok, I see what you mean with Orchidoideae, these are though very similar to orchids we actually have in Czech Republic in wild, it might be surprise to many, including me before I ever read about Czech orchids (I was living in an idea that our ONLY wild orchid is Lady Slipper:-)), but we have close to 80 wild growing orchids, and most of them look like this group!

---------- Post added at 12:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 AM ----------

Phrag kovachii very nice, it also looks like huge plant!

Orchidoideae, hmm I will have to start to read on these... I love reading scientific papers and botanical journals. Thats how i spend my friday nights..

Well, once I hit our Florida Lotto, or Power Ball, than we will talk! Once that day comes, each of you can choose $1000 orchid, MY TREAT:-)))))))))))))))))))))))

---------- Post added at 12:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 AM ----------

Or I can get you each Gold of Kinabalu Orchid:-))))))

$500 - $1,000 was how much Phrag kovachii was going for when they first came out on the market.

Sometimes they still cost this much.

So far that I've seen, many native Mediterranean orchids don't cost $500. They usually cost no more than $50 USD.

I just imported a few from Germany.

Bee Orchids. (genus Ophrys)

I also just imported some native Australian terrestrial orchids as well.

Sun Orchids. (genus Thelymitra)

Donkey Orchids. (genus Diuris)

All from the Subfamily Orchidoideae.

lol, Deal!!! i choose the second option.

wow this thread has gone from 0 post to 3 pages rather quickly

:lol:

As long as you're treating.

:lol:

So King, do you just do this as a hobby, or what is your purpose for collecting all these?, I would love to see pictures some time

Wow, so so jealous now, LOVE bee orchid and donkey orchid, I did not even think you can get these! What about Duck Orchid - My dream:-)))))

---------- Post added at 12:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 AM ----------

Sure with all that money why not! May I ask how much you paid for bee orchid and donkey orchid? Once I will get to your level, I would love to get some:-) Both amazing:-) Do you have any European website where these are available?

I would love to get these some day, so if you ever plan on selling some, let us know... Tommy and I can share...lol

Yeah. You can get these, (e.g. Ophrys and Diuris), just not in the US.

If by Duck Orchid you mean orchids in the genus Caleana, then I'd have to sadly say, no, I cannot find a source for them. I don't know why they aren't in the hobby, but there's probably a good reason why.

But if you meant Duck Orchid, as in Pecteilis segarikii, then they're in the US already. They're very rarely available, but they're around and pop up every-now-and-then.

I think the Bee Orchids were a little under $24.00 USD.

The most some of the Donkey Orchids cost were about $38 USD. Usually they're around $30 USD.

The seller is from Germany, (www.myorchids.de).

I have had to resort to getting from Europe because Australia is closed for exportation.

It is currently a hobby. It would be nice to be a true seller. At least I'd be incorporating something I love into my life rather than doing something I hate just to get by. I don't expect much, but we'll see how things go as things progress.

I currently have a rather crappy picture of Cynorkis fastigiata on Flickr. It is in the Subfamily Orchidoideae, but this species is readily available in the US. This species has a rather "weedy disposition", but I really don't care. It does have a rather unique charm to it.

Yeah, we'll see how things go. :)

I mean DUCK ORCHID that grows only in that one park in Australia wild:-))) Anyway, thanks for website, May I ask, yet again, what are growing requirements for bee orchid and donkey orchid? I guess Miami heat won't be the winner? How was shipping, did they come safe and well packed?

---------- Post added at 01:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 AM ----------

I read somewhere that DUCK ORCHID, Caleana, can not grow anywhere else except that tiny little place in that park, there must be something about the soil, air, water, who knows:-)

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King, thanks bunch for that website, very interesting saved. I see what you meant, these are grown similar to habenaria. Well, I think I will try first habenaria, and If I have success, I might order bee and duck, both on my list, and the prices are great, I think:-) Please, keep us posted how do they do, and once they bloom, PICS please. Thanks guys for awesome thread, heading bed now, this week's project is my miniature orchid vivarium vase, I hope to receive new babies sometimes second half of this week:-)

If what you're saying is true, then Caleana will not be available in the trade at all. The reason they are able to live in that specific little patch of the park is because of a special soil fungus that create a symbiotic relationship with the orchid's roots. I'm guessing that that little patch of the park is where the fungus resides. Without the fungus, the Caleana is probably as good as dead - but I am just assuming this.

There is currently no strong evidence that supports that they can live on without that fungal symbiont as of yet.

If they can survive without the symbiotic fungi, then, there will definitely be a time when someone will start growing them in cultivation. That's kind of how Thelymitras and Diuris and many other terrestrial orchids started off getting into the hobby.

