BRING LOTS OF MONEY! And then bring a few bucks more! Buy everything in sight!!

Lol, just kidding :P Definitely give yourself a budget and try hard to stick to it! Make sure you inspect the plants before buying, especially if it's from a member's sale table! Look through all the plants you can, often times there are some really special things tucked in amongst the common showy phals, catts, and the ever popular oncidiums!

Thank you all for the advice! I have been reading up and researching, but it helps to get input from the pros! I'll see if I can get a vendor/seller/attendee list and post it later today.

Although I think I may be in trouble: I'm attending with a dear friend who is also an orchid newbie (and we know from past experience we tend to "encourage" each other in our purchases--we've done this sort of thing at aquarium club shows for years), neither of us have husbands in the picture to say "you're buying WHAT?!," and we are bringing my teenage daugher along to be our "beast of burden" so we can keep our hands free for more shopping....

It sounds like the same sort of experience we have had at club aquarium shows: lots of neat and rare stuff we're not going to find elsewhere, some bargains, and a bit of caveat emptor....I can't wait!

One more idea-- bring a box to make it easy to carry them all. This also keeps them from broken. Some vendors do have boxes on hand while others just put them in plastic bags...not ideal.

Leave the credit cards at home, set a budget and bring just that much cash.
Do I follow my own advise? Not a chance!

LOL... Connie!!! You crack me up!

Loads of advice for you! Hope its not overwhelming. Just relax and enjoy, but try to keep a level head and ask appropriate questions regarding size and culture, and use your best judgement. It's hard sometimes, but its also quite exciting and fun! Please let us know what you get!

One more suggestion; bring something to wipe the drool off your face! You will also enjoy some amazing display and you will want everything! Have fun!

Takes lots of pictures of the orchids there and the ones you bring home, its only money :rofl:

(Covering laugh)

OK, let's see if I've got this right.

1: Arrive at show, hand checkbbok to friend to keep from overspending (but friend is also an orchidaholic who has been known to say "what's one more")

2: Look at orchids, take lots of pictures. Try not to squeal "Oooh, I want that one" over every orchid present.

3: Purchase orchids, sticking to predetermined list and budget (yeah right) after carefully checking for bug/disease issues and (hopefully) asking good care questions.

4: Have cranky teenage child carry purchases (preferably boxed). When teenage child whines about hating plants/orchids/or this outing, remind said teenager of the debt she is working off after wrecking her car in December.

5: Realize there's probably not enough room on the existing plant shelves, stop for additional shelving/light fixtures on the ride home, further incensing the cranky teenager who wants to get home early to see her boyfriend.

6: Upon arriving home, stay up far later than planned assembling shelves and lighting and making sure that the "new babies" are all tucked in.

7: Pull an all nighter to post pictures of the show and send them to all and sundry whether they're interested or not.

Anything I missed (grin)??

Seriously, love the sense of humor and fun on this site, and the advice you've given has already helped a ton!

Catherine

Sounds great