Need a good beginner orchid

[~OrchidPrincess~]

Phalaenopsis equestris would be my choice.They bloom almost every season but mostly Feb. to May ,are fairly easy to find and are pretty much guarinteed to produce keiki every time they produce blooms,which means your friend can put them all over his house.And thier small size makes them very good for desk plants.Just make sure to keep it moist and warm which shouldnt be a problem if you live in Florida

[jason woodrue]

Hi,

If your friend gets a phal, make sure it is in bark medium. then just water weekly. I think sphag makes watering tricky for beginners. harder to know when its ready to water again.


mike smith
the floronic man

[vmax3000]

I have Song of Love which reliably blooms every spring. It is sequential, so it stays in bloom for quite some time, one after another for months on end. Although I do like phals, they become so domestic due to the big boxes and pot-plant industry and sometimes the luridly exotic, but deceptively easy might be the bug that bites. Some paphs are terrestrial and hey, everyone knows what "dirt" looks like...not as scary as bark, for someone not familiar with the orchid cult and it's lingo. One can choose a hybrid that requires a little less light and is home temp tolerant, just like a phal. and still have that really rare appeal to those of us who live on the edge...or maybe it's the fringe ...all depends on one's perspective, I suppose. Anyway, my advice is worth what you paid for it!! Good luck and I hope your friend enjoys the plant regardless!

[Paul]

A lt depends on how much light the plant will actually receive. If you do decide to go with a minicatt, I'd suggest a Pot Hoku Gem.

[Don Perusse]

Take your pick:
1. Angraecum sesquipedale
2. Brassolaelia Yellow Bird
3. Cattleya Chocolate Drop
4. Den. Emma "White"
5. Prosthechea cochleata
6. Neostylis Lou Sneary
7. Onc. Sweet Sugar
8. Phap. Maudiae
9. Phal. Baldan's Kaleidoscope (Even among the comparatively carefree phals., this one stands out.
10. Zygopetalum mackavi - most of the Zygos species and their hybrids are rather tolerant of neglect.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Good Luck

[vmax3000]

What about a jewel orchid? Flowers can be diminuitive, to weird or even preverted, but the foliage is drop-dead gorgeous. A Macodes or Ludisia or...? They are typically low-light, house-friendly plants. Again, good luck.

[~OrchidPrincess~]

jewel orchids are good but can be challenging because sometimes overwatering (especially in humid areas) can cause fungus,viruses basically resulting in death and they are usually not that easy to find

[vmax3000]

Originally Posted by ~OrchidPrincess~

jewel orchids are good but can be challenging because sometimes overwatering (especially in humid areas) can cause fungus,viruses basically resulting in death and they are usually not that easy to find

Too true. I just get that hazy look in my eyes and suggest one of everyone of the plants in my own collection....I forget how much carnage I left in my own wake when I first started!

[~OrchidPrincess~]

I can still remember all those innocent rotting orchids sitting in my compost pile.I wish I could go back and tell myself to stop repotting them already!!I killed like 30 that way,always changing the mix,always cutting thier roots...

[mojomick]

Gold Country orchids website is back up and running. He has some great mini catts that do well inside the house. I have a yellow catt from him that blooms at least twice a year. Does real well in a sunny south window. mojomick