I've probably given away 75-100, but also propagated as many, so I'm right back where I started. I'm trying hard to reduce the number of plantings I care for, because the NUMBER of plants prevents me from paying as much attention to the better bonsai as I'd like, but it doesn't seem to be working.

Al

I think I'm in the same boat (two of everything), if you will ;)

Thankfully, some of the new plants that I've received will be able to survive outdoors.
Thank G-d for conifers! ;)

Josh

Yes!!! I usually frequent ebay, probably at least once every 2 days, or so.

Since I only have 3 (or 5 in the Winter months) south-facing windows to work with, I keep reminding myself to stop acquiring new plants. But that doesn't always work out. I mean, within the past 2 months I'd ordered 6 different jasmines! That is 6 new plants since my 'supposed' last order of the year, which was a plumeria. Lol.

Last Winter I went crazy with seed-sowing. I'll try to not do that again.

Yep, this is me. Im an all the way plant addict.

It seems every year Im addicted to something new. Last year i collected Plumeria, growing dozens from seed(lost them all but will certainly try again) One year it was gardenia plants as Im a huge fan of the fragrance. Once I went crazy collecting peace lilies with extra large leaves. Agaves and drought friendly plants have been the fad for me this year and Ive picked up the my fair share of century plants, desert roses, aloe plants and cacti.

Im still adding altho not only have I run out of room but now Im keeping some of my plants at my mothers house! I just put in her yard a gardenia standard that was on its last leg and saved from the trash at the supermarket. Now Ive lost hundreds of dollars worth of these over the years to mites, mealies and scale--but here I am Miss. Try, Try Again! and now that you mentioned citrus plants, I saw a wonderfully scented miniture orange tree in the garden center the other day in full bloom and looking quite wonderful and begging to come home with me...

I'm trying to cut down since my wife and I will be moving next summer but it's hard. My big purchases are always during the summer. I also temporarily adopt sad looking plants from friends and neighbors in an effort to help them (mostly just changing pots and medium and fertilizing a bit). My most recent purchase was a string of pearls which is a new favorite! Room is definitely a problem. Especially considering my new collection of succulent cuttings.

Hi Mike! So true! :-)

Hi Mike,

Yes, to all of your questions! If I had to count (which I won't, because I really don't want to know :P), I would guess I have acquired around 50-60 new plants. I started 2 years ago collecting Sansevierias. My cousin eventually gave me an Aloe vera after hers produced tons of pups. From there, I began to collect aloes as well. Then, I got a job at a garden center, and well, you tend to bring your work home with you! Next, I joined my local C&S club, and the members (apparently) were so happy to have new blood, that by my 3rd meeting, several people brought me cuttings of plants that they thought I needed in my collection!

Nancy

lol, I can see that I am the only person who has been culling my collection! I've been giving away or selling my plants off for a couple of years and have felt a great sense of relief. Weird, huh? Now, the sunlight can get into the room through all of the windows for a change!

I wouldn't be surprised, however, if this austerity phase is temporary. ;-)

"I wouldn't be surprised, however, if this austerity phase is temporary. ;-)"

Lololol..

That is what happens to me every year! I give many away feeling a sense of relief while my favorites can get all the more sun and light, and less worrie's of pests, just to get more because I missed the ones I use to have..I have yet to give away a citrus though..

Goodness, I just joined a C&S club last week, and they seemed awfully excited to have me!

My biggest collection is my citrus, adding about, I am not sure how many this year!
Next is my cactus and succulents, in paerticular "jades", adding about, well, too many to count this year!
Next, the past 2 years, my gardenias collection has grown..
Last year it was plumeria, adding about 30 to that.
The year before that it was clivias, adding about 25 to that from as far as china..
This year I obtained a few "fragrant olive trees"..
Now, I have my eye on "fig"..lol

I tend to gravitate towards fragrant and fruit producing plants, while my regular tropicals get scattered about the house, out of the sun room where all the other plants thrive. I even installed a huge skylight to cater to them.

Thank god my clivia and plumerias can be stored in the cellar, or I would be in trouble..

Mike

I cut WAY back this year, I have far too many plants. I give away some every year. I behaved this year buying wise.

I tend to go in spurts. January through April tend to be the most dangerous months aquisition-wise ... that's when the orchid shows are in my region.

Not much for eBay generally speaking though once in a while I check to see if I'll ever get insanely lucky and find an inexpensive Cephalotus plant. (Yeah, I'm dreaming I know).

