What do you consider the best first time orchid to own?

[siannevo]

wow!! what awesome feedback guys....i am going to have to take everyone suggestions and look up what the flowers look like. I have two weeks before i hit an orchid auction by local california growers so hopefully i can find one of these there!!

And thanks Neb for the online store recommendations!!

[Phantasm]

As you can tell, it depends on you growing conditions. What works in Malaysia will be different than what works in Chicago. If you have a greenhouse or can grow outdoors, your options are much larger.

[luckygrower]

I don't know your growing conditions but if you can give it full sun Laelia anceps spieces are very easy to grow and are very forgiving to the temps required,mine are outside year round,mounted,get full sun all the time, and are in a temperature range of low 30's in the winter to high 90's in summer.
Mike

[siannevo]

I live in Southern California, right by the beach, I dont have a garden, but i have a huge roof deck...most of my orchids are indoors, so I would be looking for an indoor orchid (for the time being)...I dont really get any direct sun into my because it has overhangs, but i get a lot of indirect lighting and its very bright in my house.

That should offer a better idea of my location...It gets on average 80 degrees outside during the day and about 60 in the night. This of course fluctuates during winter and summer months.

[pvaughan]

I grew orchids years ago, but got out of it when I moved from Florida to Michigan and have just started with them again. I wish there had been resources like this back then. Just the idea of using clear plastic pots it WAY better than the teracotta pots I used to use.

I would look for an epidendrum. I'm growing a handfull of Epidendrum Radicans(?) that I rescued from my grandfather's house in Florida where they were growing like weeds with no care at all. The books I have say they almost can't be killed, and I've found that with any kind of decent care they grow like crazy.

Phals are a pretty good option too. They can be found everywhere, not too expensive usually, and aren't too difficult to grow if you keep an eye on them.