Essential orchids?

[Zabeta]

Hi everyone,

If there's another thread like this, please direct me there. But I couldn't find one.

For the past half year or so, I've been branching out from the typical Trader Joe's-type orchids and actively seeking out interesting hybrids and species that I read or hear about. It seems that some come up time and time again, and that they are owned by pretty much everybody (I'm thinking of orchids like, e.g., Sharry Baby).

I'd like to purchase plants more deliberately from now on, so my question is, if you had to construct a list of the most essential orchids for a well-rounded collection, what would be on the list? Here's mine, off the top of my head based on what seems to come up a lot:

Oncidiums:
Sharry Baby
Twinkle
Miltassia Shelob

Phal alliance:
Phal. bellina and/or violacea
Phal. tetraspis
Sedirea japonica

Vandaceous:
Neofinetia falcata

Catt alliance:
Iwanagara Appleblossom
Brassavola nodosa
Encyclia cordigera

Dens:
Den. spectabile
Den. unicum
Den. kingianum

Catasetum:
Monnierara Millennium Magic

Bulbophyllum:
Elizabeth Ann 'Buckleberry'

I know I'm missing a lot of genera (paphs, phrags, etc.) and species/hybrids (I'm sure there are some very special and famous cattleyas that I left out), but the ones on this list seem to be discussed a lot.

What others did I leave out? What are some lesser-known ones that would be great to have to round out a small collection?

[jcec1]

Rather than come up with a list of plants that I want, I sought out a few different types and then decided which ones could best thrive in the conditions I could offer. Some people are great at providing specific criteria for their plants by for instance building terrariums or providing extra lighting. I chose those that would best thrive under normal houseplant conditions.

I would look to see what is best thriving under your conditions, also think how much time you want to spend looking after your collection and take it from there.

Some things you may want to consider are, do you want all year blooms, scent, perhaps a certain colour, size of bloom. Also worth considering is how much you want to spend on a plant and how readily available it is.

[Zabeta]

Thanks, jcec1. This is good advice, and I do evaluate what I buy based on whether it would likely do okay in my climate. But I guess I was wondering about well-known and commonly owned (as well as underrated or lesser known but worthwhile) orchids for me to consider seeking out.

[rbarata]

This is good advice, and I do evaluate what I buy based on whether it would likely do okay in my climate.

Consider your climate conditions for outdoor growing and your average indoor conditions too. You can have some plants with different needs outside and inside.

[Zabeta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Consider your climate conditions for outdoor growing and your average indoor conditions too. You can have some plants with different needs outside and inside.

I can't have outside plants and have to make do with two south-facing windows in an apartment. This is partly why I'm asking about the "greatest hits" of orchids - there's very limited space for them, and I'd like to have a varied and interesting collection. There are some commonly owned orchids that I know about, and I'm sure some that I don't know about. I'm asking for suggestions for orchids, rather than care instructions or criteria for selection.

[rbarata]

I can't have outside plants...

May I ask why? Is it an available space problem or climate problem?

[Zabeta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

May I ask why? Is it an available space problem or climate problem?

It's because I live in an apartment without the use of a backyard or anything. I could leave some by the front door, but they wouldn't get any sun from that direction (I just do this with den. nobiles at night in the winter). The space I have inside is maximized, with shelves or tables around the windows and with the windowsills covered in plants. But that's about it!

[rbarata]

I see...but maybe outside you could put some cymbs. I have some in a north faced balcony, never get any sun and they stand temps bellow 0ºC in winter and almost 40ºC in summer. And they grow fine.

[Zabeta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

I see...but maybe outside you could put some cymbs. I have some in a north faced balcony, never get any sun and they stand temps bellow 0ºC in winter and almost 40ºC in summer. And they grow fine.

Interesting suggestion. . . I never considered cymbidiums. The area outside by my door is actually covered, so they really wouldn't get much sun at all. It would be full shade. You find that they're okay like that? I would love to grow them if I could.

[rbarata]

Well, it depends how much shade. Try to find in the web a picture of a place with an approximate shade as the one you have and post it or give us a link.