No new orchids in over a year. Waiting for the shows to start again, I guess next year.

I have always liked Rhynchostylis, Ive been looking for a retusa forever.

I'm a relative newbie to orchids w/ two grocery store phals. :) I've been looking forward to buying another and I almost ordered a mini phal the other day, but I was given an olive tree and a miniature rose last week, and I'm out of room for any more plants again. lol!

James, yes it does appear that retusas aren't available anywhere. I ended up adding the pinlk coleestis to my order. :)

Party_music, those are great gifts. I know nothing about olive trees. Do you think it will grow olives at some point?

getgoing, I think an olive tree is very cool! I knew nothing about them either and my research tells me that I have zero chance of it flowering and producing fruit in my z5 climate. lol! It's the thought that counts. I *wish* I could grow it in ground here, but I'm 3 zones too cold. I'll make it as happy as I can and think it will do alright for a while. I'm used to overwintering all kinds of things in containers. I'm smitten with orchids now -- I had no idea they'd survive for me, let alone rebloom. I just wish they took up less space. lol!

btw, I cannot remember the name and have lost the link for the place I intended to order that mini phal. If I find it again I'll ask you about it... I'm in the northeast too, so was looking for a source in/near the northeast.

I just looked up and it does look like there is some possibility of getting olives on it. here is what someone in Sweden is doing. watch towards the latter half for fruits. (3) All you need to know about Olive tree (Olea europea) - YouTube

I am growing mango and avocado trees from seed in pots and fully intend to try to get them to produce fruit. We shall see.

As to getting a mini phal, why not get one from your grocery store? They are cheap and usually quite helthy and blooming (as opposed to an online orchid purchase). You can probably find them in a shoprite, trader joe's, or even walmart.

getgoing, I'd buy a phal locally if they were available, but the local grocery store (Aldi) where I got my first two phals didn't get in a shipment this year. We don't have stores like Trader Joe's around here.... I wish we did!

Thanks for the link -- I'll check it out later when I have more time.

James, I sw a retusa for sale and thought of you. orchid species (smileyorchids.com). I have never ordered from there so do your due diligence.

Thanks for the tip, I will check that out for sure.