What's the best thing about growing orchids?

[Piper]

LOL Louis,

It's because I hadn't seen it! (It was buried in the tree and I didn't notice Gilda's reply.)

You're all so kind I actually wet myself. (...Gotta get off this theme...)

Louis is right - my ego's too big to not respond to Gilda's nice compliment. But my head isn't quite so swollen that I won't qualify Louis' praise. I'm not 'accomplished' in the sense of published. He's saying he's liked what he's read. But even that needs some qualification. He puked over one thing he read. But then he helped me see the warts in my writing (I was blind to them and maddly in love with the drek) and understand why they were warty.

Posting here is actually a good small-scale writing exercise and I do have fun! (And I do love firsts.) Am hoping some publisher feels the same way about my first novel...
Julie

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Gosh, I 'am like Kev, I love the research/ knowledge gained from growing orchids. Don't get me wrong, I love the blooms, aerial roots, fragrances, and yes, even some of the foliage, but most of all I love learning something new about them. I particularly like people who grow plants - be it orchids or others. Most "plant" folks are honest people and they are willing to share what they have learned. I love the fact that so many people share this orchid "fever" with me. I love being able to read and take in so much on this forum. (It is quite an education.) AND, I love helping someone pick out their first orchid and starting them on their educational journey.

So, anyway, that is what I love about orchids, Lily. [Great question, BTW]

Cheers!
Brutal_Dreamer

[Orchidzrule]

Wow, this is a difficult question to answer! How to choose?? Obviously, seeing something bloom for you has to rate highly. And I agree with Kev & Brutal_Dreamer that researching a plant turns my crank. One thing that hasn't been mentioned (although perhaps touched upon?) is learning *why* a plant isn't thriving, putting your knowledge to use and seeing the plant respond to your efforts. (This could apply to a plant you've stressed or to a rescue.)

Cheers,

Rob

[RSJ]

What everyone else said...plus it's really fun to say things like "epiphyte" and "paphiopedilum" around your friends and they all look at you like for once you know what you're talking about.

I love novelty. "Everyone" has a spider plant and a fern in their house, but not everyone has a pholidota chinenses or a dendrobium kingianum. And these aren't so rare that they are hard to find, just different from the houseplant norm.

And there is so much variety in the orchid kingdom, I could grow nothing else and it would still look like a 100 different kinds of plants in my house.

RSJ