Choosing between a rare orchid and a full set of carnivorous plants for my birthday gift

My partner gave me a budget of $200 for a birthday plant haul, and I had to pick between a single, mature Paphiopedilum rothschildianum orchid I found at a show in Portland or a whole collection of six different carnivorous plants from a local grower. The orchid was stunning, but it cost the whole budget and needed very specific care. I went with the carnivores, getting a Venus flytrap, a pitcher plant, two sundews, and a couple butterworts. Setting up their bog tray with the right soil mix and distilled water took a whole afternoon, but watching them catch gnats has been weirdly fun. It feels like I got more variety and a new project for the same cash. Has anyone else made a similar choice between one showpiece plant and a bunch of smaller, interactive ones? How did your pick work out long term?

2 comments

2 Comments

reese869d ago

Man, you missed out on a real treasure! That orchid is a living piece of art, something you'd stare at for years. Those carnivores are cool for a season, but they die back and look rough half the time. A mature Rothschild's slipper is a lifetime plant, a real talking point that only gets better. Variety is fun, but there's nothing like the pride of keeping one perfect, rare specimen alive and thriving.

richard5818d ago

That "living piece of art" idea reminds me of my grandpa's single prized rosebush.