The Importance of Reducing Your Orchid Collection 

Absolutely 🌸!!! That is one great thing about being part of a local Orchid Guild!!! You can exchange orchids, put in them in raffle, gift them, or even sell them ✨.

I see a Zygo in bloom behind you. 👏 I have no problem getting rid of plants. The problem is I can't stop buying ones to replace them.

You spoke from my heart. With about 80 orchids in my collection and a very demanding job, yes I can say I feel exactly the same !!!!

Michael, I heard Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids in California speak to our orchid club before covid and he also reinforced the need to continually prune your collection of plants that do not move you, are just not there for you or that you have lost the struggle with. He said your collection is art and keep only those that move you. So I went home and knew which ones had to go. I have used his philosophy to whittle down to those orchids that do well in my grow space and those that don’t. And I stopped thinking of it as a failure but an opportunity to think about what I do right, what I don’t and what I might want to change. What fascinates me about this hobby is that just when you think you have it in the bag, you don’t! Success or failure is a fragile thing. One never knows and that is what keeps me in the grow space.

Bravo and Kudos to you! Its not an easy thing to do, but necessary for the health of your p!ants and You!!! I've recently downsized from 100 orchids to 65 and 35 houseplants to 17! So so hard to do, but the I feel so much freedom and my remaining babies are getting the attention the deserve! 😍

This video speaks to me. I know I have too many orchids, especially after my collection exploded in size during quarantine this year. I was luckily able to donate over a dozen to my local botanical garden, and immediately felt better. This hobby is supposed to be a joy, not a burden. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had this struggle.

Michael, I want to add that you have saved my orchid collection. I converted almost all to Semi-Hydroponics and that really reduces the worries I had with watering. I had many Phalaenopsis plants that were completely limp most of the time because I watered too much or too little in pots with bark, perlite and sphagnum. They all look healthy now and many are forming flower stalks again as are all my Oncidiums. My 3 divided Miltonia Sunset Yellow Passion orchids just finished blooming and they had never rebloomed before. I am so thankful I found your videos that showed me how to do it.

Yep! I can relate with what you talk about, but

Michael, you truly are a star. Your plants are in the best hands possible and your heart will always make sure they go to the best homes. Well done 👏

I definitely needed to see this. I know I will be empowered by doing my best for fewer and with joy.

You’re so right.When you have so many to water it gets tiresome.

Oh Michael. Stay strong. I am sure it was very hard to firstly decide on which orchids to part with and then ultimately give them away. Love your enthusiasm and integrity.

Thank you for this video. Lately, I've been feeling the same.

You’re so right! I’m in college now and I am rushing for deadlines, watering all my 50 orchids can be a chore :/

I actually really like this video. I have almost 30. Most are Phals but now I'm really getting into Papheopedilums. Luckily I have a conservatory which has 9m or so of window sill space but I also worry if I run out of room!! It made me smile because some of the duplicates I could gift but I feel guilty giving up a green pet haha

No only I enjoy and learn from your videos but I love the way you speak. It sounds as this one was a therapeutic one for you. I have always love orchids but started growing them this summer. Thank you for your videos. I look forward to continuing my learning journey with you.

Michael you are such a beautiful person. Stay joyful!

Orchid horcruxes! :D Nicely said. Happy growing!

You're so right! And this doesn't apply only to orchid collections but to plants in general. I have a beautiful jungle house, and I swear during watering day, I wish I didn't have that many plants.

Very interesting Michael, I agree with your philosophy about your orchid collection, maintaining it within manageable dimensions and in balance with your other commitments in life. Thanks for reminding me about that important consideration.

Thank you for sharing that feeling and the reality of anything we hold dear but they are work always. I know this has been cathartic for you and can only make you a better orchid dad. I love plants and find myself over doing it as well. Take care!

i thought too many was when there was no more room ;-)

I have 86. It's still very much a pleasure to grow and take care of them. I've become efficient watering them and pop in to my grow space every morning to give the thirsty ones some love. Self watering & semi hydro are going to be time savers when I get back to going into the office and traveling for work. They've definitely been therapeutic in this time, and I don't mind getting up early to take care of them. Double that amount would be a different story. You definitely need to keep the collection manageable and within your own care possibilities, or to your point, the love becomes a massive chore and headache

Thanks for sharing this. I've learned so much from you here. Over this year, I've lost all of my orchids (16) through rough handling by The Cats. I miss them, so I'll start again when I can get out to shop.

