Your Orchid phases...
 

:hello

So I told OrchidsAreFun in another thread I made for a new plant of mine that I was going to create this thread.

In my relatively short time as an Orchid enthusiast I've watched myself go through a couple of phases already. They've been short and sweet, largely driven by my inexperience I'm sure. At first I just wanted to get my hands on new orchids and I was more than happy to pick them up at big box stores. Then I really started trolling Ebay for Orchids and that did me in. I saw some posts of coloratum Paphs here and vinis and I was certain I needed to get Paphs, Paphs and Paphs. Got some, like em, but didn't love love them like the ones I wanted I saw here and elsewhere.

I went to an Orchid grower where I thought I was going for Catts I'd seen online (only the flowers did I see) until I saw the whole plant. Shoot! They had tons of Phals and I was drawn back to them for that trip.

I had a short phase of wanting mini Catts until the mini Catts started to tell me they aren't sure they like me so much and now I've got over a dozen that I'm waiting to see bloom. Plus I wanted to get more blue minis!

Now I love Oncidiums but for some reason when I saw bunches in the greenhouse I loved them but thought gosh they're so big! Which I do have quite a few hybrids but I think I'm waiting for the perfect ones.

Right now though I'm a bit obsessed with Zygo hybrids. I think I'm drawn to getting my hands on some of the less common hybrids even as I've got a couple common ones. They don't have Paphs beat on their beautiful leaves - half why I thought I'd always be hooked on Paphs mostly - but I like their shape, their unusual color combination (dark purple/brownish/reddish and green?), and that their fragrant. But honestly the plants themselves are big and awkward, most of mine. When they're different I think they're pretty darn cool and it's awesome that a lot of them are fragrant.

So we'll see. If I had to guess my next phase I could move into it'd probably be getting target Oncidiums, those with lots of striking moderately to large-sized flowers. (Not that I'll ever stop loving the Zygos...) Oh sorry one more thing for my saga here - gosh I'm long-winded - I also think Zygos got me because my Zglm Rhein Moonlight turned out a bit of a surprise and then it grew a bunch of new growths for me, I killed one, one stalled (and is now growing) and of the other two one threw two spikes! So I was rewarded I feel by that plant as a newbie and it has me watching it even more closely than some of the others.

Deep breath...Are you still there? ;)

So what phases have you gone through in your collecting, be you new or old in Orchid collecting years?

First phase was those Dendrobiums! Just couldnt stop buying them!

Second phase was cattleyas! I saw some of those unifoliate types at a show and came home with 10

3rd was Anything strange and rare! the so-called 'botanicals' I dont even know why! I just needed to have the strangest plants i could find

4th was a combination of slippers and vandas . I am still on this phase!

Never really liked the oncidiums other than miltoniopsis and mexicoa though but maybe that will change! My collection is also almost completely species

I think species are beautiful but hybrids just take me like magic!

You know I have no Dends because I don't dig the overall plant and I don't know that I can sustain those in the upper-upper light range, like Vandas. I'd love to get one or two of the latter but I'm a chronic under-waterer it seems, add that to not so bright lighting and well I suspect I'd have sad Vandas.

Interesting phases you've gone through, and you're so young! ;) I can appreciate people and their love of the super strange ones but me I'm not so taken by them as I love the idea of having "flowers" in my home. :D

What's got you hooked in your current phase 801229001?

My phases
 

I started almost 3 years ago with Phals because every thing I read said how "easy" they were to grow. I found it not so for me anyway. I kept getting new ones and finally got a few to rebloom. Then I went to Dens, big mistake there, Can't grow the darn things. they are alive, but look horrible and never did rebloom. Then the Oncids. I have had the best luck with them and particularly like the large flowered intergeneric ones. Miltassa Miltoniopsis, Odontoglossum, etc. Started with the Paphs just last summer, so too soon to know if they will rebloom for me. So for right now, I guess I will stick to the Oncid alliance and throw in a few Paphs. for fun. :biggrin:

So lately i have been revisiting Nepenthes; the plants that started it all. even though it is not an orchid, I grew a few species and got hooked on orchids after seeing how well they do with the nepenthes. (And a book about plants in the library was what got me hooked on the nepenthes) ;)

And also the nepenthes have their little pitchers to catch insects and eat them, much like the slippers which don't eat them but use them for pollination, I started growing more and more of them!

the vandas I grow because I just love how tropical they look! My room already looks like a jungle with hot and cool and dry and humid and all sorts of orchids growing and blooming in little stations for their different needs!

