What is your strategy/criteria when acquiring orchids?

[dshallpost]

This is more of a general inquiry than a specific question, more on the "why" than the "how to."

As a newcomer I am interested in how you decide what to buy, where from and when. I have been acquiring some new orchids -- types I may be able to grow successfully now that I have some lights. But I am without a real strategy, so would love to hear your answers to the following -- and especially your rationale:

Do you focus on one type that you either (1) have the conditions for (2) simply like? Or do you have a broad array?

Do you acquire on any kind of regular basis, or when you find something you have been searching for, or when the mood strikes, or some other methodology?

Do you tend to buy in bloom, blooming size, young, or seedling? (I know that there was a survey done somewhere in here, but please tell your rationale)

Do you have multiples of the same exact variety, or one of everything?

Do you experiment, or have you found a growing regimen (temperature, light, humidity, etc) that works and that you don't tinker with?

Do you acquire from a wide array of sources, or do you stick with a few trusted vendors?

Any thoughts on these subjects would be appreciated!

[fooferdoggie]

what we have conditions for and pretty much scented ones. my wife is blind she can see colors but a great smelling orchid adds a lot more to her experience. we have to have orchids that can go to 90% and don't need high humidity. we don't have a lot of room so no multiples. I just bought my wife two phals with fragrance because phals are easy for us.

[rbarata]

Those I like/environmental conditions/available space.

Simple!

[Roberta]

Pretty much yes to all of the questions. (That is how my yard became "Orchid Central" Roberta's Orchids.) But it happened over a lot of years... and tastes changed so my mix slowly changed and is still evolving some 20 years later.

[Leafmite]

After years of having no strategy and collecting just about anything, I now have decided upon some good guidelines So...

It must stay a reasonable size. I do not have room for huge orchids. Most of my orchids are small or miniature. A Phal is an example of my 'large' orchids.

I also need to actually like the appearance of the flowers. Sometimes, it is due to the oddness but, often, I am looking for a flower that is just 'pretty.'

The more often it blooms or the more fragrant it is, the better.

It should either be able to do well in my terrarium or be able to grow well under lights.

If I have a choice between an expensive orchid that is blooming size and a much cheaper seedling of the same orchid, I usually buy the young orchid. Why spend extra money when you can enjoy watching a young orchid grow to maturity? I do not grow anything worth being faked and my vendors are pretty good so I do not worry too much that the orchid won't bloom to be what I expected.

I have bought from a variety of vendors but I do my research to make certain that they have a good reputation. I have had a few bad experiences. Some favorites: Hausermann's, Andy's Orchids, Carmela's, Windswept in Time, Gold Country Orchids, Al's Orchid Greenhouse, and Ecuagenera. I really miss Oak Hill Gardens and I haven't tried J&L yet since they changed ownership but they were very good, too.

[Ray]

In order of priority:

1. Do I want it?
2. Can I grow it in my conditions?
3. Is the particular plant healthy?
4. Is it at a good price?
5. Do I have room for it?

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have limited growing room, especially in winter. Plants must be worth moving from indoors to outdoors seasonally. Other limitations are available time, growing conditions I can provide, finances (prioritie$ are 2 kids in college right now, not plants), NOID vs plants with an ID, and whether or not the plant is worth the trouble. For these reasons, here are my acquisition guidelines, no particular order:

1. Do I have room for it? Full size Cymbidiums and Grammatophyllum will not even be considered. I have one smaller Cymbidium, standard Cattleyas, Coelogynes, Oncidium sphacelatum, but what I try to keep is the smallest plant of the big ones that will still make a decent show. One of my summer projects is to divide some big plants so that I can sell/donate/give most divisions, or trade in exchange for smaller plants. I have a big Coelogyne cristata that my conditions are too warm for; I may trade it for a small division of Coel. pandurata if I can find one (also a big plant). I am becoming a fan of Restrepias.

2. I almost never buy new plants. I do trade plants, and lately I seem to be trading my larger plants for someone else's small plants. I would still buy certain rare hybrids or species if one became available through a reputable source, but that has not happened for a long while.

3. I don't want plants that are so particular about growing conditions that I will never be able to bloom them successfully. See Coel. cristata above. Also, I do not work and play well with most Dendrobiums; not sure why (still have a few). Hybrid Cattleyas grow well for me, and several species too (not C. dowiana so far).

