Beginner orchid recommendations

[estación seca]

Dendrobium is a huge genus spread over a huge area of Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Plants come from many different climates with different rainfall seasonality. Within different climates they come from differing elevations, meaning different temperature requirements. Botanists have divided the huge genus into Sections based on slight differences in growth form and how flowers are produced. You can read about orchid species at the Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia, IOSPE.

WW mentioned Den. hybrids from the Bigibbum (or Den. phalaenopsis) and Latouria Sections. They tend to do well on windowsills because they prefer even warm temperatures and watering through the year. Older Den phals are large plants. Breeders have been breeding smaller hybrids that fit more easily onto windowsills. Latouria species and hybrids exist from very large to miniature size.

Don't be tempted by the very beautiful Den. nobile section unless you can provide six weeks in winter with night temperatures at 55 F / 12C or lower. They need that to flower well.

[rbarata]

Don't be tempted by the very beautiful Den. nobile section unless you can provide six weeks in winter with night temperatures at 55 F / 12C or lower. They need that to flower well.

Not considering what ES said, nobiles are very easy to grow for me. And they don't give much work as they almost don't need to be watered during the cool period.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Not considering what ES said, nobiles are very easy to grow for me. And they don't give much work as they almost don't need to be watered during the cool period.

Yes, if you CAN provide the low temperatures you MUST grow them!

[Eli Vizsla]

Sharry Baby is easy to grow but they grow big and tall. Mine is in bloom now and stands about 28”.

[2SadDeadPhals]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Dendrobium is a huge genus spread over a huge area of Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Plants come from many different climates with different rainfall seasonality. Within different climates they come from differing elevations, meaning different temperature requirements. Botanists have divided the huge genus into Sections based on slight differences in growth form and how flowers are produced. You can read about orchid species at the Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia, IOSPE.

WW mentioned Den. hybrids from the Bigibbum (or Den. phalaenopsis) and Latouria Sections. They tend to do well on windowsills because they prefer even warm temperatures and watering through the year. Older Den phals are large plants. Breeders have been breeding smaller hybrids that fit more easily onto windowsills. Latouria species and hybrids exist from very large to miniature size.

Don't be tempted by the very beautiful Den. nobile section unless you can provide six weeks in winter with night temperatures at 55 F / 12C or lower. They need that to flower well.

I see. Dendrobiums are still a giant mystery, along with Cattleyas and everything else. Phals seem a bit simpler hahaha. I have to still do a lot of research before placing order, which will probably be May after my vacation, which should give me plenty of time.

The problem is, I am still not used to how to get information on particular hybrid and the lingos, but I am sure I will learn along the way (I hope). I think I will stay away from Dendrobium till I get a bit more comfortable with orchids. Thanks for all the resources! So helpful.

So far, I think a sure thing will be the Phal and Neo from Hausermann, then a few of the compact catts you reco'd on Sunset Valley (They are SO PRETTY). If anything else promising shows up at Hausermann in May, I will add those

Thanks again!

---------- Post added at 01:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by rbarata

Not considering what ES said, nobiles are very easy to grow for me. And they don't give much work as they almost don't need to be watered during the cool period.

Maybe one day hahaha. They certainly are SO PRETTY <3

---------- Post added at 01:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Eli Vizsla

Sharry Baby is easy to grow but they grow big and tall. Mine is in bloom now and stands about 28”.

Whoa gorgeous!!! 28 inch, YIKES. Hm I think they have other more compact variations, at least a couple. Sharry Baby just seems like a staple Oncidium, along with Twinkle. Must smell so nice!

[rbarata]

About nobiles...I used to grow one in my bedroom. 12ºC is not that hard to achieve in a home, especially in NYC. That's the temp I have in the cooler months in my bedroom all day (except when I turn on the A/C right before I go to sleep, but that's just 10 min).

[avian]

I purchased a Jiaho Pink Girl from Hausermann about 2 years ago and it's done very well. Was in spike when I received it, bloomed with long lasting flowers and then spiked and bloomed last year and currently has two spikes. The foliage is mottled and pretty.
Two other Phalaenopsis that are easy to grow and available at Hausermann are Timothy Christopher and Sunhope Raaravis. Sunhope is listed as being in spike/bud.

[Jeff214]

If you can find one, Procatavola Golden Peacock (or other Bc. Richard Mueller hybrids) is a very easy orchid to grow and to flower. It's very compact too.

I think Dendrobium nobile hybrids are easy as well. I have two hybrids but they don't seem to need a temp drop to spike. Maybe most require it? I dunno.

Onc. Twinkle is a good one too!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

.

I think Dendrobium nobile hybrids are easy as well. I have two hybrids but they don't seem to need a temp drop to spike. Maybe most require it? I dunno.

I suspect that most Den. nobile hybrids really don't need much cooling if any... the big breeder of these is Yamamoto Orchids in Hawaii.
Catalog of Yamamoto Dendrobiums
While the species may have that need, these have been hybridized to tolerate Hawaiian temperatures and be easy to grow and bloom.

[2SadDeadPhals]

Originally Posted by rbarata

About nobiles...I used to grow one in my bedroom. 12ºC is not that hard to achieve in a home, especially in NYC. That's the temp I have in the cooler months in my bedroom all day (except when I turn on the A/C right before I go to sleep, but that's just 10 min).

Hahaha, temperature in my house NEVER goes down below 20C. Old NYC building with those giant radiator poles in every room. I can open the window to cool down temp, but outside is about -1C LOL.

---------- Post added at 08:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 PM ----------

Originally Posted by avian

I purchased a Jiaho Pink Girl from Hausermann about 2 years ago and it's done very well. Was in spike when I received it, bloomed with long lasting flowers and then spiked and bloomed last year and currently has two spikes. The foliage is mottled and pretty.
Two other Phalaenopsis that are easy to grow and available at Hausermann are Timothy Christopher and Sunhope Raaravis. Sunhope is listed as being in spike/bud.

Yeeees! I have all 3 in my Wishlist. Also the Sogo Vivien! They are all so beautiful and compact! I had no idea Jiaho's Pink Girl had mottled leaves! I can't wait to get one.

---------- Post added at 08:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Jeff214

If you can find one, Procatavola Golden Peacock (or other Bc. Richard Mueller hybrids) is a very easy orchid to grow and to flower. It's very compact too.

I think Dendrobium nobile hybrids are easy as well. I have two hybrids but they don't seem to need a temp drop to spike. Maybe most require it? I dunno.

Onc. Twinkle is a good one too!

I've looked up the Golden Peacock. I love the look of those flowers! I love red and orange flowers. I'll add it on my list of orchids to look out for! Thank you so much.

I'll have to look into the different types of Dendrobiums and figure out which one I could work with. Sounds like Nobiles are easier? And yes, I was thinking of Twinkle too...do they get big?

---------- Post added at 08:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:15 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

I suspect that most Den. nobile hybrids really don't need much cooling if any... the big breeder of these is Yamamoto Orchids in Hawaii.
Catalog of Yamamoto Dendrobiums
While the species may have that need, these have been hybridized to tolerate Hawaiian temperatures and be easy to grow and bloom.

Thank you for this info! I will make note and look into those hybrids for the future. I really want to try one of every "major" types, and Dendrobiums fit that bill