I had forgotten until last year that I started with some Dendrobiums from Phipps Conservatory (Pgh). I knew nothing about them and paid very little attention to them. They did quite well and bloomed. I wasn't impressed and gave them away a few years later. That would be the first phase...the forgotten, unimpressed phase.

Before the internet was a place where one could find any information or vendors, I house sat and, as a thank you, I was given a Vanda and a Cattleya. I was not exactly interested in orchids and they just got shuffled around with the other houseplants. For a year or two they tried to grow in bark and plastic pots. (The Phipps people had told me about bark when I bought the Dendrobiums.) I began reading the Rex Stout books and that got me interested in orchids. I got the only book out about orchids that our library had and read that they needed a greenhouse and tree fern fiber (the internet still did not have information as it does today). I did see that my little Vanda and Cattleya roots were rotted and while I was browsing at a garden store, I saw the red lava rock and thought...why not?
And, that summer, the orchids began to grow.

Phase three:
Sharry Baby, noID Cattleyas, the noID dendrobium and noID Phals. (still no internet vendors)

Phase four: I discovered a love for fragrant orchids, internet vendors and seedling Cattleyas
I did not realize how large Cattleyas became at this stage. The seedlings were small and cute.

Phase five: Calcium deficiency...the loss of many Cattleya seedlings I had been growing for a few years. Joined online forums.

Phase six: Joined an orchid society and saw how large the Cattleyas became. Began to get rid of the noID orchids. Got rid of all my Phals as I no longer liked Phals. Got rid of all my Oncidiums as I could not stand the spotted leaves. Gave away the noID Cattleyas.

Phase seven: This is the phase I am currently in. Gave away many of the large Cattleyas and now have smaller orchids and a diverse collection. I even have some Phals as I discovered species phals that were fragrant. Most of my orchids are either species or primary hybrids with a few (four) exceptions. I even have purchased a few that are not fragrant just because I like them anyway. I have seventy-five orchids, now, and will probably add about three more little ones and then I must be finished or get rid of my C. purpurata as I won't be able to cram one more on those shelves.

Always been one for vandaceous, usually hybrids.

I'm currently trying to challenge myself a bit and am starting an angrecoid collection. My shade house is designed for your standard vanda, so I must be cautious about which angrecoids I choose.

Im all about phals still :-) I love em, and cant grow anything else anyway due to low light levels in my apartment.

I'm still primarily a Phal magnet. Mostly mini ones now, though, because I already overcrowded myself with big ones. Currently over half my collection is Phals. :lol:

Sometimes I'll be briefly in a mood for something else, when a convenient opportunity presents itself (usually winning a raffle). Like, the first non-Phals I wanted were Dendrobiums, but then I kinda got more interested in Cattleyas and Oncidiums. Especially Cattleyas because I'm finding them to be very forgiving of being dry.

Phase one: one Phal at a time, killed it then got another- this went on for years- loved them but never developed the knack of orchid care.

Phase two: got a Dendrobium and a Cattleya.....several years went by with success, got those to rebloom BEFORE the Phals...

Phase three: joined the local orchid club, daughter went off to college, empty nest syndrome set in and the orchid collection EXPLODED

Phase three: books, research, books, research, forums, began to hone my favorites - couldn't stop buying the scratch and dent orchids from the stores

Phase four: now collecting certain colors, species and hybrids of the genus that I can grow in my world of windowsill winters and outside porch summers. Starting to trade some with other orchid friends to gain more and tweak my collection of 80 plants. Learning not to kill/overwater and to rebloom.

Phase Five: 2015 looks to be a good year to collect a few, trade a few and maybe get a couple of new genus I haven't tried and to hopefully get the 3 Draculas I bought for way too much money to love me and bloom.....

Phase one. Decades ago got interested, especially in wild orchids, but didn't keep orchids as 'they are too difficult to keep'.

Phase two, made a friend a while back on face book, and he mentioned that he kept orchids. Chatted with him, and he explained how comparatively simple it was (he grew phals.) So, I followed his instructions, big pots with just fir bark, and the plants did well after I sorted out problems with light levels. We are very hot and bright here, summer temps at 40 C, (that's 110F more or less) are commonplace, so it turned out to be very hard to find an ideal situation.

Phase 3 mucho reading and study, and decided to try high light orchids, since high light was the 'problem'. Catts, a couple of Vandas, a couple of Den nobiles, a yellow oncidium, and a grab bag of hard dens headed for the compost heap of a garden centre. I figured that in there there must be some that did alright. To my surprise, almost all of them progressed well.