4. I am not acquiring new Phals, and giving away many that I have. They bloom OK, are pretty trouble free, but I mostly keep the ones I have because my wife likes the flowers. They are good door prizes at orchid meetings, or donations to charity auctions. I'd rather focus on Cattleyas, Oncidiums etc.

5. I avoid the NOID, unless I am looking for something to give to charity, or to lure the unsuspecting into an orchid meeting.

I reserve the right to break my own guidelines when mood or madness strikes me. It's my circus, so I get to decide which monkeys live here.

[Dollythehun]

I often look at pictures of members plants. If they suit my conditions, I add them to my wish list. Size matters. I buy from only reputable dealers. If I tire of something, can't grow it well, or it gets to big, it gets re-homed.

[SaraJean]

1. Is it interesting. Will it hold my interest in or out of bloom.

2. Can it handle my summer temps. Even better if I can leave it outside most or all of winter giving me more space in the tiny temporary greenhouse (no room for orchids inside the house)

3. Nothing purchased on a regular basis. I try to keep to a certain budget at shows, or when certain vendors update their lists, and have an idea of something that I’m looking for. I just keep my eyes peeled for certain things I like- such as spotted or veined flowers, strange flowers, favorite colors, unusual foliage, fragrances (pleasant or foul), a new genus I want to try out, and looks good out of bloom is a bonus. I like talking to the vendors and seeing what they recommend after hearing about what I like, what interests me, and what I grow. I’m always hunting for weird or rare Dendrobiums with screwy pseudobulbs or leaves, those make me happy even if they never flower for me.

4. If there are a some hybrids I like the look of, I look up the parentage and usually end up buying a few species to get the traits I like rather than buying a dozen or so different hybrids. Space is a premium in the courtyard with only so many spots that get decent light. I like the research part that comes along with trying to grow some of the more finicky species. I still have a few really cool hybrids though, so I’m not opposed to buying them at all

5. I buy near blooming size, large seedlings and seedlings, for a couple of reasons. 1: I like caring for them and don’t mind waiting a few or many years to bloom. When they do bloom I get all proud and it feels like Christmas. I don’t generally buy clones so it’s fun to see what my bloom looks like. 2: I like getting things established in my choice of growing media or mounted as early as possible. Due to my conditions and culture, I will rot the hell out of any Catt or Den in bark. A new large blooming size orchid with good root system that I can’t free up from the bark will stay soggy for months.. I get them young, plop them in what I want and things go much better for me. Also, I have gotten some fantastic things, from amazing growers, and I can beef up my collection for cheap as I learn. Again, I’m ok with waiting and I’ve gotten pretty good at not killing any of my seedlings (So far. this may change as I branch into new types. I just bought some lovely Paphs that I’m worried about murdering...)

6. I typically don’t buy multiples- lack of space. One exception is the Cattleya walkeriana. I purchased one, thought it was cute with its chubby p-bulbs and I liked its size and growth habit how it wanders all over the place. I immediately bought 2 more. I bloomed them, fell head over heals for the insane fragrance and the gorgeous flowers. Now I have 13 a year later. If I could only have 10 orchids, 7 or 8 of them would be the C. walkeriana. Plus there’s a nice variety in the flowers.

7. I’m still experimenting on how to keep things cool in the hot, humid, looooooooong summer and stretch my conditions a bit. Added a shop fan last year and most my collection has appreciated it as it let me keep the light levels up on many of them without any signs of burning like I had the previous year. Saw much better growth. I still have to keep the mounted minis out of too much air. Also tying out Kool Logs, so far so good, but it gets ugly quick with algae. I like certain media or pots for certain things. I’m not messing with that. I’m also trying to maximize my grow space. I just finished building a new pergola that has doubled the usable area in my little space.

8. I want a healthy orchid, not something on Deaths door. So, I have a good handful of vendors that I love and always check with them first if I am looking for something specific, sometimes I will get an awesome suggestions for a different but similar species if they don’t have what I am looking for. Also have a few on the ‘never again’ list.

9. But really, does it interest me?

[dshallpost]

SaraJean, not only was your post informative, it was beautifully written and a pleasure to read. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. I was especially interested in your point about buying them young and training them to up in your medium, your environment. You really conveyed how much it all means to you.