If you can only pick one orchid, which one would you choose?

[Pat'sCatt's]

That's a tricky question, only one! For me that would be Cattleya/Encyclia/Euchile/Prosthechea citrina! I think it's special in every way, growing to the earth instead of to the sky, lovely grey/blue foliage, stunning golden flower and highly scented! And with a little bit of a challenge to keep it happy!!

[withoutid]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

It is one of 3 plants that I have that I've owned for 30 years. Since the question said pick one, and IMO this is the best of the three, it's my choice. It has bloomed reliably for me every year since I got it from Jones & Scully in 1985. BTW the other 2 are Cattleya Wayndora and Cattleya Orglade's Blaze.

Your plants are even older than me.

[Atalah]

I couldn't help but looking up Cattlianthe Golden Wax on Google. What a beautiful orchid.

[Leafmite]

I cannot select just one. Why? Some are seedlings that I have raised and replacing them at their current size would either be very difficult or expensive (you don't see many blooming-sized Angraecum magdalenae really cheap). There are the seedlings that are unique because they are crosses so they are not really replaceable (my two C. gaskelliana siblings that are very different from each other and, in my opinion, just perfect). Then there are the clones I had on my wish list for many years that you just hardly ever see and finding them at a decent price was like winning the local lottery (C. Mini Purple "Blue Hawaii' and C. dolosa var alba 'Gorgeous'.) I have others that fit in these three categories and they are just too hard to replace and too special to choose between.
I also have some very easy to find orchids that are too good not to have as part of my collection but, you know, you can easily replace them. I have sometimes given this or that one away to someone who has really admired them while visiting and then just ordered another one. I could probably, with a bit of difficulty, give up about half of my collection. It would be painful but doable. The rest, though, forget it.