[slippery_biscuit]

I just thought to put out a few words of my brief orchid experience. Just think of this as a "feel good" story and many of you have had a hand in it whether you know it or not. I'm listing it under cultivation as this is sort of what is driving this little ditty.

From one phal last fall, I bought thru the winter; I think I've around 80 plants now. And check this out... haven't bought any for 2-3 months! Broke the chain. Thought they had the most interesting blooms out there; the variety! A lot of what I bought was budding or flowering, some are mature, and a bunch of little starters.

I've had several plants flowering at any one time. The encyclia cochleata has been blooming for 3 months and shows no sign of stopping. Paph pinnocchio has been in bloom for a month or more, still going strong, and a second bloom about to open up before the first is done. A little yellow paph is on its third bloom and another forming up to follow. I spent a little coin to get a big psycopsis kalihi and it was in bud, with a second spike. It popped one big flower, then a second (still there), then two months after I was screwing around with the second spike and broke the top off, it has sprouted a bit down the stalk and is budding out.

A friend asked me a couple of months ago if I had any reflower. At that time I had to say "no". But now three catts are budding from new growth since I've owned them. A couple of paphs I pulled from the trash are sending secondary stalks out geting ready to bloom. Some of the plants I've received had pretty much dead roots. Thanks to advice here, they have all come back, roots all over the place. New growth popping out even as the roots develop. Probably the time of season, but the amount of new growth I'm seeing on most everything is, amazing, I guess. I'm not used to growing plants that do not involve dirt. Plant, add stick or rock, then add water. Taa Daa!

Some are in the house on water trays (mostly those flowering for display) and the rest are in the small greenhouse. I'm lucky to work at home and can mist a few times a day. Recent obtained a short-duration timer/valve and will install this into the greenhouse for even better humidity and temp control. Will be migrating to more and more mounted plants. Again, given my dirt farming background, I get a kick out of seeing those roots wrapped around things, without any dirt. I have been thinking way outside the box for mounts... old picture frames, tools, most anything on the way to the garbage I have a look at...hmmm.

A few weeks ago I was wondering if this would be a short term fad for me. I guess it still could be, but I do have sustained interest now. The plant cultivation is beginning to be as much if not more of a draw than the flowers.

Thanks for your help. Happy growing to all.
Jeff