Easiest Orchids for Beginners?

[lucRiv]

Is it true that Phals are the best choice/easiest Orchids for beginners to take care of? I'll be going to a garden show soon and am planning on buying an orchid (or two ) and want to learn in a way that is going to minimize my frustration and build some confidence. Also, can anyone recommend anything else that I should specifically take advantage of buying while I have the chance to at a better venue than a supermarket? Thanks!

[drone]

Depends on your location really.

The trick with phals is to learn not to overwater them. Once you can do that, they grow ok.

Forum members from your area can give you better advice.

[Discus]

Depends on your growing conditions, but yes, as long as your house doesn't get too cold, Phalaenopsis are usually the easiest orchids to start out with, as they don't need a lot of light - as drone says, you need to learn not to overwater them, particularly if they're in sphagnum-based potting mix.

If you're only going to get a couple of orchids, there isn't much specialised gear you need that you can't get at a supermarket!

[jrodpad]

It really does depend on the growing area. How much light do you have? What's the humidity like? Are there cold drafts in the winter? What's your tap water like? What kind of heat do you have in the winter? They like bright to moderate indirect light, they do well in a range of humidities but will be really happy above 50%, they like to almost dry out completely between watering and can tolerate a wide range of water types - moreso than most orchids. Cold drafts from upstate NY winters will cripple or kill them - so be careful.

As for supplies - perhaps look for a good, balanced, urea free orchid fertilizer. Phals need a regular fertilization regimen so you should use a product that's appropriate for orchids (no urea as a nitrogen source).

Good luck!

-J

[Eyebabe]

I actually think phals are difficult to grow.
They will be purchased in flower and the blooms usually last a good long time but...for them to survive for years, they are not easy. They are popular though

Oncidiums are supposed to be very easy to grow and conditions in the home are quite suitable. Their humidity requirements are much less than phals and they grow continuously as opposed to cattleyas which will have specific times for rooting and flowering.

I would do a bit of research on the growing conditions of what you think you might like to grow.
The AOS has print outs on their website I believe of brief synopses of culture for different types of orchids and that is a good start.
Then you can narrow down what to buy

[Paul]

That's truly a loaded question. As others have pointed out, so much depends upon your particular growing conditions. I know experiences growers who can't grow phals to save their lives but grow paphs (which I kill just by looking at) like nobody's business.

I would suggest getting two or three different kinds of orchids and see what does best for you. Hybrids are generally easier than species. Have you perused the forum here to see what kind(s) of orchids most appeal to your personal tastes? If you do that and determine what kind of conditions you feel you will most easily be able to provide, members here might be able to give you some good suggestions.

[Mr. Tech]

I think hardy orchids are the easiest to grow.

Just plant them into the garden and watch them grow.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I personally think Phals are the worst orchids for beginners.

Surf through the myriad of posts regarding issues with Phals and you'll know exactly what I mean.

They're not the easiest for experienced growers either. Although experienced growers tend to have a radically easier time with them once they know how to acquire and search out healthy specimens to begin with, learn how Phals are marketed differently from how they actually grow, and have learned to eventually troubleshoot their own problems and solve them.

One of the problems with most man-made hybrid Phals is that they come in in such an atrocious state of health, that they present a lot of problems to someone 1st starting out with orchids (this is especially true of Phals coming from places like The Home Depot, OSH, or Lowe's, etc.).

The other problem is that they are not potted in potting media that has you (the beginning orchid grower) in mind. The moss it's in has everything with the nurseries that sell them in mind. Most beginners don't realize this until they're members of orchid forums (or sometimes not even after that).

Species Phals are a bit trickier to manage because they require you to take everything you've learned about successfully growing Phals and tighten up your game.

Phals have unusual growth habits and need growing conditions that some beginners may have somewhat of a difficult time getting a quick grasp of in the beginning. I won't go into details about this unless there's a request for it.



You want my recommendation for an easy beginner's orchid...

Bletilla striata

Everyone and their mothers sells this plant.

It is 100% terrestrial.

It is cold tolerant.

It can be potted easily.

If it ever freezes, just bring the pot inside.

The flowers are nice and showy.

They're mildly fragrant.

You grow this thing like any spring bulb. Simple.



If you want an easy epiphyte to grow, try growing the epiphytical Laelias, like:

Laelia anceps
Laelia purpurata
Laelia tenebrosa


Or...


Try Anacheilum (formerly Encyclia):

Anacheilum fragrans
Anacheilum cochleata
Anacheilum radiata


Or...


Epidendrums:

Epidendrum calanthum
Epidendrum nocturnum (native to FL!)


This is just scratching the surface.

[gnathaniel]

I have to concur with the opinions that Phals are tricky for beginners, I think they're often a first orchid mainly because of their ubiquity. I find Phals easiest to maintain when mounted, as this basically eliminates the possibility of overwatering and avoids or mitigates other pitfalls like crown rot and mealybugs.

For a good beginner orchid I'd recommend Dendrobium hybrids or species within section Dendrobium (AKA 'nobile-type'). The species can have a strong seasonality that some people find tricky, but most of the hybrids are extremely forgiving and all will reward you nicely for neglecting them half the year. Mini hybrids like Princess, Yellow Chinsai, Stardust, Kokomo, etc. take up very little room and seem especially tolerant of cultural problems.

--Nat

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You can also try:

Brassavola Little Stars


Or...


Brassavola nodosa