Easy care/blooming orchids for windows and beginners

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I personally would not recommend a Paph or a Phrag as an "easy orchid". I've not found them to be terribly easy to grow. Many of them are very specialized growers.

If nobody ever told you, you'd probably not even think that many Paphs grow as lithophytes on cliff faces of limestone rocks.

Phrags are a challenge because they like consistent moisture and can be found near running water along the surfaces of rocks.

Really the only Paphs I'd recommend to beginners would be Paph villosum and Paph delenatii, these two grow as epiphytes.

[mimigirl]

I want them all!!! I had better sell the shih tzu for extra money. I am willing to try any new varieties. The one that havent performed for me dont make me crazy. I move on. One state horticulturist here commented if i plant is a dud you are wasting that pot and there are too many others you could be trying. You guys are great!

[Vanda lover]

Phrags are easy in s/h. Mine is in S/h in lava rock and it loves it.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You could try growing some intermediate to warm growing epiphytic Encyclias, Epidendrums, Prostecheas, or Anachieliums. Perhaps you could also try some Eulophias or Oeceoclades.

I've found these to be fairly easy to grow.

You might not get some to go right off the bat, but should any of these attempts fail on the first try, I wouldn't walk away. It's most likely not the plant, it's the technique or method that needs to change.

In other words, not only does the plant need to adapt, so do you - it's mutual.

[RandomGemini]

I have a couple of paphs. I've had good luck with them so far and I am definitely a beginner.

I think your conditions for growing matter a lot when it comes to choosing plants that will be "easy." Maybe a better question is, "Which orchids should beginners avoid?"

I've got one for ya. Just skip dendrobium cuthbertsonii. It's so tiny and so cute and if you allow it to dry out, ever, it dies. I know, because I killed one.

[Vanda lover]

paphs can be quite easy for some people. My neighbour is not good with plants other than easy foliage plants, but she has managed to bloom a paph that she got a couple of years ago despite the fact that it is on a North windowsill in between 2 huge Jade plants. I was amazed that it bloomed.

[kindrag23]

If you have success with Cattleya's you could try you hand at Catasetums. I love mine and they get the same light as my cattleyas and are thriving.

[lotis146]

My Orchid collection sort of "blew up" this year as I've bought a lot in a short time, so I won't speak on the ones i got a couple weeks ago. I will say that about a month ago I got Wilsonara Pacific Passage 'Peach Cobbler' in spike and it stays by a south window right now along with Zygolum Rhein Moonlight, Tolumnia Buck Hollow x Sib, Tolumnia lucayana pink var., Phal. Brother Lawrence x Yellow Brite Lites, & Paph. 'Hawaiian Illusion'. They were sitting on the floor for a while, just recently moved them onto a stand with Paph. & Phal. on the bottom shelf near the floor. All but Phal & Tolu. lucayana came in spike. Tolu. Buck Hollow's buds are preparing to bloom while the others have all opened (Paph Hawaiian Illusion not fully open yet). This window while south remains fairly shaded due to the trees around and all of these plants seem to be holding up well, Wilsonara had a new growth that's still growing and Zygo appears to have several new growths on each of three pseudobulbs.

I don't know if that's much help since I've only had them a month but these were my first outside of Phals & Paphs. (I'm a little nervous about the micromini Tolu. lucayana.)

I'm in zone 6b, house stays fairly warm.

Good luck!

[AnonYMouse]

If you haven't already done so, I'd suggest you look into the species of the genera you grow.

Species often look very different from their many hybrids. Some require different cultures from their hybrids allowing you to create a different space.

A good sampling of Phal species can be found here and Cattleya species there.

[Leafmite]

Vanda lover, I hope you get a haraella. I just bought a second one earlier this year from Andy's Orchids as I love them so much. It is in its own little container but still mounted on the stick...and also happy.