Build The Ultimate Orchid Collection

[harleymc]

I think this is a not particularly well though out set of criteria for the thread. Going back to the original post
"1) Reasonable care needs (no high maintainance or specialist's chids. please).
2) Flowers readily.
3) Attractive in and out of bloom.
4) Easy flowering.
5) Wow factor"
It's not at all clear what these factors mean for different growers...
I would take criteria 1 as meaning no use of a greenhouse or artificial lighting or climate control, but others complain of cool growing orchids that don't "fit" with their greenhouse collections. I know of gardeners with terrestrials in their yards that have multiplied for 50 years or more with no care apart from not mowing when they are in flower. So what is a reasonable care need? Surely this is both highly localised and as grower specific as it is grex specific.
criteria 2 relates back to 1
criteria 4 same as 2?
I've looked at many of the suggested orchids and realized I would need thousands of dollars of equipment to grow some of them which for me is not 'reasonable'.
So what does resonable care mean for different people?

[RobS]

Easy to grow should be "will adapt to growing conditions". Some species (hybrids in general are easier) require very specific growing conditions others will be more flexible when grown with the right medium and watering frequency. The last group would be easy to grow for me. However this still will be dependant on your local climate.

[Leisurely]

Harleymc, mine were certainly put to the ultimate test this past winter of easy and not easy growing. I was away for ten weeks and an un-experienced friend took care of my orchids. 75% look just fine and many are blooming but I lost about fifty and about the same number look very bad. Spring combined with good care might revive them. If not, I won't have to complain any more about running out of room and it will also allow me to do some orchid shopping.

[orchidnick]

I tend to go in cycles. A few years ago I started collecting Dend speciosum, have about 30 different ones. Next came Bulbos, now I'm onto Draculas and Pleuros. There are only 100 odd Dracula species generally available so this is a genera where one could easily collect them all. I have most of the ones I really want and like and am now collecting any and all I don't already have. This leads to the purchase of plants whose flowers are only so-so but are part of the genera. This certainly seems like a flawed practice but for me it works for Draculas as there are not too many. One could not do this for the thousand odd Bulbos or Pleuros. With them one collects the favorites.

Another way to go is the route someone I know is taking. He has a variety of plants but will only retain one if it is truly outstanding. He continually buys new plants and sells his old ones if their blooming style is only average. When he brings items to 'show and tell', each one is a 'Wow' specimen. He has been doing this for 20 some years, has a remarkable collection.

Nick

[wuness]

I was just looking through this thread and saw my next purchase, the awesome Laelia (Cattleya) purpurata with the dark purple lip posted by RobS early in the year (on the 5th page). Anyone know what this cultivar is? Laelias are a little tricky for me, but that one is definitely worth a try. wuness

[The Orchid Boy]

My favorites are Paphiopedilum sanderianum and Maxillaria tenuifolia otherwise known as the "Coconut pie orchid".

---------- Post added at 03:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:42 PM ----------

I also love Rhynchovola David Sander and Brassavola cucullata. These are brassavolas and are very tolerant and easy to care for. Check out this link and the links on the link: Brassavola cucullata

[Leisurely]

Robs, should all laelia be provided less water during the winer? Mine bloom at various times from October through April. I can't correctly say that I give them less water but they do get less humidity during this period simply because it is our dry season and relative humidity is significantly lower

[Luis888]

In Portugal i like to grow these plants:

Cymbidium hibrids - Just put them outside and water/fertilize as any other plant. May need to repot every year as the roots grow like crazy.

Rossioglossum grande "hibrid" - I don´t know why, I can´t cultivate the commercial Odontoglossum hibrids I see in normal markets, but I can grow this plant so it should be really noob resistant.

Masdevallia "aquarius" - The delicacy part. Just had to learn how to keep the substrate in a state of moist dryness

[danjdob]

i really like species, (and the minis so im including some of those,)

schoenorchis fragrens

bulbophlum facinator

dendrobium loddigesii

dendrobium lindleyi

lalea liliputana

paphiopedilum henryanum

vanda tesselata

cycnoches chlorochilon

zygopetalum mackaii

psychopsis papilo

cattleya aclandiae

spohronitis coccinea

dracula vampira (just because i have to have an orchid with that name...lol)

[Kevinator]

Danjob, Dracula vampira is very hard to care for. Trust me, I had one and it was a pain in the butthole.

Here is my top orchid: Psychopsis Butterfly var. alba 'Canary'

This one is very hardy, withstanding extremely low humidity and neglect. It grows and flowers very well, fertilizer seemed to have absolutely no effect on it.Like all psychposis, they flower from the same spike continuously. This one has light yellow blotches over a pure yellow background. All I have to say is this is a very impressive orchid.