You are so right, I keep only 50 orchids now because of the work I have to invest. If a new one comes in, one has to go! 🌱

Luckily I am now retired so my plants are a joy. For me, I feel that I can't have too many plants. Ever. I have over a thousand plants. Most are outside in my garden and are watered by an automated drip irrigation system. I have 100+ orchids. Most of them are in my 160 sq ft sunroom. I have 225 plants in there that I water by hand. I have Begonias, African Violets, Ferns, succulents; just too many to list. I do understand how other's feel because I did have a full time job but I have been retired since 2002. So I have gone 'hog wild" and collected hundreds since then. Sure, I can't look at all of them all the time. I do have to have help to manage them all. Some do die. Very few in the sunroom die and I'm able to go through and spot the ones that are struggling and work with them. In this pandemic, my plants have saved my sanity.

I had to relocate for work and had to give up( I had no time to sell them) my entire plant collection in 2018. It hurt and I miss my babies but now I only have 3 orchids and I've decided to keep less than 15 orchids, periodt.

I am at the stage where I have found more orchids I want but can’t decide which ones to re-home due to space limits. They are only allowed in my bedroom 🥺. But I have 7 more on the way 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️. When I decide to share my older ones, I am going to gift them to the local nursing and retirement home. They will love to have something to take care of and keep their hands busy.

Wow this really speaks to me.... 😊

I can relate. I have 25 orchids now, but I only bought 7 of them. My mother and a customer decided to downsize their orchid collections. It started with just a couple here then there and now....but they have their bloom stems coming on!!! I am anxious to see the blooms but am running out of display space.

Hi..Michael, very good thinking, greetings from croatia 🌺

I do that too:)!! Give my babies to someone who love them!! 🥰🤗🤗🥰🤩🤩💕

Hi Michael. I just purchased MSU fertilizer from repot me. I used a gallon of distilled water and checked the TDS before fertilizing and it was 375. Clean jug, clean cup, clean meter. I’m stumped. I only added 1/2 a teaspoon.

By the way love your videos no matter what comes

Nice video chat. Man, I wish you would sell them! I'd be willing to take the risk if it would survive! Your collection is wonderful! Enjoy your channel. ❤️

**angry hissing noises** 😂😂😂 most of my orchids are miniature Laeliinae and Vandeae types, so theyre manageable even though I have over 100. At this point, I water once a week, and I focus on making media mixes/setups for the different orchids that fit that watering routine. I am also in the process of making some "orchid horcruxes" for some of my orchids lol

Totally agree Michael.. if you find your plants a BURDEN then let them go !!!😢

This is why I don't start growing orchids. I had a cattleya once and it did beautifully. Then I had more, finally that light dawned in my head. My went to an orchid club nearby. But I miss them.

I hope to eventually have your problem. :P I have only been able to keep 1 out of 4 total alive. It is Phal SoGo Vivien. It is growing a new leaf and I am so excited. Never had one grow anything new before so I am thinking this orchid is happy. :D - Heidi

Hi Michael - I've been there - Having too many plants that I was not able to care properly. But, in my case the solution was different from yours. I stopped and thought about how to improve my methods so that the hobby wouldn't require time that I don't have. Just food for thought. Is there any way that you can make your orchid routine more efficient? Hope this is helpful somehow. Happy growing!

You made a comment in a previous video that, although you previously added KelpMax to your mix of distilled water and fertilizer, you were now drenching your orchids in KelpMax per the directions on the bottle. Please explain how you are doing this and why you made the change. Doc

Wished I could be one of your recipient🙄

I think I have too many watering is getting a real pain. I have them all over the house watering means wandering up and down stairs in and out of rooms to water them then after a soak doing it all over again to throw the waste water away 😟

Seeing how quickly sympodial orchids grospread I wish there were more monopodial orchids available. I don't stuggle with caring for mine but when I do divide them Idoubt my friends would dare to accept an orchid.

Ahh yes I'm struggling and my plants reflect that I have lost a few to under watering I need to be kind to them.

Michael my Sherry Baby has not rebloomed, what am I not doing?

👍💜💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

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Orchid horcruxes!! 😂

Get out of my head Michael! I need to get rid of some orchids.

My orchids got spider mites ... any suggestions ..

K. K

Why not sell with disclaimers? If you state super clearly 'this orchid isn't in the best shape' (& price accordingly of course) then people can buy if they want to take on that risk/challenge? Alternatively, trade your doubles (I know that doesn't minimise the collection)... or RU-vid giveaway!

Plant rehab is for quitters 🤣 just kidding, do whatever brings you Joy, if your overwhelmed then it's definitely time to downsize so you can enjoy your beautiful orchids more!

SPEAK FOR YOURSELF, YOU DEVIL!!! Just kidding... Maybe...