Orchids for every collection

[ScottMcC]

It's been getting quieter around here...

So I ask, what are a few orchids that belong in every collection? Be as specific or general as you like.

My answers:

A big white phal
A big pink/purple phal
A frilly cattleya hybrid
A cool and unusual species plant

and as many others as you have space and money for.

[Ray]

At least one mottled-leaf paph.

[littlefrog]

I'd say at least 10 mottled leaf paphs!

Everybody needs at least one big obnoxious oncidium type thing. Sharry Baby if you can stand the smell. *grin*

[Tindomul]

I agree with Scott's list plus one Miniature anything, one Dendrobium, and one Sharry Baby.

[cb977]

I think Sharry Baby is a given...along with Ludisia discolor and Maxillaria tenufolia

[Phantasm]

It's almost impossible to have a few orchids. One leads to another one until you have too many to count.
For beginners, a big white phal, a Maudiae type paph, an oncidium like Gower Ramsey or Sharry Baby, and a mini-cat.
For everyone else, if it's an orchid, you gotta have it!

[ScottMcC]

Here's why I phrased things the way I did. Sure, every orchid grower is going to want more more more, until they're the proud owner of more plants than they can handle.

But...everyone has limits, and everyone has personal preferences. Some people are slipper loves, other people are catt addicts, some people only like species, etc. But even then, I think most people can come to a consensus that there are a few classic orchid types that just about everyone can agree on as being cool orchids.

So this is why I suggested each of the things I did. The phals are easily recognizable by just about anyone as orchids, and are widely available and easy to grow. When your average idiot thinks orchid, they see a big hybrid phal, so it makes sense to me that every orchid grower should have one.

The cattleya hybrid is for similar reasons, but also that they're big and showy. Anyone that sees one is likely to be inspired to drool, plain and simple.

The reason I suggested a species plant as the last required element is to keep things interesting and unusual. It also provides a little link back to the wild forms of orchids, as many of the modern hybrids look nothing like what would be found in nature.

Looking at other people's suggestions, I'm not doing so well. I don't have any mottled paphs, I don't have any jewel orchids, I don't have a maxillaria, and I don't have any true miniatures. I'm terminally out of money right now though, so I don't think it's going to be rectified any time soon, unless people just start giving me plants. (not that I would complain if people did)

[Marco]

ummm hmm....how many are we limited to??

Anyway here are my favorite 5

1) Phal schilleriana
2) Paph stonei
3) Paph philippinense
4) Phal violacea
5) Paph parishii (I dont have one. If you come across one thats not a seedling thats "affordable" please do tell )

[amateurorchid]

My list would be
One Big White Phal
One stripes or spoted Phal
One fragrant hybrid or species
One Antenna Dend
One Frilly Catt
One Paph
One Small flowering Vanda family
Atleast one nursery grown (legally available) endangered species orchid (any is fine)
.......................
I don't have couple of the above but in the quest.

VIDA

[Marco]

endangered species that i know of is paph druryi....well i think its endangered at least