suggest an orchid

[Vulpes Velox]

Hi

I'm currently freeing up some space on a desk I have and was thinking about using my newly aquired free spot for an orchid or two.

My problem however is which one to consider, since its a spot that wont get much direct sunshine. and living in Denmark that means very little during winter periods.

In any case, i just thought some of you might have some good ideas. or perhaps suggestions to a species that have brought you much joy that i might not have thought of myself

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Here are some to try:

Doritis pulcherhimma

Kingidium chibae

Masdevallia dynastes
Masdevallia estradae

Masdevallia 'Dean Haas'
Masdevallia 'Sunset Jaguar'

Phalaenopsis amboinensis
Phalaenopsis aphrodite
Phalaenopsis bellina (fragrant)
Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi (recurrent bloomer)
Phalaenopsis equestris
Phalaenopsis modesta
Phalaenopsis schilleriana
Phalaenopsis tetraspis
Phalaenopsis venosa
Phalaenopsis violaecea (fragrant)

Phalaenopsis x leucorrhoda
Phalaenopsis x gernotii

Pleurothallis allenii
Pleurothallis anthrax
Pleurothallis aporosis
Pleurothallis asperigillium
Pleurothallis baudoense
Pleurothallis biserrula
Pleurothallis brighamii
Pleurothallis calceolaris
Pleurothallis cardioglossa
Pleurothallis cardiothallis
Pleurothallis chrysantha
Pleurothallis corniculata
Pleurothallis dentipetala
Pleurothallis dorotheae
Pleurothallis gargantua
Pleurothallis gelida (smells like roses)
Pleurothallis grobyi
Pleurothallis hemirrhoda
Pleruothallis hypnicola
Pleurothallis imperialis
Pleurothallis isthmica
Pleurothallis luctuosa
Pleurothallis martheae
Pleurothallis nephroglossa
Pleurothallis nipterophylla
Pleurothallis pachyglossa
Pleurothallis palliolata
Pleurothallis praecipua
Pleurothallis pterophora (smells like bananas)
Pleurothallis quadricaudata
Pleurothallis rowleei
Pleurothallis ruberrima
Pleurothallis ruscifolia
Pleurothallis scoparum
Pleurothallis schweinfurthii
Pleurothallis sphaerantha (tiny flowers)
Pleurothallis stricta
Pleurothallis talpinaria
Pleurothallis tarantula
Pleurothallis teaguei
Pleurothallis tribuloides
Pleurothallis truncata
Pleurothallis viduata

Scaphosepalum verrucosum

Stelis argentata

[Vulpes Velox]

wow..thank you King of orchid growing.... long list, there will be something for me to look up then, which is nice

is there any favorites of yours? and if there is how come its your favorite?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Masdevallia dynastes:

plant size: no taller than 10 cm
flower size: 1 cm
notes: Conforms to pot culture. Easy to grow. Each spike contains 2 to 3 bird-head-shaped cream colored flowers with maroon spots and bright yellow sepaline tails that end in stubs.

Masdevallia estradae:

plant size: no taller than 10 cm
flower size: about 3 cm
notes: Conforms to pot culture and has little round leaves. Blooms easily. I have a picture of it in my album if I'm not mistaken.

Pleurothallis allenii:

plant size: no taller than 10 cm
flower size: about 2.5 cm tall
notes: Conforms to pot culture. Flowers are bright red with yellow borders. Single flowers come from the base of the plant.

Pleurothallis asperigillium:

plant size: no taller than 7.5 cm
flower size: about 1 cm tall
notes: These are unusual in that the leaves are narrow and the flower comes out of the tip of the leaves. I have a bad pic of this in my album.

Pleurothallis chrysantha:

plant size: about 15 cm tall
flower size: about 7 cm across
notes: Another unusual one with succulent leaves. The orange flowers emerge from the base of the leave on a short spike arranged in a semi-circular fashion.

Pleurothallis corniculata:

plant size: about 5 cm
flower size: about 1 cm
notes: Clumping miniature. Thin spike produce one yellow-orange duck-head shaped flower. Easy to bloom.

Pleurothallis dorotheae (yellow form):

plant size: no taller than 7.5 cm
flower size: about 7 mm across
notes: Conforms to pot culture. Translucent yellow flowers are cup shaped and sit at the base of the leaf.

Pleurothallis gelida:

plant size: about 25 cm tall
flower size: about 3 mm to 4 mm across
notes: Each 10 cm flower spike emerge from the base of the leaf and contains a lot of the small yellow flowers. They smell like roses.

