Bad influences, the lot of you!

[Barbie_J]

Oh no.

I swear I just can't figure out how y'all can have so many.

How do you keep track?
Where do you put them?
How do you afford them?
How do you care for them?

So many questions....

I don't have as many total plants, including my herb garden, as most of you have orchids. I visit my plants every day and know them so that when something new pops up or one of them looks needy or whatever, I see it immediately.

Like today, I visited my plants after work and noticed that one of the buds on one of my dwarf poincianas actually opened. I also noticed yesterday that one of my phals is getting new buds. These things are exciting to me.

Plus, caring for my plants is enjoyable. I don't want them to become a chore.

I don't want orchids to get old or common. I want to enjoy them as much or more than I do now, and I'm not sure how you all do that with hundreds of plants.

[Barbie_J]

So, here's a good question for you all...

Are your SO's supportive? How do you deal with it if they're not?

[Daethen]

My hubby doesn't care one way or the other. Mom in law just thinks its too many. I still notice every little change, new leaf sprouting, new roots starting, dry, yellow, whatever. I have a psychopsis that is either starting a new growth or a spike. In the summer, my outdoor gardens are my therapy, in the winter, it is the orchids. They each have their tags and if for some reason I forget what they will bloom like, I can always look it up. I am also an information junky so I am enjoying all the new stuff there is to learn. I guess I don't consider it work, it is just my time to relax and tune out the rest of life's problems.

[Barbie_J]

That's how I view my plants. My time. :-)

[Tindomul]

Now thats getting serious.
Im pretty sure a few people have had to quite orchid board to stop themselves from buying more orchids, but,uhm.... well they always come back.

[Call_Me_Bob]

i dont have one. but my mom loves to come over and see them lol

how do you keep track- most people ( myself included ) use some sort of database

where do you put them - everywhere! i have growing shelves with lights. eventually i will get a greenhouse, but i dont have THAT many... yet


how do you afford them- i dont! lol that is why i only have 35-40. i can only really afford to buy a few at a time. and then when i see a good deal, like OS auctions, i jump on them!

how do i care for them- the same way as i had one, but maybe i dont spend so much time obsessing over one. i spread it out more evenly. i found that with more plants, you worry less.


even though i only have 35-40, i still know and care for each one individually. i know them just as well as when i had 1. it just takes a little more time, but i like it


they could never get old! things are always growing, and orchids are so diverse, if your feeling "bored" ( i have never been, at least with orchids) there are alway different genera and techniques to try out

[Call_Me_Bob]

when i stopped OB, i didnt buy a single plant for a long time, the i cam back, and i loved it and love my plants even more. but i didnt leave b/c of the buying plants thing


i think that OB has alot to do with it, not only does it expose us to more species, it also has loads of great info. but most importantly there are people here who are just as crazy as me thats why i love it here

[trdyl]

Barbie,

I have a modest collection of about 49. With about 10 more once dividing is done. It is not hard keeping track of them.

You end up putting them anywhere you find room that light and temperature levels are close to their needs.

As far as affording them goes... Picking up a plant or two here and there usually wont break the bank. Plus when you have a surplus of a particular variety you can trade, sell, or give a few here and there.

Caring for them come pretty easy once you understand thier needs and make sure you schedule time and it does not become a chore.

My wife has been very supportive. She has helped with them when I was away for a long while.

[Gin]

You get a few here and there the years go by they become family members you get older You learn to make taking care of them easy. I have a green house , water with a submersible pump in a 33 gal trash can of rain water . Plant names are in a data base , not counted them lately last time I did it was about 300 .. But that was a couple of years ago my husband likes them and is supportive of my addiction built the green house for me .. I raise birds to support my Orchid hobby .

[Eyebabe]

Muhahahahaha!

You are a helpless victim so just submit!

Modest collection of 40? Really?

OAA? There is no such group

and I repeat Lesson#1 as in another OB post: Buying orchids is a guiltless act!

Rinse/Repeat

<3