Spending time with my orchids...

[Shannara]

Early today I spent over an hour with my orchids. I took them all down from where they sit or hang and lined them up in a row. I looked for any insects or problems and then watered and fertilized. Then I looked for any signs of new growth and possible bloom spikes. I love hunting for new shoots! I was excited to see that an orchid or two might have some sheaths coming in. I discovered a squirrel, or some critter, has chewed through the totem pole my var. Vanilla is growing on....that was odd. Other than that it was really nice just to spend time outside caring for the lil' guys and seeing how they flourish in the springtime. One of my cats sat outside with me lounging in a patch of sunlight and it was really nice.

Anyone else spend time with their orchids this way?

Shann~

[playtime8978]

I sit on my comp amidst my orchids and cant help but stare at them and check them I love watering time I never want to do it I think I dont have the energy but then I love just giving them all their drink and inspecting them for sign of new growth and spotting any critters ( found two with scale in a week!) thats not the happy bit. They give me so much pleasure I cant believe I didnt start collecting them sooner. My first bloom was so exciting and rewarding I dont think I have been so happy to see somthing flower before even though I love garden plants. I think everyone on here has really given me the bug and it isnt going to pass easily.

[Lizgeo]

I do the same, inspecting my orchids after I get home from work, looking for new growth and spikes. Together with knitting, they are my stress reliever.

[eaglssong]

I spend hours and hours in a day, just talking to my orchids and looking for signs of anything (stress, growth, bugs, etc). I also spend all sorts of time with the camera in my hand, because I can see more in the photos than by the eye. I swear, I never hovered over my human babies like I do my orchids. Good thing I'm retired and have the time!!

[Paphlova]

I have a fairly stressful job, and a lot of responibilities aside from it. I'am also quite the introvert type. Not a good combo. Before, I just went to raves about once every 2 months to dance the stress away. I still do that, but since I've Paphs in the house, I get all of my tension-relief from sitting next to my paphs for half an hour, right before I go to bed. My wife is doing her pre-bedtime stuff in that time, so we even sync more then before. A whole new world has opened up for my since....

[Shannara]

I also spend all sorts of time with the camera in my hand, because I can see more in the photos than by the eye

I agree...I love taking pics of my orchids. I try and get out there at least once a week to take pictures. Hopefully I will have at least one more orchid in bloom this week...it's a cross between two I like so I am trying to guess what the bloom will look like!

Shann~

[clintdawley]

I do. Every couple of weeks when watering I try to give them a thorough inspection.

[margo]

I do too. Every hour of so...I should start checking them less often (may be four hours?!) because it seems like nothing is happening...

[JoeW]

Andries, GREAT AVATAR.