Easy care/blooming orchids for windows and beginners

[mimigirl]

There is an orchid show/sale here in 31 days, am i anxious or what? I have 15 orchids. The ones that bloom for me are cats, phal, paph, jewel and enc. they grow on a south facing windowsill. Should i stick with just these varieties? What other small ones would respond easily and favorably here or in lower light? I need to start checking them out so i can narrow down my search at the show. Thanks for any and all responses!

[Corsetière]

Onc. Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' is a standard recommendation for an easy grower. Smells like chocolate/vanilla.

Colm. Masai Red has performed extremely well for me


You should try a new genus. You never know what will take off for you in your specific conditions.

[gnathaniel]

Leptotes bicolor and its co-generic species are small, showy, and tolerant, with bicolor and pohli-tinocoi pretty cheap and easy to find right now.

You don't say where you are, but orchid societies usually publish in advance a list of the vendors who will be selling at a show. Many vendors will bring something specific if asked, and if they have catalogs or decent websites you might be able to 'window-shop' a little to pick out what you want.

[RandomGemini]

If you can grow cattleyas, you should also be able to grow oncidiums.

[mimigirl]

O yeah, Nat. I already made a list and i m checking it twice! Lol i m in new orleans

[gnathaniel]

Nice, lists are a good way to ensure you get what you came for, and then some...

One of my favorite vendors, Louisiana Orchid Connection, is I think in Baton Rouge, maybe they'll be at your show. They have many unusual vandaceous (incl Phal) species and hybrids you won't readily find elsewhere in the US, and despite being so exotic most of what I have from them is pretty easygoing. Their prices are also very reasonable, especially considering how uncommon a lot of their stock is.

[RandomGemini]

Thinking on it again, after finishing my coffee and reading your post a second time, I think you should definitely have an oncidium twinkle in your life.

Oncidium Sharry Baby is a large plant. I have mine in a 4.5" pot, with 3 mature pseudobulbs and one new pseudobulb growing and I will probably have to repot it it when a fifth bulb begins to grow.

My Oncidium Twinkle, however has five pseudobulbs in a 2 inch pot and some of the twinkle varieties are even smaller than that. They are often fragrant too and I believe their scent should be bottled and sold by Marc Jacobs.

[RandomGemini]

Oh... and Oncidium Rosy Sunset 'Pacific Satin' is also pretty small and very pretty... but it smells kind of... not good. Like cupcakes and cat pee... Not a fan of the scent, but I love the flowers and the plant. It's been a really easy grower for me. I water my oncidiums on the same schedule as my paphs and will sometimes mist the top of the pot on hot days. They seem to be pretty happy with that arrangement.

Here's what mine looked like in bloom:

[mimigirl]

Checked on LA orchid connect and they wont be here, even though we r only about 2 hrs away. Guess i will have to check their site after the show. Thanks

---------- Post added at 05:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:42 PM ----------

The pics you guys have shown are beautiful. And i appreciate taking the time to answer me. No one on OB is a snob with the attitude that if i dont know what i m doing, than why bother. Some knitting stores i have gone too (only once i might add) were that same snobby attitude.

[RandomGemini]

My mom says the same thing about knitting stores. I love OB, the folks here are very warm and welcoming and very willing to share their knowledge with us beginners. This is honestly the nicest community of folks I have ever run into, on the internet or in person.

If you have a local orchid society, you should totally go to a meeting.