The perfect mix of orchids...

[Tikva]

I voted don't care also, because I want EVERYTHING that draws my eye! But I do have a special feeling for species. They seem natural and high end hehe :c)

[Piper]

I buy whatever I like, but I certainly love species! I counted what I had and voted based on what I've got, since I'm pretty happy with my collection. I think primary hybrids are worth species status for this poll, so I lumped them in there:

37% species
17% primary hybrids
46% mutts (many of these are primary hybrids crossed with species.)

Julie

[Mehera]

What was your total count Julie? (Gosh--can't believe you counted everyone and ran the numbers!)

[Piper]

Yeah, I'm pretty anal retentive...

I actually keep journals of my 'chids - when/where I got them, blooming times, repotting times, and photos so I can get excited when they're not in bloom. I just went through the docs and counted.

I'm up to an obscene 98, and that's counting two compots of Phrags as 2 plants and not 60!

46 Paphs, 17 Onc alliance, 10 Catts, 14 Phals and 11 of other genera. The windowsills are crowded!

[Mehera]

It seems like a really good idea to keep records like that, but I'll never get around to it. You are an inspiration! I do play the "I've got two of these, so they just count as one," game to feel better about my growing tribe.

[Piper]

So how many do you have, Mehera? Counting pots - two of the same thing, if they're in separate pots counts as two.

It's actually fun to update my journals (with current photos, or Web photos if I don't have any of my own, notes on growth, checking changes in blooming seasons, etc.) The next best thing to playing with the plants! Which I'm doing today - lots of 'chid puttering this afternoon!

Julie

[Mehera]

So I had to have lunch and get up the courage to count.

I have 39 pots--most of them large. This number doesn't reflect the tray full of little itty bitty paphs, even though they have their own pots. I mean, I take them everywhere together on that tray, so of course, that only counts as one.

Most of my pots are 6" and up because my habit is to usually order two of one plant and plant them together for a nice full established-looking pot with lots of blooms. Also helps them not to dry out so fast in this arid climate. I know this isn't usually done, but hey, I'm a long ways away from the nearest orchid society. :-) My theory is that it's like planting tulips--they look best in groups of the same. And the way the collection looks in my living room is important to me.

So I'm glad we're only counting POTS here....

And it doesn't include the new orchids that will arrive next week. I figure this thing is self limiting in that to water all these little thirsties I have to haul them to the kitchen sink. Not a trivial task.

[Piper]

Sure...dream on! Self-limiting means less than a thousand. I thought I was nuts when I was approaching 50 (orchids). My joke became that it wasn't polite to ask once you got over 40... (My friends ask the current count all the time, just to reinforce how certifiable I am!)

Then I went out of control this spring and early summer. I think it was my finger - I couldn't pipe and I had all that extra time I'd spend practicing, to think about orchids, surf for photos, discover new vendors and plop stuff into my shopping cart. Very, very dangerous!

By the way, the itty bitties count! One pot, one count!

Julie

[ABro]

There's no way I could keep a jornal! I tried that forever ago, but once you hit the point of no return it's soooo hard to keep up with all of them. Shoot I have a hard enough time keeping up with my cross journals. I once new every plant that I have, but since my grandmother passed away and I inherited her collection I just don't even know anymore. All I try to do is make sure I have pictures of all the blooms, and that is all I can do.

[Piper]

It's current at the moment, but it often isn't. It's just another way of puttering with orchids when I have spare moments.

Julie