That orchid show comment about roots vs blooms stuck with me

I was at the spring orchid show in Portland last year, just browsing the vendor tables like I always do. This older woman next to me was carefully examining a hybrid I'd walked past, and she said 'you know, most folks here are just collecting names, not plants.' That stuck with me because she was right in a way I didn't want to admit. I've got 40+ orchids at the shop, but I realized I barely knew how the roots looked on half of them unless they were actively blooming. She spent ten minutes showing me how she checks root health and leaf texture before ever looking at the flower. I mean, I still buy for the blooms because that's the fun part, but now I spend way more time on the undersides and potting mix. Has anyone else had a moment where a stranger made you question why you're actually into this?

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