Very interesting discussion. I think someone said it best earlier on, but the world of Hybrids is just too big and too confusing to someone who only has the space for a few dozen orchids. Also agreed about the ease of culture...not that species are easier to grow, but rather that there is far more easily obtainable information on the culture of specific species (ie: Baker cuture sheets). My collection is about 80%/20% species/hybrids. When wading into the (for me) uncharted waters of a new genra I generally pick up a couple inexpensive (~$10) hybrids to see if they'll grow/flower in my conditions. If that works out I'll move on to the species. I think I myself would be more interested in the hybrids if I was also interested in hybridizing. I'm just not at that stage in the hobby yet, and certainly don't have enough room to raise the potentially hundreds of seedlings that could result. Tyler

Thanks, Cali! The pot looks so small because the plant probably doubled in size since spring. And as I told Bob, it was placed in a flower bed among other fairly big plants which caused the main stem to grow at an angle. I'll get it straightened up when I repot. I think the limbs are actually okay. The buds on the inflo are now about 1/2 inch tall or slightly more. It won't be long now!

Well, I guess I'll have to consider that...kind of a bummer though...first time I have had any interesting kinds of seeds to grow and I'll once again have to resort to the boring store bought plants...Maybe I'll get lucky and find something different this year. I did plant tomatoes last year in July (they were the very very last of what the stores had...and more than 1/2 of them did pretty well and survived several frosts, that is with me going out to cover them with all the blankets and comforters I had in my linen closet...and finally I got tired of trying to save a handful of green tomatoes, so I said my goodbyes, and told them they were on their own from now on.....I ended up with a good number of tomatoes to eat, up til about December...I even had enough to give some away...but nothing like what the earlier planted tomatoes produced....but I've learned alot since then...(last years spring planted tomatoes were not on a regular spraying regime until it was probably too late, and I learned about GW, so now I know more of what to do to have a better outcome. OK, I'm ok with the store bought ones...I think they will do great!!! I"m ready :)

Thanks for the Welcome Back! I lived in Largo FL for the past 14 yrs but after hubs passed, my kids felt it was time I moved back to my hometown...Laceyville, in Wyoming Co., just west of Scranton & north of Wilkes Barre. In fact, where Mare is from in Luzerne? I was a Supervisor for 5 years at the phone company's long distance division,,in Dallas-next to Luzerne! I grew up for most of my years in this little burg, but did live in Middletown,NY for a couple years-in fact my brother still lives there. I'm SO excited to see the Fall Foliage..haven't seen them in almost 15 years. I think I'll motor over to the PA Grand Canyon..in Wellsboro-it's the place to see the tree in the autumn. I must say-I'm sure NOT looking forward to cold winters here. It was 41 out on my porch the other AM & it's only 50 here now. Dare I say..I even wore my flannel PJ's to bed last night!