New member, new to orchids, first post, confessional

[nofickenway]

Hi! I have wanted to get into orchids for quite a while, though my wife (of all people) heavily discouraged me...well, a coworker was about to throw away a phal. BUT IT HAD READY-TO-FLOWER BUDS ON IT! So I rescued it about a month ago...that was the gateway.

Anyway, I bought a terrarium for it (modified it for air circ) humidifier, dyna gro, etc etc...then I bought a fal and it has it's own terrarium (we have plant eating cats) - now, I have convinced my wife to let me have an 'orchid room' in our basement - victory!

Anyway, so I was at Home Depot tonight...they had 12-15 orchid - all on death's door, literally...I asked if I could get a 'deal' on these near-dead poor souls but was told there is a seperate company that owns them, takes care of them and decides prices, so they could not reduce the price (between 16 and 30 bucks each!!!).. I pleasantly thanked her...then...I went back and snapped off the two keikis that these poor dying plants sent forth as a last ditch effort (all were phals, of course) and slipped them in my pocket...am I evil? I figured that, since these had LITERALLY not been watered in weeks (none had blooms, most leaves were brown or limp) that they would otherwise (but when?) just end up in the dumpster or, at best, clearance rack.

I feel bad, kind of...but I am going to call tomorrow to ask who that vendor is and offer them to take all the phals at that Home Depot off their hands at a reduced price..can't hurt to ask...

I see it as I rescued two keikis...but still feel guilty...

BTW, thanks to all for the great advice on this forum...