Phase 4 the disease is well advanced, and I'm building a decent greenhouse with an RO supply.......

Phase 5 ?????????

I started with the shotgun approach and picked up orchids from several groups. I found that with the exception of a noid hybrid (probably in the Sharry Baby series) Oncidiums are not my strong suit. However deciduous Dendrobiums do very well for me, as do Stanhopeas and their relatives. The jury is still out on Oxyglossums and Disas. Terrestrials in general have my interest now, and my Calanthe, Stenoglottis and Ophrys are all starting to wake up. Still waiting on the Pleione to make an appearance, and lastly for my Aussie terrestrials to arrive

I got obsessed with phals first when a friend of mine gave me a dying orchid and I got it to thrive then all of a sudden I had 8 phals I just grabbed them every time i was in that grocery store and then they started selling other types of orchids which I also grabbed. I think these were my impulse buys but I still want to keep them because I like them. Shortly after that I discovered trader's joes and then online. I don't go through every genera I noticed. I just buy whatever appeals to me but vandas and cattleyas will always be my top favorites.

Phase 1: Phal species. especially the waxy flowers
Phase 2: Vanda species just love their shapes and colors
phase 3: Cattleyas, mostly bifoliate
Phase 4: Catasetums: Their uniqueness and shape just grabs you still learning about their dormancy rest

California natives: about 10 years ago.
Across the board botanicals in terrarium: about 6-8 years ago.
Oberonia & GH: about 3 years ago.
Next phase, when the Oberonia book goes to press in about 10-15 years.

I haven't even kept track of all my phases. Just thinking about trying to remember them all gives me a headache. xD

I know that I'm still in a zygo phase and have been for a long time. I only have one, the same one you mentioned, Zglm Rhein Moonlight. It's incredibly tough and loves to bloom. I had potted it to it's satisfaction and it was doing so great for several months. Then my cat knocked it off the shelf my first day of college and it stayed on the floor all day. The leaves were bruised and broken and the pot was busted open. I repotted (overpotted) it and killed most of it's lovely roots. :dumb: Rerepotted back to old pot size and used less moss. Now it's got two new growths and three spikes. I don't think it's possible to kill this thing.

lotis, I've been looking for a zygo like you have in your avatar, a green one. :bowing Do you have that plant? May I ask where you got it? Zygos are scarce on ebay and I haven't been able to find an online nursery that has them.

Phase One.
It all started about three years ago...there was this Phal fad going around and I had received a couple of them as gifts. I asked around what to do in order to rebloom my lovely gifts, and I was told, that stress is the way to go. Happily, I dumped all of my Phals in the cold, dark garage in the Fall just to learn about mesophyll cell collapse...One of my miniature Phals did not survive this "culturing approach" becoming my first victim. After this incident, I turned to more reliable information sources and figured out how to successfully grow and rebloom Phalaenopsis.

Phase Two aka Temporal Extension.
Then came my first show...I went absolutely crazy and bought indiscriminately all across the more popular (lucky for me) genera. By the next show I would have had the research done, shopping list ready, but I succumbed to the powerful drive of possessing anything pretty I lied my eyes on...
This phase for me is an ongoing flux of thinking about orchids, reading about orchids, looking at orchid photos, overwatering my orchids, suffering "purchase withdrawal symptoms" until the temperatures are right. Every spike I see poking out sends shivers down my spine ;)... I would not consider spending $30 on a top for myself, but buying kelp fertilizer for the same amount doesn't even provoke a twitch of my eyelid. I've started devising financial strategies for spending more on orchids without my husband finding out about it :evil:...
Do you guys think I have a different strain of the disease, or I simply haven't gotten to my next stage yet?

Love this thread!

Phase one: Adolescent me is fascinated by Phals at the grocery store florist. I kill several in succession. I give up on orchids for 20 years.

Phase two: I am given a Phal. Now the internet exists and I can find good information online. Phal survives. I am hooked again for the first time.

Phase three (current): I try the shotgun approach as mentioned earlier. I have about 30 orchids and they are mostly from different genera. I have more Paphs than any other group but the Oncidiums are close behind. I love the Paphs for their intriguing flowers and pretty leaves, and I love the Oncids for their fragrant sprays of many flowers and their attractive pseudobulbs, as well as the fact that there is always something happening with them.

Looking forward to Phase 4 - I see a greenhouse in the future...

