Orchid Patience

[Orchidzrule]

I found this to be a really tough choice, Bruce! I selected buying (or better yet trading for) NBS because then you have the best of both worlds. You get a plant that's well grown (caring for seedlings is a trifle scary, plus the wait can be pretty long), but you get to claim the credit for blooming it when it blooms. Of course, then there's the problem of those plants that refuse to bloom even though you think you've had them long enough. Having said that, I've bought plants in spike/bloom, too, and derived lots of enjoyment. Hmm, maybe I oughta change my vote?

Rob

[marketkid]

I chose 'other' as I like to do all the choices. I have seedlings/flasks for the challenge and also as often that is the only way to obtain certain plants.

I like NFS plants as they are cheaper but you get to see the flowers within a year plus it keeps your interest up

And I like to get flowering plants and see if I can flower them again next year.

I think a selection of different plant sizes keeps the interest up as although I like seedlings I wouldn't want to buy only seedlings as I need new flowering orchids in my collection now!!!

Cheers
Rod

[Cjcorner]

I'd have said "any of the above" awhile back...but now I would have to say either in bud or bloom would be my favorite. I have some babies but I prefer the more adult ones. I concentrate on what agrees with my front porch. All others get pawned off on family and friends. lol And adult plants are so much easier to care for here. Sort of like growing orchids on cruise control!
Connie

[Lambert]

Ideally, I would rather get a well established division, it will bounce back and adjust better than a seedling or a smallish plant to the transition from the vendor's greenhouse perfect conditions to my windowsill in NY. Definitely not in bud, bloom! (I like the satisfaction/challenge/surprise of making this happen on my watch). I won't pass on a plant I really like even if it's in OK shape though. So basically I have some really healthy plants and a few really cool orchids with poor root systems and somewhat dehydrated !

[smwboxer]

I usually buy BS. I have very little patience and even less growing space. My only seedling is a Psychopsis papilio "alba". I have had it for 2 yrs and the wait for a spike is killing me.

[Redhead59]

I prefer one that's NBS, It make's me so happy and proud to know I got it to bloom in my care.

[margo]

I am buying everything from flasks to blooming because: 1. I can enjoy the blooming chids until the buds open. 2. When the buds open I can enjoy them until the new spikes are ready to bloom. 3. While I have some blooms my seedlings are taking their time to grow. 4. Having all these to take care of the ones just deflasked are not big of an issue - "a few years?! Fine! Thake as long as you need and give me beautiful flowers...LOL"

[virgilspells]

At this stage of my collection, I don't buy a lot of orchids, so I want to know what I am getting, I buy in bloom or a mature division that has already bloomed.

[catttan]

25 years ago I would unhesitatingly opt for buying seedlings and care for them until they bloom.There is nothing like the satisfaction of seeing your 'babies' bloom.3 of my 'babies' gave me tremendous satisfaction a Renanthopsis with 46 flowers, a blue V Tan Chay Yan x Rothchildiana, and Blc Knot[Crispin Rosales x Lucky Strike].Unforfortunately the former two have passed on to the happy hunting grounds but I still have Knot which was awarded an HCC some years ago. They were all grown from 2" pots.

I'm now getting on a bit in years, 71 last June, and can't wait for years for the seedlings to bloom.Thus, the reason for acquiring bloming plants.

[navyderek]

Other--- I buy almost exclusively rescues and previously bloomed orchids. The price point on both are hard to beat--I'm able to continue buying orchids becuase I try to curb my sepnding as much as possible. So far, I've been extremely successful reblooming the previous years, and blooming the tiny rescues.