Main colours are White, Pink, Yellow and some greens. Depends on what is available at wedding time. One wedding had white Dendrobiums imported from South East Asia as bridal stuff and potted Phalaenopsis as Table Decorations. All purchased from Sydney Flowers markets. Suggest you visit Sydney Flower Markets to see what is available. Blueish greenish Phals might be as scarce as hen's teeth.

Great question, Orchidobsessed. Chryss, your shot of the Den Rainbow Dancer looks like an expensive portrait by a professional photographer. Calvin, whenever I see a spike, it's an involuntary inhalation, followed by a big "Oh" and a grateful smile. Here are more pix. I don't know the technical names for plant parts, but you can see where the spikes, buds, etc. come from. Aerangis fastuosa Coryanthes fieldingii Cycnoches Midnight Magic Dendrobium aberrans 1 - little dark spot is the spike. Dendrobium aberrans 2, spike from leafless pseudobulb  cuuuuute Dendrobium moniliforme Encyclia bracteata - 2 spikes w/ one bud each Gastrochilus japonicus - 2 spikes Lepanthes manabina - buds at the end of spikes on leaves Neofinetia falcata ÂShutennou ÂRed Emperor Ornithocephalus bicornis Paphiopedilum spicerianum  looks like a new leaf at first Phalaenopsis Snow Twinkle  can look like a new root at first Polystachya piersii blooming, so you can see where the spike comes from Polystachya piersii spike, side view Trigonidium egertonianum This is fun! Whitecat8

Quite often plants are purchased without a tag. In the case of hybrids, once the tag is lost, they can never be identified again as to the hybrid. We will be able to identify species, but as there are so many crosses, and many are alike, it is virtually impossible to identify. Therefore, be very careful of those tags and do not remove them at the stores. In some cases, growers have been imprinting the names on the pots, however, I have also seen wher a Dpts. pot was used on a Den. If you have a label which is partially obliterated, then quite probably someone will be able to help you figure out the name. Sometimes if a tag gets switched, but if you have the tags and the plant in bloom the proper designation will be able to be determined. Sometimes tags are mis-spelled as well, and the forum may be able to give you tips on this. Finding out what KIND of orchid is useful for cultural tips, but once that tag is lost on a hybrid...the information is lost forever and the name is now NOID. It doesn't make them less beautiful, so enjoy.

I don't remember my first plant ever but the first plant of my current collection is a Sansevieria trifasciata. It all started when I was about 10 living with my mother. We had a dining room but it was never used for dining. It had a Southern exposure and my mother had it filled with shelving and tables that were covered with so many different plants. I do remember attempting a Kalanchoe blossfeldiana in my bedroom with a tiny North facing window. Didn't work out so well but I was hooked and ever since I have always been trying different plants and having a blast. I've had to restart my collection a couple of times because of moving but my first plant of this collection - the Sansevieria - is about 9 years old now. I don't have an exact count on how many I have right now. I'd say about 30-40 but I have about 80 seeds planted and another couple hundred waiting in the wings so...ya know...the addiction can get bad and never lets go but I wouldn't have it any other way. Life is kind of empty without plants.