Hey Ramonypony,

Part of my draw to them is the fact that they're not so easy to find and especially not beyond the basic hybrids. Here's the thread I created for the plant that is my avatar: Neopabstopetalum

It didn't have a hybrid name, just the cross written on the tag.

Another green one, very similar, that I have - also no "official" hybrid name - is of the genus Alantuckerara. It is bigger than the Neopabstopetalum, MUCH BIGGER. and it's very prone to lots of black spotting and streaking on the leaves. Neo is much more compact and while I haven't had it as long it doesn't have spots on the leaves.


They are difficult to find on ebay, honestly part of my success has been checking ebay OFTEN and searching Zygopetalum, Zygoneria, Zygonesia, Zygonisia, Zygotoria, and so on. I also recommend checking out Seattle Orchids as that is where I got my Alantuckerara, Ianclarkara, & Zygonisia Cynosure 'Alba'. Or check out Kalapana.

The plant your asking about - the Neopabstopetalum - I got from Lucky Girl Orchids on Ebay.

Another way to go is to search for Orchid sellers and contact them about when they may be or if they may be getting Zygo hybrids. You might also be able to ask them to look for plants for you. People here and elsewhere have advised me that prior to Orchid Shows you could research the participating vendors; if they deal with Zygos they may be able to bring some to the show for you.

Oh and I almost forgot, contact Porter's Orchids in Michigan. His website, last I knew, is not up to date but you could tell him what you're looking for and take it from there.

And hey, if you find some special ones do let me know. ;) And I'll do the same.

---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 PM ----------

And thanks everybody for sharing the phases you've gone through in Orchid growing. It's interesting and yet not at all surprising to see that it's really common to go through different phases, after all there are thousands of different hybrids.

Ula I don't think you have a different strain necessarily - but what do I know as I suffer from a similar affliction - but perhaps you're waiting for your "rock bottom"? When you look up and you're no longer excited in having "whatever" orchid but you're much more sure of what characteristics you prefer then you're at least close to bottom (and about to head back up ;)). So I think I'd go with you not being in the "next phase" yet. The minimal space you have left becomes very valuable - never mind the increasing space in your wallet! - and when you see a plant flower and think oh that's cool and move on, that'll change the way you do things for sure.

It wasn't hard for me not to go overboard at my first show this year. There were lots of beautiful plants but only a few that say hey I belong in your home! Luckily there weren't more society's selling their display plants (then I would have been in more trouble).

Cambriawhat, I would like to see a GH in my future one day. I think one day when I move to a bigger place I will yet again go into another phase, no doubt there are cymbidiums in my future. I long for summer in ways that only gardeners (aside from other Orchidists) could understand. I'm anxious not only to have some of my space back but also to set them decoratively and see how awesome they do out there again!!!!!!

Another phase for me will come next year when my flasks I sent off to the lab mature. By then I'll have a space set up in my basement. ;)

Phase one:
7-8'years ago, Box store Phals. Some as gifts some as impulse buys. Most died. None re-bloomed. I lost interest but still managed to keep a couple alive with my many houseplants.

Phase 2: a couple of years later
Got hooked on Bonsai and purchased 5-6 over a few months time. Somehow this jump started my interest in Orchids again. I discovered First Rays online. My sister and I went nuts buying every pretty flower we liked. Only knowing what the flower looked like, not the plant. With no idea what kind of care they needed. Many died or did not thrive. Also read on Ray's about semi - hydroponic and thought this was the way. Converted everything to SH. Not everyone liked SH! Was not the panacea for me.
Found J&L Orchids, went to a show there. Met Carri from Orchidphile. I purchased my first, but not last Miltoniopsis from J&L and Phal. Sogo Lawrence from Carri. I killed both of these. Next year purchased another Milt. From J&L killed this one too and lost heart again for about 5 yrs

