What should I grow?

[Zyzzyzus]

Hello,

I have a few micro-minis in a terrarium that are doing well and putting out new growth. I just recently bought my first 'full sized' orchid, a NOID from Trader Joes. I would really like to try a couple of other larger orchids, but am not sure what would grow well for me.

I really like Paphs and some Phals, and I also love the look of Oncidiums/Tolumnias.

I like spidery flowers and I like Phals that cascade.

Fragrance is a plus.

I can provide temps ranging from 58-63 at night to 63-75 during the day. (It is winter now for me, in the summer both nights and days will be much warmer.)

In terms of lighting, I have what I think counts as bright indirect light. My hand makes a fairly crisp dark shadow on the wall. I can also put plants in shadier spots if needed.

I am not interested in plants that get taller/wider than 12".

All of mine will be indoors year round.

Ideally they will not need additional humidity.

I do not want orchids that need a winter rest or that are deciduous.

Because of my size restrictions, I am not interested in any more NOIDs and have been eyeing papas from Carter and Holmes and Phals from Hausermanns.

Thanks!

[RandomGemini]

Good luck in finding a full size orchid that stays under 12". You can, however, divide it when it reaches this size and it will take it quite some time to get there.

Try Oncidium Twinkle. Twinkles stay pretty small. The other oncidiums that I have and the spider orchids all get much taller than your limitations. So I think a twinkle will be a perfect fit for what you want. Easy to grow, fragrant and cute.

[Leafmite]

Here are a few that I grow that might fit your requirements. They are fragrant, small, and can do well in bright, indirect light. You might want to do a little extra research. The Angraecums are rumored to need high humidity but I find that they do fine without it.
Angraecum leonis, Angreacum distichum, Phalaenopsis bellina (get a mature one as the seedlings are finicky), Acropera (Gongora) armeniaca, Sievekingia fimbriata, Tuberlabium woodii, Phalaenopsis violacea (again, buy one that is mature)
All of these are fragrant.

[Plodde]

I like oncidium twinkle, dendrobium mirco chip, encyclia polybulbon, maxillaria tenuifolia! All fragrant and all small if you choose to divide them once the get bigger then you want

[disalover]

You can try some of the mottled leaf paphiopedilums, they tend to be more warm growing than the plain leaved ones, they do also not get that big either. Paph. malipoense and its hybrids are fragrant. They like shadier spots. You can also try phragmipediums.

With the phalaenopsis you can try some of the species that don't get to big and also try some of the smaller hybrids. They also like shadier spots.

Oncidiums and tolumnias, most oncidiums grow into large plants with long flower stems but there are some miniatures. Now for the tolumnias most of them stay small and have a short flower stem. They do need bright indirect light.

Spidery orchids can include dendrobiun tetragonium, caladenia, corybas, bartholina and brassia. Most brassias are large and need good indirect light. But some stay smaller but will have to be divided if sympodial growth gets to big. Try brassia wageneri(agusta). Bartholina are very rare and can't be found even here in SA where it grows. I don't now about the others.

Hope you find some plants you like.

[wintergirl]

I have a Dendrobium laevifolium which stays small and has cute little pinkish red flowers that last for months. It is faintly fragrant and has little pbulbs at the base. I have mine in a plastic pot with spag moss which I keep mildly moist. I have not increased the humidity or misted it, it's just in my home environment. Everything I read about them says they like light but I have actually had mine in indirect light and got new flowers and leaf growth.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I'd go with the Dendrobium tetragonum or any of the Ada or Brassia species.

I understand it's a fun, throwing out ideas kinda post, but I have to say that I really don't recommend Caladenia, Corybas, or Bartholina, (I know Corybas can be purchased if you look hard enough, but Caladenia are tough to find in the US, and Bartholina is impossible to find here), unless you are ready for the challenge. I also wouldn't consider these "full sized" orchids. They are, for the most part, miniature to small sized plants, especially Corybas, (Corybas are minis). A large majority of the tuberoids on Corybas are about 1/4" across in diameter. If you drop a Corybas tuberoid on the floor by accident, it will be incredibly difficult to find, (first-hand experienced this - not fun). Some Caladenia are about the same size. Because I've never seen nor owned a Bartholina, I can't tell you how large or small they really are, but judging from photos, I'm guessing they're just as minuscule. Importing either Bartholina or Caladenia will not be cheap as well.

If you don't already own this orchid, have you considered Encyclia cochleata?

Some of the Miltonia species are cool too.

[disalover]

The only people who cultivated bartholina here that I new of were the duckitt's. They stopped doing it for the difficulty of deflasking. I only put out names of some spider orchids.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It's a shame the Duckitts stopped with the Bartholinas. I would love to try growing some, but I know they'd be just as frustrating as some Satyriums and many of the Disas.

[disalover]

Yes, since were in the cape I am going to try and find some for sale here. I've heard that stellenboch botanical gardens have some on display. I am also looking for orchids in the fynbos.