At first, people would believe that the orchids were impossible to grow for one reason or another. I remember when there were books that briefly mentioned that orchids such as Thelymitra, Diuris, Disa, or Satyrium were impossible to grow in cultivation. Even orchids such as those in the genus Dracula were mentioned at one point to be impossible to grow.

Eventually some people got bold, tried a few things, and figured it out to some degree or another; and the learning process still continues.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD NOT KNOW:-))) HERE:
If you’ve never been to the Australian wilderness, chances are you’ve never seem a Caleana major , or Flying Duck Orchid before. That’s because despite numerous attempts to grow it anywhere else, this amazing-looking flower refuses to propagate in captivity. Apparently, that’s because its roots have a symbiotic relationship with the vegetative part of a fungus which can only be found in the wild country of eastern and southern Australia. The fungus protects the flower from infections, and without its presence, it never lasts for very long. But even if you travel to Australia to see the Flying Duck Orchid in its natural habitat, you have to look really carefully to spot it. At up to 50 centimeters in height, it’s definitely not the smallest flower in the world, but its red-and-purple coloring helps it blend so well in its wild surroundings that it becomes almost invisible.

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Before I hit the pillow, I really must say King, that you are really into orchids! I mean, I love them, but that's nothing compare to your love, knowledge and determination to try new things! :bowing wow Good Night guys

I figured as much.

I started learning about mycorrhizal fungi a long time ago.

I forgot which group of orchids led me to find out more about them, but I do recall that the ones that really brought this subject matter to the forefront were the native Australian terrestrial orchids - in particular, orchids of the following genera:

- Caladenia

- Leptoceras

- Thelymitra

- Diuris

There were a few other genera of orchids that really got me to take a look at mycorrhizal relationships further, but these were the big ones - along with orchids in the genus Disa.

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

Thank you.

Good night Tom. :)

---------- Post added at 10:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

Forgot...

Bee Orchids grow in calcium type sands.

Donkey Orchids grow in acidic sandy loams comprised of decomposed granitic materials with clay minerals in that mix.

I was wondering King of orchids... since your collection of orchids must be very big. How do you go on vacation and who takes care of them in the mean time. I am soon going for about two weeks and i am already freaking out :help

Regards
Gregor

Gregor, thanks much, this is excellent question. I am leaving to California for a week in September, and than probably 3 weeks skiing December/January. That week is somehow ok, my partner hates plants, however he somehow manages to follow instructions and water them, not much but at least to survive, however 3 weeks will be extremely stressful for me, he does not see what orchid needs more water or is over. I do always COLOR MARK them with colored tags, one color means water daily one means water every 2-3 days, so far it worked. The worst is if you have no one left home to water them, I guess you must ask friends or family.

At the moment, I don't have time for a vacation.

Hopefully, I will soon.

If I were to be able to afford one and if I had the time for one I'd probably go on vacation during the winter months or during early - late spring and leave them all alone, no water, no nothing except for 5 or 6 orchids. Those I'd probably let soak in a container of water and aerate the water. They're water hogs anyways. And I'd be gone for about a week. I don't really like long vacations.

If I was gone for 2 weeks or more, then I'd hire someone.

---------- Post added at 08:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:50 AM ----------

I'll explain further...

I'd go when I know my orchids need the least amount of water and just not care. Sometimes that's what happens in the wild anyways.

If you've got water hogs, then you're in somewhat of a bind. Everything else you can leave alone.

That's why I don't buy a ton of these on purpose, if I happen to know that they are water hogs to begin with, of course.

Okay just on orchids is around 1,000....Now including my other tropicals....is closer to 2,000....That is just this year too, with new potting media with a lot of my guys needing new potting media and bigger pots... Also I just started growing orchids in February as well...

So true king, Years ago I left for 11 days trip skiing with my friends, from 11 days we ended up spending 21 days starting in Breckenridge, than Jackson Hole, ending on Lake Tahoe. At that time, I did not even teach my hubby how to care for my babies, nor he had any intentions to do so. He TOLD me he did water them few times when I called, but at the end when I cam back home, he came clean and said he did not even go to the balcony at all. I was horrified, only to find out that actually except few regular plants, NONE OF THE ORCHIDS died, but to my shock, many actually started spikes and bloomed within these 3 weeks! At that time I did not even know what is winter rest, it makes all sense now when I know that's what many needs anyway!

Goof to know i am not the only one with this problem :)
My partner likes plants, but we are going together of course :D

I'll ask my roommate to take care of them. luckily i dont have water hogs so ill just ask her to water them once a week. it should be fine. Most of them are cats anyway :)

My hubby hates cold and no skiing so I am always safe for that trip, furthermore, someone have to stay to take care of our business now, so no travel together for years:-( BUT it is good for orchids!

Yes, they get the attention every day. The orchids must love you. I hope they are generous with the blooms aswell :biggrin: