I hear ya Roy! I'll probably be that way in time. Right now I'm still so new to it that I don't know all of what I'll be able to succeed with, and what I won't. It's all one big giant fun experiment.

But, once I'm able to clearly see that a certain plant and I just don't mix, I'll find it an adoptive Mommy or Daddy. :lol:

Nichole, the biggest mistakes any new/newish grower can make is to try and grow HOT growers with COLD growers or shade lovers with very bright light lovers, it just don't work. Not unless you have multiple growing areas or a green house big enough to divide into sections.

My mistake has been the "ooooooooooohhhh it's soooooooo pretty/unusual/exotic, and I want one" type of thing. I quickly realized that I don't do well with oncidiums, tolumnias, psycopsis, phaps and I stay away from them. Now I have things that should be able to grow in my environment, both inside and outside my home.

I am now only focusing on Catts, Laelias, brasavolas, Vandas, and relatives or hot growing species. I have some phals and 2 angraecums. But I now focus on things I know should grown in South Florida. I've been lusting after a coelogyne cristata, but I'm doubtful that I will be able to grow it successfully.

I also force myself to buy a plant only after I do some research on it. I've been tryiing to educate myself further, beyond the "how can I not kill it" stage, by buying books and other material on the plants. I've been happier and less frustrated because I stick to the limits that I 've set for myself.

I'm a shocker for the hope and a prayer buying method.......
HOWEVER, I do (most of the time...) buy these guys from nurseries where I know they've been well raised and have similar conditions to what I have in my environment.

Lets see. We average about 40 days/year of 100+. RH in summer averages <20%. Last week, I dumped the tray of Disas in the garbage and will leave it to you to answer the question!!!

maybe you should grow Cacti? :D

Regards
Heather

Actually Heather, I do grow cacti. I'm not sure just how many, but a few years ago I was kind of "house bound" and purchased some cactus seeds from the seed repository in Fresno, CA. I managed to grow a fair number of different species and grow them in pots outside year round next to the greenhouse.

I also grow or try to grow cactus but my conditions are not ideal for them the blooms are so beautiful ..
I take a chance and buy the occasional different odd ball type orchid just to make things interesting . :)

Have you tried Adenium (dessert rose), Gin and Jerry? They are spectacular even when not in bloom for their gorgeous fat caudex. Breath taking when they are flowering. Although they are succulent rather than cacti.
They're my latest love to be sharing the orchid bark.

So envious - mine have to be cosseted through the winter, and then can still refuse to flower if we have a typically dull British summer.......