I need Orchids....NOW!!!
 

Don't know if any others have those phases which I'm going through right now when I just want and have to buy a load of orchids.
It might be kicked off by just cleaning up the shelving and changing around the orchids so the collection looks different & better, or as now after months of nothing, buds are starting to form and I just want to increase the collection to get more of a show.

So I trawl through all the websites only to find mostly find the same old plants which have been there for years....

Yes, I think we all do. I go through stages but I now have to many so I have to watch myself.

Check out the sales!
Andy's Orchids 20% off everything!

Andy's Orchids - Orchid Species - Orchids - Species Specialist - Orchids on a stick

Seattle Orchids 25% off everything!

Orchid Species - Orchids from around the world

Anyone know of other sales for orchids?

---------- Post added at 01:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 PM ----------

I usually go through this in the middle of winter but I just gave in and took advantage of a bunch of sales. I even bought other plants as Logees had a sale, too. :)

^^ Enabling at its finest, folks. :)

Another vendor having a sale is Carter and Holmes

Black Friday Clearance Sale!

Frankly, rather than run amok with spending money on new plants, I focus more attention on what I have and try to accomplish specimen blooms. If I need a fix, I go for flasks or young seedlings in the genera I grow.

That is pretty smart. :)
Most of the orchids I bought were either replacements for orchids I lost last year during my first attempt growing under lights or were orchids that I had been wanting for a time. The only impulse buy is the Angraecum mag. I have one seedling and this one was so cheap compared to the other one. They can be very difficult to find.

I learned a long time ago that it was important to grow plants that liked my conditions. After experimenting with many different genera I decided to specialize in Cyms. which has since morphed to a few other cool growing genera - basically any orchid that is happy growing outside in Northern California. At last count, this has grown to over 1,000 plants in my collection, not counting the small seedlings in 3"pots! I have a constant turnover of plants no longer needed for show or breeding purposes so I try to keep the collection fresh and updated.

Cym Ladye, it must be amazing when you have a bunch of them in bloom! :)

I love Orchids by Marlow - Home, they have great species, give growing conditions and have a nice variety of species.

Nope, we all go through this phase! It's perfectly normal. You can never have too many orchids, or other plants. :D

if only there wasnt a foot of snow outside my house right now I would so be ordering orchids. All this links to sales are killing me. So yes I have this "bug" of needing orchids and not even knowing where to put them lol

As we get older, we come to realize that indeed, one can have too many orchids/plants when we can no longer tend them to the level they deserve. The secret of growing any orchid/plant is never have more than you can care for easily and still be relaxed with your hobby. When you look at it as a chore, it is time to downsize a bit.

---------- Post added at 10:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 AM ----------

Take the winter, as our forefathers did when they searched seed catalogs, and browse catalogs/websites for possible plants to add next spring. Learn everything you can what conditions these new plants will need. Finally, start cataloging you own collection. In other words - HIT THE BOOKS!

---------- Post added at 10:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 AM ----------

...and months of work in staking to prepare them for shows, and baiting to keep all the critters off them to assure pristine flowers! All worth it when all is said and done!

I admire people who take the time to participate in shows, but I couldn't do it myself. I'm just too lazy.

Just pick one plant that you like, think you can groom well and will be in bloom for the show closest to home to start with. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and you will find that a whole new aspect of orchid growing will open up to you! You may even come home with a blue ribbon and then be hooked! It is like getting dressed up for a prom when you were young. The results can be amazing when you are done!

I do agree with only having the amount of plants/orchids that is enjoyable. I often sort through the orchids and give away the orchids I no longer want. When the new ones arrive, I will have sixty-five. I like being able to easily identify all my plants without looking at their tags. The new citrus, I can see, are going to take some time to tell apart. :|
My orchids always avoid the shows by either speeding up their bloom time so that they are finished before the show or slowing down so they don't bloom until after. I think they are just afraid of being judged. (kidding)