Phase 3: still in this phase
Found Repotme and ordered their mediums as a last ditch effort. Repotted the 6 surviving orchids to get rid of bugs. If this didn't work it was into the compost heap. Luckily for me it worked. I then read, researched, researched and read, joined online forums bought many books asked many question of growers in my area. Wanted to know what I could grow and what I couldn't and how to do it well!
Made a promise to myself NOT to by even beautiful orchids that I knew would not thrive for me. These are not houseplants or garden plants and old habits die hard. I think I finally understand what works for me and my environment. Invested in enough T5 lighting so most plants I wanted would have enough light.
Wanted to try the Phal. Sogo Lawrence again. I was again able to get one from Orchidphile. Discovered NZ sphag. moss and how to successfully repot and water with it! This moss works really well for most of my 35+ new and old orchids in Southeastern, CT.
I have recently become obsessed with species and hybrid Phals, like Phal Samera, Phal bellina, and Phal Dragon Tree Eagle. I love the ones with beautiful, fragrant flowers and the harder to come by the better! Also delved into my first Phal compot with success! Right now I have 4 Phals that are re-blooming for the first time after more than 5 years and other Phals, Oncidiums, Paphs. 1 Phrag, and 1 Zygo Advance Australia that are either blooming or in spike. Except for the Paphs. And Oncidiums,these are all first time re-blooms for me! The biggest change for me is PATIENCE! Orchids do everything slowly it seems. I killed many with just "messing" them to death. I get much enjoyment from watching the orchids grow leaves, begin spikes, (they are all so different) grow and flower. I used to only want to buy orchids in spike. But now it doesn't matter so much as I enjoy each orchids full growth cycle. The flowering being the culmination to this wonderful process!
And for those looking for Zygos. Try emailing Carri Raven at Orchidphile@optimum.net. Carri often has them.


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My first phase, long ago, was buying a few orchids, killing them within a few months and then giving up.

My second phase was rescue phals, then cattleyas. I still have a few left. I have all the rescue catts left, making me understand I was better with catts than with the phals, even though I can now get phals to grow and bloom without dying.

With the orchids came thoughts of terrariums, and aquariums. I started a few aquariums, thinking they would add some humidity to the orchid area. I also rescued 2 dogs and 1 kitten in that time.

I've put collecting to the side for a time, limiting myself to an occasional purchase of an unusual looking, or sounding orchid because I am in grad school, and plan on moving cross country in a year or two. I guess with the fish and the orchids in a youhaul, I get a bit worried.

I think my 3rd phase, is in understanding that I can "like" orchids without being obsessed.

I certainly have a wish list, but I want to also get a decent living space before expanding my collection much.

And since I am moving to an area where deer and bunnies eat your gardens, I need to wait until I have some good fencing!

Well, I don't really have phases. Ok, I have buying phase and not buying phase. lol

I buy whatever I find good as long as space allows.

With that said, I got rid of most of my large phals for the fact that they are highly replaceable and take up too much space.

I got rid of almost all the oncidiums and related hybrids because their leaves get "dirty" so easily and that just freaks me out and takes the fun out of the hobby. lol
These are also highly replaceable.

I am also in the process of getting rid of tall dendrobiums, keeping only shorter ones.

My paphs, well most of them, continue to stay with me, and I will be getting more and more babies and flasks instead of spending money on mature plants whose flower most of the time come out not up to my liking. So I'm going to grow my own crops. :)

I love to see them grow and the excitement of seeing them flower and seeing the variations among the plants are fascinating!!!

I have a bunch of some other orhcids as well, both speices and hybrids, although I'm more of a hybrid person.
Again, I buy whatever I find good. :)

I really need a large growing area. Sigh~

Started out with phals that I bought on sale in the grocery store. Killed several of those. Still have mostly phals, 3 oncidiums, 1 cattleya, 1 cymbidium and 1 jewel orchid. 20 in all. Mostly noids.

Well, I don't really have phases. Ok, I have buying phase and not buying phase. lol

Well Said NYCorchidman!!!!

Welcome to OrchidBoard va.orchids!

Thanks.

A buying and not-buying phase! Very good, this has happened to me but then I always seem to have an exception to the not-buying phase. ;)

Ramonypony, btw if you're looking for some other Zygos check out Sunset Valley Orchids.

NYC I can understand your love for watching them bloom out and witnessing all the variation. I've got some crosses in the mix already, I'm so excited I'm not sure how to deal with the patience I need to have for this to happen! YEARS! That's the fact that almost kept me from breeding in the first place but I'm such a NERD I couldn't help myself. ;)

Really love hearing about everyone's "phases", thanks for sharing everybody. It's interesting to know what draws people in and then sometimes what kicks them out. I found I sort of quickly lost interest in Phals when it seemed like there were so many of the same out there. But then you get to looking around on the internet and discover their magnificence all over again. Plus I just love that they don't grow into humongous plants (though I do love the idea of this in others) but if you're good they can have impressive displays of flowers. I'd like to improve on my growing to make this happen.

I too Optimist wouldn't mind being able to "like" Orchids and not feel the urge to buy one every time I see them. :blushing: I was proud after my first show so far this year because I practiced buying restraint. Now hopefully the next show will be just as easy even if they have more plants that I like. *biting my nails!*