My name is Carly and I am an addict. An orchid addict!

I have always loved unusual looking delicate flowers, and wanted an orchid for ages, but thought they were hard to look after. Shopping about 2 years ago in Homebase I spotted a lovely little purple Phalaenopsis which looked like it could do with a home, so I bought it. She has subsequently given me a lot of flowers. After her last flowering the spike went red, so I trimmed it right down. She has been busy putting out loads of new roots and leaves, and finally got the energy up to put out a new spike :) This is growing each day, and I’m looking forward to her first flowers in around 6 months, maybe longer!

I then bought a yellow Phal from M&S in celebration of getting near the end of my last year of Uni, again she has been a prolific bloomer. Still got 2 flowers on now and more to come!

On my birthday we went to a garden centre and I spotted an unusual looking orchid which I later learned was a Dendrobium Nobile. A week later we returned and I saw a pinky/purple Den. Phal which was half priced and just needed repotting.

That was it really, from then on I joined an orchid forum and spotted some Vandas, and fell in love with their huge blooms. I now want one of each type! And then more! Got two more Phals last week and am getting into trouble with my boyfriend, but I absolutely love these plants!

This diary is just to document their growth really, so I can look back on how far they’ve come. Mainly for my Vanda as it wasn’t bought in flower.