Adapting to orchids

Recently I’ve become obsessed with orchids. In February, Tyler bought me an orchid (shown above) as a not-a-Valentine’s-Day-gift. I debated getting one for a long time, just because of how temperamental they are. Also, many orchids are intergeneric, meaning they are products of cross-breeding by man. The theory is cross-breeding will make it easier for people like me to keep them alive by making the orchids stronger. But through my research, this makes it hard to figure out how to make them bloom again. So far, I think the above picture is a odontoglossum/oncindium hybrid.
Whatever that means.

We then decided it was a good idea to get another orchid (look to your right). This one I've identified as a brassia/odontoglossum hybrid. I think this one might not make it. It stopped blooming right away, and I found out it might take up to 10 months for it to bloom again. Yeah.

I know I must be sounding like Meryl Streep from Adaptation right about now, and I am aware of it. Don't worry — I have no desire to see a Ghost Orchid, become addicted to the drugs you can harvest from it, or have an affair with an orchid thief. That would take entirely too much effort, plus I'd end up killing the orchids I already have.

And if two orchids weren't enough, we got a third (below)! But I love this one. My phalaenopsis — the moth orchid. This one is supposed to be the perfect first-orchid. So far, this one likes me the best, whereas the other two act like rebelling teenagers. 

Now I know why all the Web sites recommended it for people like me. It's still blooming, and very forgiving of my ignorance. I still am planning on getting a book on orchids, and possibly becoming a crazy orchid lady as I grow older. At least the weird habit will smell a lot better than collecting all the stray cats in the neighborhood. And because life imitates art — or is it art imitates life? I will leave you with my favorite clip for Adaptation: