Suggestions for a 8-12 mixed plant collection for blooms al year

[GenevaDad]

I will second the vote for Hoku Gem...I have one and it blooms frequently. My maudiae type paph hybrids bloom frequently as well.
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Sounds Good!

Toss a bunch of minicatts into the mix. Many have no true season so you could have blooms at various times of the year. Haraella odorata blooms sporadically throughout the year as do some of the masdies & some of the other pleurothallids.

I was thinkin' the same thing.

Matt, You are right--I get an uneasy sense that intervention is necessary after this question. I noticed the "How do I convince my wife I need a greenhouse?" tag line disappeared with this post. I'm wondering if maybe Bob revisited this discussion and his wife's response was "You may have x number and only if there is something blooming for the foyer most of the year."

Bob, tell her that is simply too much pressure for so few orchids. Then show her some of the lovely displays that Geoff has set around the house when his wife is expecting guests. They are gorgeous, play them up. . . then spring his greenhouse full of several thousand orchids on her. She'll come around.

Easier than that. Who needs a greenhouse. I told my 23 year old son who is finishing his last (I hope) year of college, that he doesn't have a bedroom any longer. It's all mine!! Two humidifiers, a portable oil filled radiator, 74F with 55% RH during the day and 62-64F 40% RH at night. Ceiling fan runs all the time.

Oh Yeah, never noticed that had gone! I think Plan B part 1 should now be put into motion, so far so good Bob, keep that little victory temporarily inconspicuous, we dont want to run b4 we walk. You have the Ace, just the Q,K and Jack to go. Dont mention orchids for a while and keep this site encrypted to avoid tracking history. Now express a keen, dedicated, must have interest in rearing chickens, summoning the help of close ones (loyal to u) to buy you chicken related items for all 'special celebration days' and public hols.

Cunning plan I hear you say! Leave imagery/ articles in open view and documentaries that emphasizes excessive mess, noise, smell, crapping all over the garden. All the bugs and mites infesting the home and old tat feathers tangled in faeces all over ur face as you sit up from soaking in the bath.

The rooster will seal the deal lashing out terrible, headache and nauseating chaos, and mating calls that amount to glass shattering loud insanity. Actually by 2 just incase you slaughter one instead of a hen as you turn kitchen into a blood bath. 8 - 12 should do it and by that time 80 - 120 orchids wont seem such a bad idea after all. Its all about the big picture. A lovely spray of dainty yellow blooms on show or farm yard anarchy

I changed my email address here but screwed it up in gmail. All Fixed. I'm back!!!!!

[GenevaDad]

I will second the vote for Hoku Gem...I have one and it blooms frequently. My maudiae type paph hybrids bloom frequently as well.
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That's a great idea. Sorry it took so long to get back to you.

[GenevaDad]

For indoors on a windowsill I would look for orchids that bloom often or stay in bloom a long time. Don't worry if they have small flowers instead of giant colorful blooms. Look for phals that have a reputation for staying in bloom a long time. Sequential blooming phals, which are usually summer bloomers, only have a couple flowers open at a time but some, like my Dtps. Purple Martin 'Champion', can stay in bloom for more than six months. Look for compact growing cattleya crosses that bloom more than once a year like Brassocattleya Hoku Gem 'Freckles' which blooms several times a year. My Blc. Hawaii Stars can bloom four times a year. Paph Pinocchio has a reputation for blooming for long periods of time, in some cases more than a year. Good luck in your quest.

Those are all great ideas! I have several nurseries here in the Chicago area. I'll start checking them out for these guys. If you have other ideas you could PM me.