What got you hooked growing orchids?

[Oscarman]

While orchids have really gone mainstream, we all have different reasons for growing them. So today's conversation starter (CS#4)........What got you hooked into the world of growing orchids?

I'll start.

I used to grow all kinds of house plants, which must have started with the seed from a grapefruit or avocado! After experimenting with various plant propagation methods and breeding African violets, I was drawn to Orchids due to their diversity, exoticness and because they were not what everyone else was growing.

After devouring all the books on orchids in our public library, I read an article about plants by Mail-order and saw that there were many growers in Canada. I sent in some orders with Huronview, Orchid Haven and Kilworth Orchids.

Unfortunately those plants were victims of my inexperience, although I do have a Phal. Orchid World 'Joe' AM/AOS from 1996!