how have your tastes changed?

[janet_a]

when i started fooling with these plants, i was really only interested in phals. dens didn't do it for me, even though i bought a couple 'cause they were cheap. after i killed a littl onc, that did it for my interest in oncs for a while. and i thought *all* slipper orchids were just plain weird-looking.

well, i bought a species den and 2 more paphs at the WOC, to go along with the other paph and 2 phrags i've acquired over the last couple years, which are hanging out with 2 oncs. i still think the phals are very cool (esp art shades and harlequins) but i really don't have a desire to get any more. (maybe it's because i don't have a lot of space either. )

anyone else find their tastes in orchids changing over the years?

[mayres]

My PROBLEM is that I'm finding MORE AND MORE of them that I like and none that I don't like!

[Tobi]

For the first couple of years that I grew orchids, they were all Phals. and Phal type
Dens. For a while I was into the Oncidium alliance, but now it seems I buy or acquire
only orchids in the Catt. alliance. I do have to admit I curious about trying some Paphs
again. Just got a Paph. bellatulum.

[exasperatus2002]

I started with home depot rescues. Now Im pretty much only interested in "quality" rather then quantity plants. I'd prefer named plants then noids (though one of the geeks here got an awesome noid Paph I'd like to own). Now I find myself at the cusp of my first attempt to hybridize an orchid (sheath is about to open on the intended pod parent). So I'd like to think Ive matured alot but Im still learning...and then some.

[articuno75]

I started with one NOID Phal. One NOID is good for me (unless it's really pretty, in front of my face, or for free, or something like that, LoL). I like them all, but Neos are the top followed by Gongoras and Stanhopeas (and I just now obtained my first Gongora!). I do find myself leaning towards wanting more Oncidiums and thus alike, but hey, you're asking an orchidolic. I want them all!!!

[Vivienne]

I, too, began with Phals. Then I found this site and joined the local Orchid Society. And that was it! I had to explore other orchids. Paphs joined the Phals, then Cattleya. I'm rather hooked on Paphs now... and most recently have developed a love of Neofinetia and Ascofineta. Then again, my most recent purchases have been 2 species Phals and a Bulbophyllum. I guess I would say that I'm becoming more discriminate about my purchases.

[janice]

My sis sent me my first Phal. two years ago...........now I have serveral Phals., Catts, Paphs, Ascndas, 1 Onc. 1 Vuyl, 1 Vanda................I like the Catts. but cannot resist any orchid. I now go for something I don't have/different...or if depressed will save one from Lowes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pikevi]

I started with one Phal ( B'day gift) 18 months ago and collected about 8-10 more Phals during the following 3-4 months.

My curiosity and an orchid show room that was closing made me buy many others indiscriminately...there was NO thinking of consequences.

Then kmarch ,without his knowledge, inspired me to buy some Paphs.

Lately , true to the adage "Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread" ,I am anxious to try exotic ones and/or species. I fully expect to fail but nothing like trying

I have an assortment of orchids now and I am not sure if I favour any one type over the others.

I think I like to see them grow more than expect them to bloom

[PhalPal]

I started with a rescue Phal and have tried a few other types since, namely Cymbidiums, Oncidiums, mini Catts and a few others that just don't fit in to my conditions well. After many turns around the block, I am still in love with Phals and Cymbidiums. They grow best for me and I find them the least demanding, so they will always remain my favorites.

[patlee]

I started out with a huge white phal.--can't even remember when or how I got it. Then I tried some paphs that should have bloomed seeing as how my phals all do well. They did not bloom, spike or even grow new clumps Lately I've tried a few others (Miltassia and Beallara and a couple from the cattleya alliance).They are all growing and blooming--

I find now that I am returning to phals, but they are not noids anymore.I don't want any old orchid just to have an orchid collection. I want to know the parentage of what I am growing. I like to think that I, like Vivienne, am becoming more discriminating about my phals

[kmarch]

I find that my likes and not-so-likes (like mayres I don't there really aren't any orchids that I dislike) don't change much but the contents of my collections has changed dramatically over the years.