I acquired a fair amount of hoyas, but mainly, they were all planned acquisitions. I made a wish list earlier this year, and have mainly stuck to it. There were a few that snuck in there, however (doesn't that always happen?). I have reached my limit though. Not as much space wise (though I certainly will have considerable difficulty squeezing anything else in) but time wise. I'm at the edge of where it will start getting overwhelming for me, and during super busy weeks, it is a little overwhelming. I'd really rather not get to the point where it starts becoming too much of a chore and I start losing things. I've been there before, it's not fun.

Moving solved the problem for me, lol. I went from 3 acres and a farmhouse to a condo in the city with a small deck. I have only two windows. With that little space, I figured I'd only have a couple houseplants.

Wrong.

I admit to keeping count, but I won't tell because that will make it real, lol. As far as acquiring, I'd say that I traded for or purchased at least 120 leaves for propagation and another 20-40 plants in the last year. I gave away at least 50, but soon will have another batch of many young African Violets (about 100 different varieties and 1-5 of each of them) that I MUST find more willing victims, no, I mean patsies, no!, I mean plant lovers to take them off my hands....or trade for more things!

I can't imagine what I'd have if I still lived in the farmhouse!

Wonder why I don't ever come to the houseplant forum. Glad I stopped by.

I don't really have this problem. I've become disciplined &/or rutless about it. I also have a couple of rules for myself like NO EBAY. I've been there once or twice to look, but don't allow myself more than that, no point in needless temptation.

I've learned from watching a couple of friends who lost control over their collections. The collections got so large or involved to care for that the WHOLE collection suffered neglect, the owners had just allowed themselves to become spread too thin.

A few yrs. ago I'd scaled back somewhat in what I grow & focused more on the plants of greatest interest (for me, succulents & Hoyas).

I had quit the C&S Society a few yrs. ago; but am still in the Indoor Gardening Society & will sometimes take things home from meetings (that may not have sold or were too big & divide them) & grow them on to bring back at later date, house-sit them as it were.

Otherwise, I've quit rescues & rehabbing other folks' plants for them.

I do buy a few things sometimes at my Indoor Gardening Mtg, like just last week I bought a small Gasteria & a gorgeous, medium size rhizomatous Begonia. Keeping the collection a bit smaller allows room to do that from time to time.

Like last Spring, I found a stunning Ficus elastica 'Burgundy' which it seems I just HAD to have (I'd posted pix). It's pretty big (for my Studio Apartment) but there's a big of wiggle room in my collection now, space-wise. Like I've got a bit more room to breathe, I'm enjoying that.

I will confess I have a GW friend w/ a Greenhouse who collects Hoyas & just mentioned she needs to whack 'em back & offered me the cuttings. Now there's an offer I can't refuse!

I am also learning control. I found I was buying just to buy. I buy large tropical plants that I can use on the patio in the summer or houseplants that have colorful leaves that will add color in the winter in the sun room and give a little pop of color to the patio in the summer.

My biggest purchase this year was Siam Ruby Banana Plant.
{{gwi:102516}}

Mike,
First I want to say, the plants I received, beginning Jan 1, 2010, were in 3-4" containers, bulbs and cuttings. Only a handful were larger, meaning 8" to 1' tall.

Total: 58. :) :(

Marguest, your Banana Tree is beautiful. The colors amazing. There's even a pup. Did you find it on Ebay?

Mike, to answer a few questions.
I MUST stay away from Ebay..It's one addicting site. Not only do they have great deals on plants, but plant supplies.
There's also a few online nurseries I browse every other wk or so. The internet makes it too easy to shop for such an exciting hobby. A few clicked keys, next thing, a package is at your front door?

One word of Warning for those who really want to stop buying plants.. Well, an attempt. Do NOT sign up for nursery News Letters. It's convenient, swaying us to their site, displaying their wares. Hear the clicking keys to Paypal? lol.

As for local nurseries, fortunately, there are two that sell very very nice and rare specimens..luckily, opposite directions, both a long distance drive. An hour on non-congested days, 1.5-2 hours during 9-5, Rush Hour traffic. Although, traffic has gotten so heavy the past five years, the only time to go anywhere with time to spare is between midnight and 5am. Problem is, the stores are closed. lol.

Our grocery store, Jewel's, always has plants for sale. Mostly, basic plants like Spaths, certain Dracaenas, etc. My problem arises when they have dollar sales. 3-4" potted plants for 1.00. Every so often, they'll have a rarer specimen. Buy 3, pot them up, and you have a lovely plant for 3.00. Four years ago, they had, mixed in with other dollar plants, Schefflera 'brassaia/actinophylla, a plant I hadn't seen in years...last one) I grabbed it up fast. lol.

That's about it. Not too bad for 9 months. lol. Toni

Hi everyone
I acquired 21. Some I bought and others were given to me. My living room is starting to look like a jungle. My son said hes bring the machete. LOL