Need a good beginner orchid

[catlady]

What would be a good beginner orchid for someone who will probably get discouraged if it doesn't bloom a couple times a year? I have luck with mini-catts, so was thinking of something like Why Not. I would appreciate other suggestions. Probably something that prefers a pot as he's going to keep it in his computer room so spraying a mounted plant might get too messy,

[GreggC]

a beginner orchid. They like household temps and are fairly easy to care for.

[Ross]

Yeah, I agree. I'd suggest a Phal.

[kiki-do]

And they bloom for such a nice long time! Yup, that's my vote.

[Dorothy]

As a starter, hybrid phals are much more temperature tolerant than species phals .. but once you get a taste for some of the species .. there is no going back ..
If you want a hybrid of small size .. there have been a few posts on Phal Mini Mark 'Holmes' - This is the most recent thread of Ross' new acquired cutie
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...rk-holmes.html
and if you want to over hybrid and some species phals - have a lookie here at some of these beauties Big Leaf Orchids
Yes they come in all shapes, sizes and some even fragrant

If you wish not to wait too long for an orchid to bloom .. try to find out it's age .. Blooming Size means that it may bloom over the next growth cycle .. Near Blooming could be 2 to 3 years to bloom .. and you might want to stay away from seedling all together
I learned the hard way
A Cattleytonia Why Not may not be a bad choice .. but I have not grown this one so I can't say how long it takes to bloom - Orchid special of the month at Billy's Buds of Minnesota

[Ross]

I'd also add in favor of a Phal, that most hybrids are pretty tolerant of dim light and constant office conditions. In fact many set spike better with cooler temps of an air-conditioned office. Just need to be sure that there is either a near-by window or bright florescent lights overhead.

[lepanthes89]

Phalaenopsis hybrids are good choices for warm,humid,not too bright places.I see you are in Fl.
If you have sunny conditions, I would recomend a "reed-type Epidendrum",or Brassavola nodosa.
They would both do well for sunnier,harsher conditions.

[Undergrounder]

Bah i have no luck with Phals! Everyone i know has trouble with them. The flowers last a long time but they're so easy to over-water and they get shocked by a change in growing position worse than other orchids.

... but since you ARE in humid florida, i guess you might have better luck than us warm temperate types. Here Cymbidiums and Den kingianums are the easiest to grow, but they probably wouldn't like florida too much.

[tbaenziger]

is my suggestion. I'm in Houston and not only does this one rebloom freely, it extends its blooming over three to four months on the same inflorescence. That is, nine months of two to three flowers all the time. And they are pretty. It is readily found in Florida at orchid dealers, and not expensive, compact, and demanding only water, air and light, and will take extremes of 55-95 degrees. I believe mine came from Gold Country (Bob Koch), but his website is down. Just google it and see what dealers come up.

[Gwenchanter]

I was a complete orchid newbee and my sister gave me a phal and I just left it out on the patio and forgot to water it even and it went crazy with blooms. That's actually what got me into it. I realized it was easier then it looked since I'd had such success. It is just a nice big pink phal noid hybrid. I live in south florida and I think my sister bought it at publix supermarket! Just make sure your friend doesn't overwater because of the humity here, put it on a shaded patio and you can't go wrong.