Pacific Orchid Expo purchase recs for my dim apartment

[j_orchids]

Hello,

I'm planning to head to the Pacific Orchid Expo on Sunday, during the last day of the expo, and I would like some recommendations for orchids to look for purchase. I'm interested in getting something a bit more unusual than the standard grocery store hybrid Phal. I'm especially intersted in unusual flowers, scented orchids, and fairly compact plants that will do okay in my apartment that is light-challenged (especially in the winter) and quite dry (especially in the summer). My indoor temps range from maybe 60F at the lowest in the winter to 80F at the highest in the summer. Is there even any hope of getting something other than a hybrid Phal to rebloom in these conditions?

For further detail, I have western windows, but the sun is mostly blocked by the adjacent building (especially in winter when the sun is at a lower angle). My windows get about one hour of direct sun in the winter (if the sun even comes out).

Also, can someone recommend a good "all-around" orchid fertilizer that I can safely use on any orchid and a dilution ratio to use it with every watering? I've been using Schultz at 1/4 teaspoon per gallon, but I understand that's not good as it has urea.

Thanks!

-Jon

[MrHappyRotter]

Granted I can't accurately gauge your light levels based on a generalized description of your growing area. You may need to consider adding supplemental light one way or another, but here are some plants I think might work.

Some of the Latourea Dendrobium hybrids can grow and bloom in shady conditions. Something like Dendrobium Microchip might work. It's a small grower, pretty tough, and has interesting fragrant flowers that can last 4+ months.

Some of the Aeranthes (Angreacum relatives) love the same conditions as Phalaenopsis. They have interesting green flowers on long wiry flower spikes. Some of the species and hybrids have night fragrant flowers.

Paphiopedilum delenatii is pretty forgiving, and might be able to handle shady conditions. Many clones are fragrant.

I think for any of these choices, and for most orchids in general, you'll need to address the low humidity issue, though.

[j_orchids]

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

Granted I can't accurately gauge your light levels based on a generalized description of your growing area.

Thank you! I measured light in my kitchen window (sunny winter day, but light not yet hitting the window directly) at about 500fc. It gets about an hour of direct sun on a clear winter day. In the summer, when the sun is higher, it should get a bit more sun than that shortly after mid-day, and then some more direct light later in the evening when the sun emerges briefly from behind the adjacent building. I'll have to take more measurements over the next few months to get a better idea of what I'm working with.

Latourea Dendrobium
Aeranthes (Angreacum relatives)
Paphiopedilum delenatii

Thanks for the reco's!

I think for any of these choices, and for most orchids in general, you'll need to address the low humidity issue, though.

With daily misting of areial roots, I have been able to get a Dendrobium and a Brassavola to rebloom for me in a maybe slightly more humid location. humidity augmentation is something I am willing to look at down the line, but not at this stage. I need to get a better idea of the humidity - I have a hygrometer I should be using.


I would love more plant recommendations and a fertilizer recommendation. Thanks everyone!

- Jon

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[estación seca]

Take your growing area information to the show. Go up to several vendors and tell them what conditions you have, and where you live, and ask their advice. They probably have customers in your area and can suggest something excellent for you.

[j_orchids]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Take your growing area information to the show. Go up to several vendors and tell them what conditions you have, and where you live, and ask their advice. They probably have customers in your area and can suggest something excellent for you.

Could it really be that easy? Thanks!

[estación seca]

Good growers want you to be happy with your choices, have them thrive and bloom, so you come back for more. In my experience they are very happy to teach people how to grow orchids, and suggest good orchids for different growing environments.

If you tell them you really want them to stop you if you choose something wrong for you, they will respect you even more.

[j_orchids]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I checked out the Den. microchip, but it lacked visual interest for me. Many of the Latouria Dens have pale cream or greenish flowers, no? I can't get excited about this. If there are more colorful flowers in this group that are compact plants and easy to grow, I would love to hear about them.

I liked the kingianum Dens I saw at the show, but they were mostly quite tiny. I like the growth form and the colors. I wonder if there's anything similar to this that I could grow and bloom?

I also like the "standard grocery store" Dendrobiums, which I think are the phalaenopsis type? They look like a much larger version of kingianum to me.

Paphiopedilum delenatii seems like one that I would love, but I didn't find any at the show. I will seek this one out in the future. The things that I'm not crazy about with the Paphs is the single blossom and the long wait between them. I'm also not in to the alien/insect looking ones that are green and yellow and brown with stripes and such.

There were many Aeranthes at the show, but most of them were tiny and mounted, which both bored me (not much interest in a green smudge on a piece of bark) and scared me off because I doubt my ability to care for a mounted orchid. I love this genus because of it's superficial similarity to Brassavola, which I love. I need to learn more about this genus and decide on some species or hybrids to seek out. Ideal plant size for me is 3 to 6 inches tall or wide. Most of these that I saw were much smaller.

I ended up with the following:
Brassavola nodosa division that I will try to mount on cork (even though I already have a Brassavola NoID hybrid in a pot). I figure this will be a safe way to get my feet wet with mounted orchids.

Phalaenopsis schilleriana (Pink Bonanza x Tuskes' Globe). Anything known about this particular selection/cross? I was unable to find anything about it online. This is definately more interesting to me than a standard grocery store Phal hybrid.

I was tempted by a Rhyncholaelia digbyana due to my love of Brassavolias, but figure I probably won't be able to get it to bloom. I figure I have a better chance with the Phal. schilleriana.

~ Jon

[estación seca]

Almost everything you mentioned needs fairly high to very high light. The Paphs and Phals don't.

[j_orchids]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Almost everything you mentioned needs fairly high to very high light. The Paphs and Phals don't.

MrHappyRotter suggested that I might have success with certain Dendrobiums of the Latouria group and with certain Aeranthes. That's why I was checking them out.

It sounds like Phal. schilleriana was a wise purchase, and I'm reasonbly confident that I can get B. nodosa to take to the mount and grow vegetatively for me - that's all I'm really looking for with that one.

~Jon