I swear this will be my last orchid and it's a paph, any experts?

[Katsols]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Yeah, I said the same thing. I had no more room so I couldn't fit in any more orchids. Then I discovered you can hang them. Yeah. Makes it easy to fit more! Except, now, i think I have finally reached my limit.
Lynnleigh Koopowitz does take forever and ever to grow. I have it.

I'm gonna pretend i didn't hear you mention the awesome idea about hanging them haha! funny how i completely forgot about that.
koopowitz is gorgeous but yea.. i think i've decided for lowii, it's quite pretty and a bunch of other forums say they are not that tough/slow to grow.

[NYCorchidman]

Lowii is eay but is also quite large in plant size. So take that into consideration.

Anything with maudiae and fairrieanum are pretty easy. They grow quite fast and bloom very reliably. I have lots of maudiae type and they are my favorites!

Here's what I have found so far. The ones with fairrieanum in them tend to form multiple growths better than straight maudiea but they tend to flower less often.

Philippinese isn't that tough either.

[Franco24]

Agh! I constantly say "This is my last orchid, I swear!!!!" Until a friend, and fellow orchid grower sat me down and said - "Franco, stop lying to yourself!" One can get off of sex, drugs, and even women - but once your addicted to orchids - there's no hope. (I read a line similar to that in a book somewhere - and it's so true!)

Anyways, IME one can never go wrong with a maudiae type paph - they grow pretty fast (faster than my species phals and even some catts), and bloom pretty reliably. I too though am a sucker for paphs with the long twisty petals (tendrils) - Paph. Chin Hua Dancer. My last bloom on this guy just dropped and it will probably be another two years before I see a flower - though it's just so stunning.

Happy Growing!

[Rowangreen]

I agree the maudiea types are good for beginners. However if your heart is really with long twisty petals and you are only getting one (as if...) then you should probably go with that. Just be aware that they tend to be slow growing and expensive because of that. Unless you are prepared to spend some money you might have to wait several years for yours to flower.

I have one called Paph wilheminia. It's one of the smaller ones of that group of paphs and because of that apparently it's a bit faster to reach flowering size. Can't vouch for that yet: I've had it since October and it's grown most of a leaf since then. It's also just started growing a couple of new roots which is great for a wili: apparently when they get a new fan it takes a year for them to put out roots! (Mine has one fan. If it turns out it's adding roots to that in preparation for starting a new fan I'll be very happy)

Some maudiae hybrid seedlings I got the same time have grown new roots and two leaves each...

Couple of sugestions to confuse you more *G*: I'm rather fond of venestum. Not for the flowers, but it has amazing leaves. I also have a spicereanum which I got in flower. Both seem pretty undemanding plants.

[Katsols]

O cool, i'll look up venestum and spicereanum, thanks.

hehe yea.. i hope i won't become the single crazy old plant lady.

[Leafmite]

Orchids are a bit addicting...just a bit.

[The Orchid Boy]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Orchids are a bit addicting...just a bit.

I'd say more than "just a bit addicting", at least for me! I bought a large, very expensive, multifloral paph last fall and said it would definitely be my last orchid since I finally had my favorite orchid. 10 orchids and 1 flask later I still haven't gotten my last orchid. And I have 6 more that are currently in shipping!

[Leafmite]

Last year, I thought I was finished. I have gotten many more since then. But, now, realistically, I think I have reached the limit. Hanging them added more space and hanging mounts on the baskets fit a few more but I really can't think of any more ideas at the moment. My seedling orchids and small trees are going to grow. And, I have Angraecum sesquipidale coming as soon as it is warm enough to ship! :0

[Katsols]

O my goodness haha! I just got an orchid in the mail this morning >.<

[Rowangreen]

What did you get?