Buying more orchids

[Sonicles]

I feel a little cheeky as I have already had so much information from the members here & have only been a member for 5 mins but I have also read the very interesting advice offered via stickies. The thing is I have been looking to see what is available in my area (UK) to buy & I have found what seems like a good supplier. I have chosen 3 plants which seem to be suitable to grow in my conditions, but it seemed silly to go ahead with my purchase without asking for opinions here.
The 3 I have selected are:-
Burrageara Nelly Isler Orange
Encyclia brassavolae
Laelia (Sophronitis) hypophylla

I welcome any advice you feel able to offer as to whether these will be suitable at my stage of the learning journey. I attached photos as supplied by the supplier.

[Fernando]

Laelia harpophylla is a difficult one for a beginner. Nellies are easy and rewarding if you can provide cool summers and Encyclias are said to be easy if you don't water them too much, and strictly keep their dormant season. This specific one I've never grown, should be like a Cattleya. Encyclia: be aware of scales!

[Sonicles]

Oh ty Fernando, this is useful for me & not unexpected. It's difficult sometimes to work out these things for myself. I will take thus onboard & keep looking. Thank for taking the time to respond.

[Optimist]

Laelia (Sophronitis) hypophylla is what is called a Rupicolous laelia. It is considered tough for beginners. With mindfulness, I do not see why you should not be able to try. Check out this site: (www) .roellke-orchideen.de and look up the plant for directions. To paraphrase: It is a Brazilian orchid, that needs to grow in humid semi shaded conditions (Cattelya level light). Must be well drained to the point that when you re-pot (upon getting it home) it needs to go into "rocks" or another very hard medium. Lava Rocks are generally used for this. You could also use Lecca. It will need water each day, and then to dry out.

These have very "scant" roots, so any root problem means you do not have a lot of roots to play around with.

They also are VERY SLOW to re-establish. You may be looking at a few years before bloom.

If you can deal with those issues, then you should get the plant.

I must say that if you are in an apartment with the wrong kind of light, you are guaranteed problems, and might re-think your purchase. The absolute best case scenario for the Brazilian Catts, and other Catts, is to be able to spend at least part year outside.

[Sonicles]

Thank you optimist. This is just the kind of info I was looking for and am glad I posted this question. The supplier gave pretty much the same growing conditions for all 3 but to be fair, they did say they would send specific info with each plant and could also offer advice by phone. However, I felt I would get more reliable info from here. I thank you for your time in replying and has really helped me to make a decision.

[PaphMadMan]

You are asking the best question for a beginner - are these good choices for me now? It is best if you start with orchids that tolerate a variety of treatments or are precisely suited to what you can offer. Then you don't get frustrated and lose plants needlessly.

It is unfortunate that "Encyclia" brassavolae is still usually seen under that name. It tends to lead to the false conclusion, even by sellers, that it will respond to "typical Encyclia" conditions. The most commonly grown true Encyclias (like E. cordigera) are warm growers that tolerate low humidity fairly well. Prosthechea (or Panarica) brassavolae is a cool grower, and in indoor conditions of low humidity, warm nights and often not quite enough light it will spiral down to a slow death if spider mites or scale don't make it a fast death.

As already indicated, Oncidiopsis Nelly Isler (you have to get used to name changes with orchids) is probably a good choice. Hot summers, especially without cool nights, are a problem. Usually these do well for UK growers. Just be aware that warm low humidity conditions can be a problem. If you do well with Nelly for year you may be ready to try Prosthechea brassavolae.

One reason the Nelly Isler is a good choice is that as a complex hybrid it has had generations of selection for growing under less than natural conditions, and the worst idiosyncrasies of the various species get smoothed over. A better choice than the somewhat challenging "rupicolous Laelia" harpophylla (these are now considered Cattleya or could be considered in their own genus of Hoffmannseggella) would be one of the many compact hybrids between this group and small Cattleya types. And again, if you do well with the hybrid you may be ready for a more finicky species that needs similar conditions or is related.

[Sonicles]

Thank you PaphMadMan. This really is a minefield for me. I have many years experience of growing plants both in house & garden & have on many occasions produced good results basing my choices on the right growing conditions for the plants. However, these orchids are a whole new ball game. I am however fascinated and will continue to read and learn more. I may well buy the Oncidiopsis Nelly Isler and maybe wait until I can go somewhere to actually look at the plants I'm buying. Maybe one will choose me lol. I really appreciate your kind message and in depth information to help me choose wisely.

[rbarata]

You should choose one that you know has a high % of successful growing under your conditions.
By doing that, although a sucessful growing is almost certain right from the start, you'll get in contact with other genera and help you understand more the environmental conditions you have available.
By other hand you'll "calibrate" your watering
proficiency, which will help you to deal with different types of orchid requirements.

[Optimist]

I frankly feel that Paphiopedilums -- something like a Maudia type, a "Bulldog," or even a Venustium, are excellent for beginners. Cattleyas are great if you have the proper light. Miltonia oncidiums (the kind you show in the photo) are much more tricky than say, a Colmanara.

[Sonicles]

Many thanks for your posts. I am slowly beginning to feel I am getting to know something about these beautiful creatures. I have just posted an update about the phal I have now, which I found had soil compressed underneath the crown. It would seem these store bought orchids are full of problems.