What orchids attract you?

[Shannara]

What is it about an orchid that grabs your attention and makes you want to add it to your collection? Is it the foliage, bloom color, bloom size, smell, rarity, ease of growing, difficulty of growing...etc?? What draws you in?

For me I love the round onion shaped pseudo bulbs of Encyclia's...the fatter the better. When I see those shiny round bulbs I am like a bee to a flower...sometimes almost knocking people out of way just to get my hands on it! The flowers are just a bonus that seals the deal!

I love the blooms on them as well (of course)...the smaller flowers and their shape. Any crosses with Encyclia's tend to keep the encyclia flower shape so you can find all kinds of interesting colors in crosses!

Shann~

[cindiras]

For me, color is a big part of the draw. Large size, good coloring in pinks or purples and I am hooked!

[delphiguy]

I would say a combination of things, if it is endemic then i must have it, color is big factor
also. For my wife, anything with a fragrant scent is a winner.

[bench72]

umm.... i'm terrible because i see beauty in everything... i am slowly learning that beauty does not mean it will grow in my environment though so that is the only thing that saves some orchids from a sure trip to orchid heaven (not to say that there aren't that stil do)

[smwboxer]

If it's a species, fragrant, takes a little skill to bloom and is uncommon, I want it!

[Ania]

I like orchid plants that have good structure (so, onion-like Encyclia's appeal to me too). I am also always looking for the fragrant flowers and spotted flowers. Then, here are some flowers that seem to have little faces looking right back at me and they usually end up going home with me too.

[playtime8978]

At, the moment the fact that it is an orchid makes me want it I am going to have to learn to be more selective as I learn what grows best and flowers in my environment. If I dont get more selective I am going to have a house full of dying orchids!

[eaglssong]

At, the moment the fact that it is an orchid makes me want it I am going to have to learn to be more selective as I learn what grows best and flowers in my environment. If I dont get more selective I am going to have a house full of dying orchids!

Like Carrie, at this point, if it's an orchid, I want it. Just drove myself nuts at one of the big box stores, because I wanted all of them. Settled for one (the most expensive of course), because it's the one I wanted from day one. Photos to follow (gotta get the baby comfy first).

Anne

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I find myself wanting just about every orchid that will not grow in my growing conditions. LOL. I have had enough of phals for awhile, but still pick one up if it is an exceptional plant or color. LOL.

Cheers,
BD

[Nataliwind]

Hard to say. Very many. I have never seen an orchid I did not love! With respect to genus, first place will take bulbophyllums, then dendrobiums, then epidendrums/encyclias, then oncidiums.