living and/ or dying

First, let's look at the carnage a few weeks out.



The phal on the left has sustained root damage and has already lost three leaves. The remaining leaves are turning yellow, which, yeah, not a good sign. The phal on the right is doing slightly better, though the pleating on the leaves is troubling.



This dendrobium had put out a ton of growth in the past year, so it's really painful to see it in shreds. Some of the canes may survive, if they can grow out new roots to replace the dying/ dead damaged roots, but it will probably be a while before I see another bloom if it does make it.

Our culprit? Peter, Peter, orchid eater.



Le sigh. No, really, it's depressing to see this happen right when I thought I was really getting this orchid growing thing. I do have two new additions to the family-- phals both, but you have to start somewhere.



I don't know if this phal is a miniature or not-- time will tell.



This one is a respectable-sized phal-- a real departure from my preference for miniature orchids. But I thought the color was striking. Neither plant is exactly "special", but it's another 8 months until the orchid show.

requiem

So one or both cats (I have my suspicions) got into my orchids while I left them to drain overnight. And there was... carnage. Years of ignoring my orchids, then sudden slaughter. I'm a little better now, but I'm still looking at losing possibly half of my collection, maybe more. I'd guess $150 or more to replace, because they're small but uncommon hybrids.

It's depressing. It's like having your cat or dog eat your hamster or fish, except I've had some of these orchids longer than a hamster or fish lives. My oldest orchid, my blue dendrobium (which had put up two new canes this spring) had all of its leaves mangled or ripped off entirely.

There are those who think I'm silly, melodramatic, or just plain nuts for getting so upset. It's just a plant. But orchids... orchids are different. Phalaenopsis in particular are sold as though they are a slightly longer lasting cut flower-- alive, but disposable. And that's how many people view these flowers. But to keep an orchid not just alive but thriving and growing, to appreciate the strange-looking plants they are when not in bloom, to coax them to produce the strange organic sculptures that are their flowers again and again... it's not just a houseplant. It really is like keeping exotic saltwater fish. Your run of the mill philodendron, or spider plant, or ivy? Nice (I have at least one of each myself), but nothing like this



or this



or this bad boy (which was mercifully untouched because it's so tiny)