Getting organised as a beginner

[Shadeflower]

Hey Helen, some good questions there. You just have to see what works for others. In the UK without a greenhouse or additional lighting I find it is quite challenging to grow some orchids.
The ones that do well in the uk are odontoglossums, phalaenopsis, paphiodeliums and cymbidiums. Those will do best for you long term in the conditions we have.

If you start getting warmer growing orchids in a greenhouse you'd have to start heating the space and heating uses a lot of power.

There is a uk orchid group on Facebook. You have to ask permission to join and you can see what other uk growers are flowering at what time of the year to see what might do well at yours. Stick to what you see others succeed with, there might be some you really fancy and I generally like to challenge myself but there is no point trying to flower something you cannot provide the conditions for. If you can, great, but usually just providing what your house or greenhouse can offer is the easiest long term. To me growing indoors under artificial lighting has opened up lots of new doors. To grow an orchid indoors under LED light uses far less electricity than to do the opposite of growing in a greenhouse, using the free sunlight but having to heat the space in winter. But indoors space is a limitation.

Another reason to go for modern compact hybrids of varieties if one can.

Anything that needs a bit more light really struggles in our cold winters so you should think about supplemental winter lighting for your orchids if you can. That will open up the world of Cattleya's for you.

Without lighting I would be really limited to what I could grow well.

[Liodoro]

Thank you so much. That is all really good advice. I don't have a greenhouse, but my bathroom is beginning to look like one! I have mainly the varieties you mention, though not Paphiopedilums. I had thought they were more tricky. Anyway, I am surrounded by blooms at the moment so something must be ok. The challenge will be year in, year out.

Thanks,

Helen

[Cntry]

Just jumping in to say hello and welcome. I am growing seedlings once again. Just started back again after losing my collection I had. Like you my collection is growing fast. I am trying to remember all the things I learned like 5 years ago. Some of its is coming back other things not as much. But learning is supposed to be fun so here we are loving and learning first hand.

[Shadeflower]

If I was in charge of picking a national orchid it would be the paphiodelium. I don't even have a single one yet although I do want one... Even my mum has some.
Anyway the reason I say this is because it is the most represented orchid on the uk orchid forum.
I'd say from what I have seen they thrive in low light and cool temperatures.
Another one to consider is a pleione. Also a great popular one here but getting harder and harder to source these days.

[SADE2020]

I'll be glad to send you by private message a spreadsheet example

[Liodoro]

As to starting up with seedlings, that is rather what I am trying with my last surviving Dendrobium (I think) from erstwhile. I have planted up several keikis and am hoping that they and the two mother plants will take and eventually flower.

It is odd, but in terms of orchid aesthetics I am not so keen on paphiopedilums or pleiones. It is probably ignorance but I prefer the oncidiums, cambrias, phaeleonopses and dendrobiums. Oh, and the coelogynes (I love saying that word!).

How does one do a private message please? I would be interested to see a spreadsheet. Mine is getting there. I have spent most of the day on it. It's like homework!

Thank you,

Helen

[SADE2020]

Originally Posted by Cntry

Just jumping in to say hello and welcome. I am growing seedlings once again. Just started back again after losing my collection I had. Like you my collection is growing fast. I am trying to remember all the things I learned like 5 years ago. Some of its is coming back other things not as much. But learning is supposed to be fun so here we are loving and learning first hand.

Welcome Back!!

[rbarata]

Oh my! There is no hope for me then! I am up to 31 in just three months!

You need to join OA, not an app.

[Liodoro]

Sorry? You've lost me. What is OA?

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Liodoro

Sorry? You've lost me. What is OA?

Orchids Anonymous