How many of you grow multiple of the same plant?

[LovePhals]

I was just wondering, b/c I was considering of getting another Vanda Coerulea from a different vendor. I wonder how many of you on this forum grow the same plant but with more than 1 b/c the color, form, growing style ect. was different. Why do you chose to get more than one of the same plant. Does anyone with not a lot of growing space do this?

[Paul]

It is rare for me to have more than one of the same plant ... simply lack the space to do so. The exceptions are:

• When I've made divisions and am growing them up a bit/getting them established before selling or trading them off.
• So I could experiment with different growing conditions in which case the extra serves as "backup" in case I lose the "guinea pig".
• The plant is a micro mini that I decide to grow in a couple different locations in my planted terraria.

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by LovePhals

I was just wondering, b/c I was considering of getting another Vanda Coerulea from a different vendor. I wonder how many of you on this forum grow the same plant but with more than 1 b/c the color, form, growing style ect. was different. Why do you chose to get more than one of the same plant. Does anyone with not a lot of growing space do this?

I am growing 2 seedlings of Vanda coerulea right now from the same vendor. I plan on giving one as a gift though. I have seen pictures of ones with longer flower petals than others but both Vanda coerulea. I could see having one of each if you have the room.

[Leafmite]

I grow multiples of some orchids. Sometimes, I grow them because they are different clones or siblings that look different and sometimes I grow two from different vendors because I am trying for a fragrant clone. Then there are the orchids that I buy multiples just because I really love them and I just want more than one.
I am also one of those people with very limited space. I think my next (and last) orchid is going to have to be in a one inch pot. :|

[Jenn4a]

I have two Lc. Mari's songs that I won on eBay within the same auction.
My original thought on that was "oooo two for the price of one"
What the seller often does is sell/auction two together if they're younger, but sell one plant per auction if they're within a year of blooming, at least for the compact orchids.. Not quite sure on the bigger ones.

Now that I have them, I figure I might place them in different areas.. or as a newbie, at least be able to keep one if the other goes downhill...

[nutgirl]

If I can, I keep a keiki or a division of my favorites.

As long as space is available, you never know when some disaster might strike one of them and I like to have a back up.

I also like to experiment with different growing methods.

Maureen

[Subrosa]

I do occasionally to try plants in different locations. I have a thread somewhere around here on some Leptotes bicolor I did it with. I'll dig it up later.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

I do occasionally to try plants in different locations. I have a thread somewhere around here on some Leptotes bicolor I did it with. I'll dig it up later.

Here it is:Leptotes bicolor Experiment

[JanS]

Ok, this is gonna sound really corny but since I don't think anyone came out and said it in the previous posts to this thread here goes: I have numerous multiple plants because I feel bad/guilty throwing them away and thus killing them. None of my friends are good with plants so giving some away is akin to sending them out to die a slow, meaningless death. My best example is Zygopatelum which I got years ago and it grew like crazy in all directions making it necessary to divide it many times short of potting it in a wine barrel-sized pot, with most of it filled with back-bulbs. So now I have about 6 plants ( and I did throw away many older bulbs) from the original. And each one tries their hardest and usually flowers each year. How could one give up on them?!

On the other hand, I also have a couple of Cattleyas that have a really unique scent which I bought as separate plants because I was afraid to divide the initial one. Funny thing is they bloom a few months apart, so my wife and I get to enjoy the flowers and scent twice each year.

[JanS]

I bought a Cycnoches Golden Showers from Housermans while visiting my mom in Chicago 2 years ago... because I collect fragrant orchids. The one stalk produced a beautiful double flower last summer. Then, unlike all the posts about Cycnochs, it didn't go to sleep - it immediately started another stem which grew perfectly through the rest of last year (while the old stalk withered) and ultimately shot out a flower spike with 6 buds few months ago. Then trouble began: it was originally planted in a miniscule pot in sphag. I HATE sphag (!) because it is so hard for me not to overwater those plans. So I immediately transplanted it into coco chips but didn't remove all the sphag between all the roots. All of a sudden, I have a likely terminally dying plant due to root rot! Ugggh! I feel so bad!

I looked up some previous posts on Cycnocs and one of them asks how big do they get: I thought the attached pic was worth posting from a blog from a lady in South America. With my limited spanish, she does say that it is the biggest Cycnoches she and her friend have ever seen. Wow!!

I hope I do better next time...