Good windowsill varieties for Boston, MA

[desertanimal]

Hi all! I've been skulking here for a little while, learning a lot. I currently have a few Phals, and have gotten two of the three to re-bloom this year. Having met with moderate success, I am thinking of expanding my SW windowsill collection. I am also going to switch my phals to S/H when they start new root growth.

Other than phals, does anyone have some suggestions of species that will grow happily in my area without a lot of environmental manipulation? That is, I don't want to set up lights or buy a humidifier. I'd rather just stick to what will be happy on my windowsill with watering, fertilizing, and misting.

I know that we have some native paphs, so that seems like a good guess.

Will Masdevalias work for me? Any locals have other recommendations for stuff that would work well in my set-up? Thanks in advance! And thank you also for the extensive knowledge represented here!

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[SlipperGirl]

I live in MI, I dont know how different it is here from where you live, but I think what ever I grow you would be able to grow

I dont know much about masdevallias but I think they are about the same as a phal so you should be able to grow them.

Paphs do great with phals, piping rock orchids has alot of paphs you could look there and see if there is any you like.

I am sure that there are lots of orchids you can grow on your windowsill I just dont know what they are I grow almost all my plants under lights.

I hope this helps a little let us know what you get

[tucker85]

I agree with Hannah, paphs would be a nice addition. Many paphs have silver and green mottled foliage that looks nice even when it's not in bloom. There are lots of different types of phals available also (Summer bloomers, mini-phals, etc). Keep your eye out for phals that are different from what you have. You may want to try a mini-cattleya also. There are some that do well on a windowsill.

[fishmommy]

I am in NH and in an east window i grow some bifoliate cattleyas and light-loving paphs like rothchildianum hybrids.


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[Leafmite]

Angraecums are easy, often night-fragrant, and adapt beautifully to the home environment. Some even like the cooler winter temps near the window. The angraecum didieri is easily found and stays small.
Neofinitia falcata make another great windowsill orchid choice. Have fun filling that window!

[Stray59]

How about Neofinitia varieties or Jewel Orchids - such as Ludisia discolor? Both of these are easy in the windowsill and should love the care you give your Phalae's - Neo's will like a little more light than the others, but you might be able to pull it off.
Bulbophyllum species can also be good for windowsill culture - and they can be very rewarding.
Masedevallias can be tricky as they need cool roots and moist, but not wet, feet.
Mini-cats are a good suggestion also, and if they will grow, the Neo's will do well also.
Best of luck - let us know what you decide on!
Steve

[The Orchid Boy]

Originally Posted by desertanimal

I know that we have some native paphs, so that seems like a good guess.

Will Masdevalias work for me? Any locals have other recommendations for stuff that would work well in my set-up? Thanks in advance! And thank you also for the extensive knowledge represented here!

Native paphs? Paphiopedilums can only be found in tropical south-east Asia. There are native slipper orchids called cypripediums that need to go dormant in late fall and "wake up" in spring. One species native to your state is Cypripedium reginae. Cypripediums aren't that difficult but aren't that easy either.

I wouldn't reccomend masdevallias. They can be picky about temperature and humidity. For me, they don't do well unless the humidity is 65% or higher.

I'd reccomend getting some paphiopedilums; any of them would be good except maybe for the multifloral species. Multifloral hybrids would be ok. I like Paphiopedilum delenatii. It is easy to grow, has the most beautiful leaves, and is fairly inexpensive. It was my first orchid that wasn't a phal. They can usually be found on ebay or many other places for $16-$25. I paid $19 for mine. Phragmipediums love S/H. Phrag. pearcei, Phrag. Cardinale, & Phrag. schlimii are some compact, easy to grow phrags. Let us know if you get something!

[stefpix]

I read that Phrags are faster growing that Paphs and less fussy, as long as you give them enough water. After all giving a lot of water is really easy, like some carnivorous plants you can have them sitting in a saucer full of water.

I just ordered Phrag pearcei from ecuagenera. A Brassavola nodosa is doing great in my southern window with some supplemental light. It does not need high humidity. mounted on a piece of bark wedged in a clay pot

[desertanimal]

Originally Posted by The Orchid Boy

Native paphs? Paphiopedilums can only be found in tropical south-east Asia. There are native slipper orchids called cypripediums that need to go dormant in late fall and "wake up" in spring. One species native to your state is Cypripedium reginae. Cypripediums aren't that difficult but aren't that easy either.
!

Ohhhh, I see. Thanks for the correction. I was conflating the two.

Thank you for all the replies! Those are plenty of suggestions! I had never even heard of Angraecums before. I've made my mother get me a couple of new phals for my birthday (which is tomorrow, but the plants won't come until a few days later). I'll look into the other species mentioned! Thank you so much for your !

[stefpix]

I have a few Angraecoids, but watching them grow feels slower than watching paint dry. You can get excited when you see them growing new roots because a new leaf may take 2 or 3 months...

I have A. leonis, A. dideri (i killed one but now it is doing well), A. sesquipedale seedling (I hope it reaches blooming size before I die), Aerangis modesta (a spike grew half inch in 3 months or 4) and Aerangis mistacidii (was a $3 deal). Aerangises are mounted and hang by the shower window. Anyway I would suggest getting something faster grower. Brassavola nodosa and its hybrids are fast growing and forgiving of low humidity but would benefit of some outdoor summertime. I have a Dendrobium atroviolaceum that grows like a weed. You could try a lower light Cattleya like Cattleya luteola. But to me fastest growing are the Brassavola hybrids like Bl Yellow Bird and Bc Kosh Wallis, although B. nodosa is more floriferous and forgiving of low humidity. Masdevallias I killed, but I have a couple of Pleurothallis and Restrepia that are doing more than OK. also you could try Maxillaria picta...