Orchids other than phals for beginners

[tucker85]

You can't beat phals for growing indoors because they can tolerate the lower light and they bloom for a longer period than most other orchids. I would go with Paphiopedilum for a companion plant. They grow in the same conditions as phals.. Unfortunately they can be expensive because they're difficult or impossible to mericlone. Some of them have beautiful mottled foliage. There are some mini-cattleyas that can grow indoors but, as a long time cattleya grower, I should warn you that many catts bloom once a year for a few weeks and don't have flowers for the rest of the year. I grow a lot of vandas but I don't recommend them for indoor growing. Most of them need a lot of space, bright light and lots of water. Whatever you decide to buy, start with plants that are considered easy to grow. Some vendors will describe certain plants as good for windowsill growing.

[LadySoren]

wow so much to think about! Keep the advice coming if you think of something else.
I love that there are so many types of orchids.... I just get scared to kill these beautiful things. lol
I will google the ones mentioned and see what happens

And as far as moving- believe me, I want to! Not happening right now, but I can't take hearing my neighbors getting ready for the day before dawn much longer. lol

[MrHappyRotter]

I'd suggest getting a paph or one of the smaller growing phrags in terms of ease of care, though what's easy for me, isn't necessarily what's easy for you and vice versa.

For paphs, start with a maudiae type (single flower, tends to be green/brown, mottled foliage) or a hybrid with one of the sequential multiflorals (cocholopetalum group). A few examples would be Paph. Honey, Paph. Deperle, and Paph. Druid Spring. I grow these types just like my phals. Using the clear plastic pots really helps monitor the roots, so you know when they're ready for water.

For phrags, pick something like a Hanne Popow, Mem. Dick Clements or Eric Young. There are plenty of schlimii & besseae hybrids that stay small and have colorful flowers. These will do fine in phal light. The "trick" is to let water sit in the saucer at all times, and to empty the saucer and refill it every 2 - 3 days at least. If you keep the roots wet and the water fresh, these types of phrags have been trouble free for me.

If you can, start with mature sized plants. They are way easier to grow than young seedlings, and you get to see the blooms sooner.

The only downside to paphs and phrags is that there are some species and hybrids in both groups that can be difficult and/or slow growing, or that require special care and treatment...so you have to do some research before you purchase.

[NYCorchidman]

If you don't have bright window and use lamp, then many of the mini orchids (and there are many!) will work.

I had success with tolumnias under halogen lamp. You want to keep at least 6 in btwn the lamp and the plant as I burned one leaf once when I got the plant way to close up to the bulb.
Paphiopedilum Maudiae, or either parent of that hybrid (callosum, lawrenceanum), superbien, malipoense also grow in dim light, so you can try these or their hybrids under the lamp or your window unless it is really super dark.
One thing with paphs, and even tolumnias, is that when the spikes grow, it is rather hard to keep them under the light unless you switch to HID type which you can maintain quite the distance btwn the light and plants and still get good light.

Many miniature cattleyas will also do fine under the lamp.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by LadySoren

I know this has probably been asked, ....

Indeed it has -- many, many times. There was a pretty good thread addressing "best" beginner orchids not too long ago. But don't feel bad -- I couldn't find it either. (I was going to link to it so you could read it over and see if it answered some of your Qs.)

Originally Posted by LadySoren

Anyway, if a beginner wishes to branch out from Phals, what orchids are easiest to care for?

A somewhat subjective Q which, again, if I had been able to find the previous thread I was trying to find for you, would have gone into that without require a lengthy retype.

Originally Posted by LadySoren

My environment-
Indoor
Light:: No good windows, so I have to use a 23W CFL in a clamp/reflector type lamp, so far it's ok except for one of my phals. No idea the foot candles. :-/

Humidity:: Honestly I have no idea.

Easiest solutions:
Have hubby make or buy you a grow rack. Fluorescent tubes fixtures like those for shoplights are fairly inexpensive -- at least if you go for the 4ft fixtures. (The 4ft fixtures and bulbs are actually the cheapest size.) Using such would greatly increase your options.

Buy an electronic temperature/humidity gauge. Easily found at BBSs like Lowes. They generally run around $15.

Originally Posted by LadySoren

(I'm the same person who's husband ordered a vanda online and I almost had an anxiety attack over it ...)

Understandable reaction. Although as KoOG mentioned, there are members of the vanda alliance that can "do" lower light (more on par with phals), many do require much more light. Without knowing just which "vanda" it was, no telling whether you had something to worry about.

Originally Posted by LadySoren

maybe I shouldn't bother....

Where's the fun in that?

Originally Posted by LadySoren

Any suggestions? I have 4 phals and a Ludisia Discolor (which I'm still new to, but should be easy right?).

L. discolor should indeed be quite easy.

There are some of the mottled leaved paphs that, as memory serves, would be fine in phal lighting. However, I would have to leave it to others as to which ones would be the best options as I don't grow paphs or phrags.

As I mentioned above, if you decide to get a light set-up, your options will increase dramatically.

[LadySoren]

As far as hydrometers go (those are the humidity meters right?), all the inexpensive ones on like Amazon have very mixed reviews as to their accuracy. I think it is possible to calibrate them though?

Ah grow racks... I will have to some day, but hubby is more of a gadget guy than a builder. He said "you can just buy one" and I know I can but... DIY-ness lol

[Corsetière]

Try Oncidium Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance'. It's lovely with long sprays of blooms, fragrant (vanilla and chocolate-like), and seems to be a vigorous grower. Though it is not a tiny plant, the spikes are arching and it can get a little wide.

Mine is doing well indoors right now. The first spike has begun blooming.

[LadySoren]

is your sharry baby near a window and/or under any particular lights?

[Corsetière]

I am just growing at a window right now. I don't have a light meter either but I think my east windows are a bit brighter than most folks. I've had to move plants further away from the windows because they have gotten sun burnt even with a sheer curtain in front! But I have heard that a lot of people have success growing Sharry baby inside.

[WhiteRabbit]

"No good windows"? What directions do they face? How much light do they get? What makes them "not good"?

Onc. Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' becomes a monster with huge spikes quickly - Mine did anyway. Purchased in a 4" pot, four years ago. Now trying to bust out if its 10" pot. Spike nearly 4' long. Of course, dividing frequently is an option to maintain the size. A number of Oncidiums and the Onc alliance intergeneric hybrids get big quickly.

Haraella retrocalla is easy for many people, is tiny, doesn't need much light.

Many mini-catts don't need as much light as their much bigger cousins, and aren't difficult to grow.

I got a mounted Aerangis citrata summer last year, which is doing well in a north facing window, reportedly tolerates deep shade.

Sarcochilus - a genus I am new to growing. - but most are fairly shady growing, fairly small.