Pleurothallis grobyi (white form):

plant size: about 3 cm tall
flower size: about 5 mm to 7 mm long
notes: Clumping miniature with paddle shaped leaves. Blooms all at once. Each thin spike has about 5 white bird beak shaped flowers.

Pleurothallis hemirrhoda:

plant size: about 20 cm to 25 cm tall
flower size: about 3 cm long
notes: Cream colored flowers with red petals and a red and cream lip emerge from the base of the leaf and resemble dragon heads. I think I have a pic of this up in my album. If not I have a pic up of a larger relative. Almost always in bloom.

Pleurothallis nephroglossa:

plant size: about 25 cm tall
flower size: about 3 cm long
notes: Arrowhead shaped leaves have an unusual translucent orange flower.

Pleurothallis praecipua:

plant size: about 15 cm to 20 cm tall
flower size: about 7 mm to 1 cm tall
notes: Arrowhead shaped leaves are about 5 cm long. Almost always in bloom. I think I have a pic of this in my album.

Pleurothallis pterophora:

plant size: no taller than 7.5 cm
flower size: about 7 cm long
notes: Leaves are paddle shaped with maroon spotting. Each thin spike contains about 3 to 4 white bird beak shaped flowers with crests on top. Smells like bananas. I think I put a pic up in my album.

Pleurothallis scoparum:

plant size: about 7.5 cm tall
flower size: about 7 mm to 1 cm tall
notes: Like Plths asperigillium except this one is purple.

Pleurothallis sphaerantha:

plant size: no taller than 5 cm
flower size: 3 mm across
notes: Small heart shaped leaves have very tiny flowers coming out from the base of the leaf. If you don't look closely, you won't know it's blooming. Almost always in bloom.

Pleurothallis teaguei:

I've never grown these, but I've seen flowering sized plants with flowers, and these are spectacular! These are gigantic plants though. Each mature leaf is around 2 ft across from what I've been told.

Pleurothallis tribuloides:

plant size: 3 cm tall
flower size: about 5 mm to 7mm tall
notes: Clumping miniature. Bright red lobster claw shaped flowers appear at the base of the plant. Root tips are bright orange. Almost always in bloom.

Scaphosepalum verrucosum:

plant size: about 15 cm tall
flower size: about 1 cm across
notes: The flowers appear on a thin tall upright spike. They resemble miniature yellow versions of Audrey II from "Little Shop of Horrors". Can put up a massive showy display (better than most other species of Scaphosepalums in my opinion).

[Vulpes Velox]

thank you very much. very nice of you both the
Masdevallia and Pleurothallis sound very interresting, and from what i can read in my books should do ok in the spot i have (well my books doesnt go into much detail, so ill have to find some more to read ofcourse )

the Pleurothallis gelida sounds especially nice i think.

edit: also the Pleurothallis tribuloides.

[Connie Star]

Hi King,
I've read over this thread and here's my version of the question. I have a lovely office (I'm a college physician) with East facing windows in a hexagonal shape with room on the desk for a small orchid. However, it would be right next to a heater and I think humidity would be low. Also, I don't use this office in the summer and would have to move it then. Also, I can't put it over a water tray (delicate equipment nearby). Anything appropriate, or shall I just get a philodendron?

[slipperfreak]

I am about to say something very predictable - get a Paphiopedilum!

The Maudiae type hybrids are the best for your situation. There are thousands of them to choose from. They are all very similar, but you will see different color patterns and slightly different shapes. These are compact plants, getting no bigger than about 10" in leafspan, with flower spikes around a foot tall. The flowers can last for more than 6 weeks, and are among the most bewildering of orchid flowers. The plants are very easy to care for and flower freely. They are also very attractive when not in flower, with their beautiful mottled leaves. Do a Google search with "Paph Maudiae" as the term and you should get a good start for research. Some of my favorite hybrids of this type are:

• Paph. Maudiae (the clones 'Magnificum', 'Los Osos', and 'The Queen' are all great but may not be the easiest to find)

• Paph. Dragon Flag

• Paph. Makuli

• Paph Oriental Mystique

• Paph Hsinying Cocomaster

• Paph Voodoo Magic

• Paph Macabre

• Paph Watercolor Artist

• Paph Hsinying Onyx

By the way, sorry to bump this thread up - you have probably long since made your choice!

[Connie Star]

Actually I haven't made a choice for that spot yet, as they are adjusting the HVAC and keep moving the desk around. I love paphs tho. I've only been keeping orchids for a few months but I almost immediately moved to paphs (and phrags) from the usual phals.