That was my mistake when I first start growing orchids... I thought I can handle anything, therefore I can grow anything... the mistake was trying to grow too many different genera at the beginning... stick with just a couple genera with similar needs and you'll be fine... for example grow catts and den. to start...
As for vacations, let me tell you how I did it... we used to take very long summer vacations, after I acquired a few hundred orchids, I didn't want to admit to my husband, but we suddenly only take a week vacation in the summer, and have much longer vacation in the winter... why? because most orchids need a winter rest!!!
