Build The Ultimate Orchid Collection

[AaronM]

Hello Orchid Experts,
Here is a chance to help compile a list of some of the most glorious orchids around. This will provide anyone who would like to participate a chance to share some of their favorites. While providing other orchidphiles with some plants to add to their collections.

Please present your top choice of orchids from any or all of the thirteen alliances on Orchid Board.

Use these criteria to narrow down your choices to one per alliance:
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 (extraordinary scent, huge/attractive/peculiar blooms, frequent flowering, etc.)

Any pictures or cultural information for any of your submissions would be greatly appreciated by those who read this post.

Thanks for participating.

AaronM

[kiki-do]

Hi Aaron! I also tried once to get people to give me their top two choices with the scenerio that if something terrible happened and they had to leave their home with only two orchids, which ones would they take. That created panic among everyone just thinking about it. LOL
My #1 choice of favorites are (drum roll please) a full size white phal because they last months and are somehow very regal looking when in bloom and when out of bloom, the roots are everywhere and the leaves are huge and beautiful.
My #2 choice is a fragrant full size Cattleya...preferably white with a deep red lip as the color contrast is striking and the fragrance just lifts the heart.
#3 would be Phrag Besseae (which I don't own yet) because of it's beauty and stoic appeal or wow factor.

[DebsC]

Even though I collect mostly classic cattleya's, the one I choose first is a rather common catt.

C. Iwanagara Apple Blossom is my number one pick because she grows and grows with no fuss whatsoever. She blooms in the rafters of the greenhouse or sitting on the floor.

But the biggest reason is when that catt is in bloom, I can't help but smile as I step into the greenhouse. The fragrance fills the air and is so sweet and pure...I love it!!!

#2 choice would be Phrag Grande. Easy to grow. Not a bit fussy. The wow factor is in those long, long petals!

#3 Phal Strawberry Thrill. Smells so good and the red flowers are a bit small but very long lasting.

#4 Vanda coerulea because the color of the blooms is unbelievable!!! It's also easy to grow.

Kiki, I remember when you asked this question...what pandemonium!!!! lol

[AaronM]

Thanks guys. Please keep 'em coming. I'll compile a list as we get more entrys.

AaronM

[Undergrounder]

ummmm well... picking three of the top of mah head...:

- Stanhopea nigroviolacea: Easy to grow, warm-temerpate, low-light, doesn't need a heap of humidity, most incredible sent, most incredible flowers although shortlived...



- Phalaenopsis schilleriana: Easy to grow, some smell nice, silver/green leaves look great even out of bloom, tends to bloom heaps of flowers, beautiful silver/green roots as well.



- Dendrobium speciosum: Easy to grow, temperate, low water, beautiful thick architectural leaves out of bloom, amazing long racemes of dozens and dozens of flowers, amazing sweet scent.

[Leisurely]

I purchased a 2 1/2 in. seedling of Blc Aloha Case x Hunting Island a year and a half ago. On 6-7-07 it was registered at RHS as Rsc. Robert & Michael. It is a compact and rapid grower and has bloomed twice in the last year. It is currently growing in a 6 in. pot and when I re-potted it I divided the plant and started a new plant from the back-bulbs that have now put out three new growths. I am sure that it would garner an AM if I could have it judged. The flower is about four inches, a vivid phoenician purple with a darker purple lip, a white callus and perfect form. The aroma must come from Heaven. If I could only keep one orchid it would be Rsc. Robert & Michael.

My second choice out of about 500 plants that I have is Renanetia Sunrise Am/Aos. It is a cross between Neofinetia falcata and Renanthera imschootiana. I have a mature plant with seven offsets. It blooms three times a year with branched sprays of six to eight spikes of red/orange neofenitia type flowers with a slight look of renanthera. The flowers are wonderfully scented and last up to two months or more.

The third choice is Renanthera monachica x Ascocenda Fuch's Gold. This is a small vanda type that blooms continuously with up to twenty, two inch, bright gold flowers with tiny purple spots. The spike last for 3 1/2 months and before the last few flowers fade another spike is produced so the plant is ever-blooming. Another keeper for sure. And of all places, this plant came from bill asis along with two other ascocendas that were suppose to be blooming size but after three years there are still no blooms.

[AaronM]

The list so far:

Catastenum Alliance- Stanophea nigroviolacea (looks like a crazy alien plant)

Cattaleya Alliance- C.iwangara ‘Apple Blossom’ & Blc. Aloha Case x Hunting Island

Cymbidium Alliance- Phrag. Besseae & Phrag. Grande (another great crazy alien flower)

Dendrobium Alliance- Den. Speciosum

Phalaenopsis Alliance- Phal. Strawberry Thrill & Phal. schilleriana

Oncidium Alliance- Onc. sphacelatum (thats an addition from my favorites)

Vanda Alliance- V. coerulea, Renanetia sunrise, & Renanthera monachica x Ascocenda Fuch’s Gold

Thanks to everyone who has submitted so far. Special thanks to Undergrounder for including.
If anyone out there has better computer skills than mine, please feel free to add pictures for any of the orchids on "The List".
We still have six alliances that haven't been touched: Bulbophylum, Coelgyne, Cypredium, Maxillaria, Pleurothallis, & Misc. Please continue adding your favorites. It give all us collectors out here something to search for.

AaronM

[kavanaru]

I would say:

Catasetum pileatum (especially Imeperialis, Pierre Couret or any other red ones, or just the pure white form) &/or Catasetum tenebrosum

Cattleya skinerii &/or Cattleya mosiae
Blc. Eagle Eye All Victory
Laelia anceps (espcially var. Guerrero)
Laelia purpurata

Phrag. Jason Fischer &/or Phrag. wallisii
Paph. rothschildianum (or any of its hybrids) &/or Paph. Magic Lanter (has also a gorgeous foliage)
Cypripedium calceolus

Epigeneium treacherianum
Dendrobium speciosum &/or Dendrobium pierardii

Coelogyne cristata

Phalaenopsis amabilis &/or Phal. equestris

Rossioglossum Rawdon Jester (Rossioglossum grande)
Brassia Mem. Fritz Boedecker
Psichopsis (any of them!)
Ionopsis utricularioides

Rhynchostylis gigantea (even if I have no luck with it ) and/or Vanda Blue Magic

Cirrhopetalum lepidum

Sobralia virginalis
Maxillaria sophronitis
Mediocalcar decoratum

[Dorothy]

Please add your own photos .. any other photos from any other sources - please post the link to it's webpage or website .. as we don't want to infringe on anyone's copyrights .. Thanks ..

[orchids3]

Hi everyone. Could it be that we tend to change favorites? I do and did. My first love was the big exebition Cats followed by a love for Phals.. Now I have trouble getting enthused about taking care of them. The fascination and waiting with anticipation for my cymbidiums and Phrags to bloom that I did for Cats when I was a beginner has taken over. Oh and I love the Dendrobiums and Stanhopeas.