Deciding on an orchid from my kitchen

[AuGrower]

hey. was wondering if ya ll could think of a fairly large orchid doesn't matter what type that doesn't require a lot of sun and i could just have on my kitchen bar, there is a front door window and a fairly small window facing the west and it gets a decent amount of light during the day just not direct sun if ya ll need a picture of the kitchen to help let me know and ill get one, keep in mind as I'm sure almost everyone is id like the orchid to be in bloom as much as possible, but isn't a huge deal thankfully Ive learned to be patient with my orchids but anyway the more bizarre the blooms the better but i would be just as happy with anything as long as its big and can handle the lighting reqs. thanks for all the help

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If you can hang a basket:

Gongora
Stanhopea
Acineta
Macrobulbon
Peristeria
Cirrhaea

On the bar:

Houlettia
Huntleya
Polycycnis
Anguloa
Acanthephippium
Pleurothallis titan
Pleurothallis gargantua
Pleurothallis teaguea
Pleurothallis martheae
Phaius
Calanthe sylvatica

Mounted:

The motherload of all Phals, the ginormous, gargantuan grandaddy of them all - Phalaenopsis gigantea

Monstrosities among monstrosities - Bulbophyllum phaleanopsis. People cry out "Godzilla!" when they see this behemoth of a 6 ft long plant. The stench from what I understand is just as grand as the plant itself from what I've heard.

[AuGrower]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

If you can hang a basket:

Gongora
Stanhopea
Acineta
Macrobulbon
Peristeria
Cirrhaea

On the bar:

Houlettia
Huntleya
Polycycnis
Anguloa
Acanthephippium
Pleurothallis titan
Pleurothallis gargantua
Pleurothallis teaguea
Pleurothallis martheae
Phaius
Calanthe sylvatica

Mounted:

The motherload of all Phals, the ginormous, gargantuan grandaddy of them all - Phalaenopsis gigantea

Monstrosities among monstrosities - Bulbophyllum phaleanopsis. People cry out "Godzilla!" when they see this behemoth of a 6 ft long plant. The stench from what I understand is just as grand as the plant itself from what I've heard.

wow thank you! while i do like all of them i have to say the phal gigantea is probably my favrate its awsome! i work at a local florist and we sell phals so i see them all the time and while they still are beautiful im afraid they have become almost a normal for me but this oh this is almost like a whole new species to me, i also frogot to mention i live in eastern alabama in zone 7 if that helps or changes anything, what would your suggestions be on having the phal gig mounted on my bar? and does anyone know a good site for orchid pictures so i can see the whole plant? i wish i had orchid wiz but im a college student and for me its quite expensive i dont mind doing my own research with google however most of the pictures i find are only on the blooms

[AuGrower]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

If you can hang a basket:

Gongora
Stanhopea
Acineta
Macrobulbon
Peristeria
Cirrhaea

On the bar:

Houlettia
Huntleya
Polycycnis
Anguloa
Acanthephippium
Pleurothallis titan
Pleurothallis gargantua
Pleurothallis teaguea
Pleurothallis martheae
Phaius
Calanthe sylvatica

Mounted:

The motherload of all Phals, the ginormous, gargantuan grandaddy of them all - Phalaenopsis gigantea

Monstrosities among monstrosities - Bulbophyllum phaleanopsis. People cry out "Godzilla!" when they see this behemoth of a 6 ft long plant. The stench from what I understand is just as grand as the plant itself from what I've heard.

wow thank you! while i do like all of them i have to say the phal gigantea is probably my favorite its awsome! i work at a local florist and we sell phals so i see them all the time and while they still are beautiful I'm afraid they have become almost a normal for me but this oh this is almost like a whole new species to me, i also forgot to mention i live in eastern Alabama in zone 7 if that helps or changes anything, what would your suggestions be on having the phal gig mounted on my bar? and does anyone know a good site for orchid pictures so i can see the whole plant? i wish i had orchid wiz but I'm a college student and for me its quite expensive i don't mind doing my own research with google however most of the pictures i find are only on the blooms

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If your indoors temperatures don't go below 55 F at any given part of the year, you're fine.

http://img.alibaba.com/photo/1016756...es_Orchids.jpg

http://merklesorchids.com/2Images/27...gigantea_2.jpg

http://image07.webshots.com/7/1/83/6...6aiMzFn_fs.jpg

http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/plant2/migo.../170218/42.jpg

http://www.tok2.com/home/itonoborujp...gigante/03.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1336/...d60b35.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/...73212d.jpg?v=0

[AuGrower]

does that phal gigantea need to be mounted or is it just better to grow on a mount rather than a pot

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I'd grow it mounted, as it would appear that growing them potted would present a lot of problems with tipping over. Not to mention keeping the roots properly aerated while providing the proper amount of moisture could end up being a problem if they're grown potted. The trade off is having to water more often. But I think it's worth every minute of the time you put into it.

I mount all my Phals, and there has not been very many disappointments yet. The roots on my plants grow very well. If there's a problem with root damage, (and there was just recently; as early as a little over one month ago), the roots recover very quickly (started seeing new root growth about a week ago). I never worry about crown rot, because the water is always directed away from the crown. Root rot is very rare, (the root damage my Phals received was not from root rot, it was because I was experimenting with a new way to provide the plants with nutrients; needless to say it bombed). Plant growth is very rapid. The roots also have the opportunity to photosynthesize like they would in nature. All the Phals I currently own have been around for two years under my care (if they haven't already hit that mark).

There you go, that's my Mounting Your Phal commercial.

Happy growing, however way you decide to grow the plant.

[AuGrower]

well thank you for all of your help i will find a way to make a mounted phal gig work...i do have 2 phals in pots one is in plastic and one in a clay pot the plastic i saved from my brother and his wife from throwing away just because they grew tired of taking care of it the other i got for myself from my shop, you wouldnt believe the amount of roots growing outside the clay pot it probably means i need to repot it but it seems insanely healthy. well now i am bound and determined to get a phal gig the two things i am working on right now are a) making sure my kitchen gets enough light to keep the gig happy and blooming and b) finding a mature healthy one at a reasonable price wich i think i may have managed but have to check up on

[Cym Ladye]

AuGrower,

If you plan on growing a phal gigantea you will also need to invest in another kitchen for yourself! This species was not named gigantea without a reason! It is not the flowers which are large, but the plant and its leaves when it becomes mature enough to bloom.

CL

[AuGrower]

any winter blooming orchids that dont need much light and smell great?