Recommendation?

[Wolfrott]

What orchid do you recommend for a beginner, and thrives best when rarely tended to? An orchid in a pot, not tree mounted.

[Bulbofett]

Living in AUS you'd have an easy time with Australian Dendrobiums. Especially, Dens that are native to your region. If you can attend a local orchid society, or find an Australian orchid group on FB see what everyone else is growing.

[NYCorchidman]

Any orchid in a pot needs at least regular watering or it will not do well if not die from desiccation.

So, if your "rarely tended to" does not include regular watering, then I would say nothing would stay alive long term, let alone thrive.

[pipsxlch]

Something with pseudobulbs. Where I live, my cattleya alliance plants fit that bill much of the year. I often don't have to water at all during the wet season, and not often during the winter- only our dry springs usually have me keeping the hose out.

I second the Ausssie dens that may be native to your region. My spatulata dens would be as easy as the catts, if we didn't get too cold in the winter for them. (the catt alliance is much hardier in that respect).

One problem- in a pot will require repotting, frequency may vary depending on pot and media used and your growing conditions. For less frequent repotting, I'd consider inert media.

[Wolfrott]

Thanks, everyone for the feedback and recs!

[Suri85]

How about Cymbidiums hybrids?I had a good success with them when I studied in Perth. They come in so many colours and pattern. Easy to bloom and They are available pretty much everywhere from specialist nurseries, Bunning's, garden centre, even at Sunday markets.

[bil]

I find it hard here to find a spot that is right for phals. Hard cane dens, the denphals do well, and will tolerate and enormous amout of light and temp variation.