Hello - another newbie

[goofy]

Hi all,

I am happy to have found this board. I live in the East Bay California. I've caught the bug and it doesn't seem to go away. It all started last December when my sister gave me an NOID phal as a gift. I was amazed that it survived my "care". Since then I got:
3 more NOID phals
1 dpts
a spider orchid
a heaven scent "sweet sugar" oncidium
a green lady slipper
a tahoma glacier
a white knight oncidium
another NOID phals that I "rescued"
a butterfly oncidium
a NOID dendro that may be a nobile.

I am a windowsill grower and I am running out of space.
All of my phals seem to be doing great. They are all reblooming with 2 or 3 spikes each. My spider orchid is having 2 spikes right now. My trouble is I have no idea how to take care of the butterfly and the dendro. When I read the info from the internet, it seems these 2 kinds need high humidity. Has anyone here successfully grow butterfly and dendro on the windowsill? If yes, what is your secrets?

Thanks for reading my long introduction.

T-

[RosieC]

Welcome to orchid board

I've grown a Dendro on the windowledge but it's a Den Phal type and so quite easy. Other Dens can be a more tricky (I've not tried other types of Dendro yet).

[trdyl]

Welcome to OB!

Does your Butterfly Orchid look anything like Psychopsis papilio?

[goofy]

Rosie,
Thanks for the warm welcome.

Ted,
Yes, I think it is a Psychopsis papilio. It bought it last week. It has one flower, one long spike with a bud and a short spike at the bottom.

T-

[trdyl]

With the Psychopsis do not cut the flower spike after blooming unless it is brown and dry. These can rebloom from old spikes for quite a while.

I'm not sure about the Dendrobium. But I am sure someone else will chime in.

Your tahoma glacier is a Beallara.

Your spider orchid is probably a Brassia or Brassia Hybrid.

Cym Ladye posted this link on another thread earlier today which I think will be helpful for you with Brassia, Psychopsis, Oncidium, and Beallara Tahoma Glacier. Just follow the links.

http://www.cloudsorchids.com/culture/oncidium.htm

[goofy]

Thank you Ted. I won't cut the flower spike on the butterfly then.

More about myself:
I forgot to say I am a girl with 2 kids (4 and 5 yo) and I live with my boyfriend (the kids' father). None of them understands my excitement when an orchid has a spike! My BF has the same excitement when the orchids have spikes as when the dandelion are flowering!!!

Thuy

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Psychopsis Mendenhal is also another "Butterfly Orchid".

This is a hybrid.

Psychopsis papilio is a species. I've found this particular species to be more and more difficult to find in the market these days.

But then again, back then, the only local source of Psychopsis papilio was a local orchid nursery (which is no longer in business).

Intermediate to warm growing. (60 F - 95 F).

Moderately bright indirect light.

Allow a dry out period between waterings.

Give it a little air circulation.

Don't cut spikes as Ted had said. They can re-bloom from the same spikes for quite a long time.

Try not to over pot.

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by goofy

None of them understands my excitement when an orchid has a spike!

Thuy

Your in good company now. Most of us if not all are very excited when our orchids are blooming.

[Femme]

Welcome!

[goofy]

I have no idea if my butterfly orchid is a Psychopsis Mendenhal or a Psychopsis papilio. I bought it at a local flea market for $8.00. So I think it probably is an easy to grow orchid. It does not have any ID tag. The flower fell off yesterday. I hope the other spikes will have flowers soon.

Thank you all for your good advice.

Thuy