Introduction and seeking advice

[j_orchids]

Hello,

My name is Jon. I'm in California. I love orchids, obviously, but this isn't a main hobby for me. I'd like to keep a few and see if I can get them to rebloom.

My conditions are very challenging. My studio apartment doesn't get a lot of natural light, especially in winter, and I have very limited window space for plants. The cultural variables that I can control are limited (watering, fertilizing, growth media). Temperature, lighting, ambient humidity are much more difficult for me - and this is a dry environment.

In the past, I had an apartment on an upper floor with an unobstructed west-facing window. I was able to get a very sad-looking Dendrobium and a Brassavola nodosa to rebloom in that window, but I have had no luck since moving out of that apartment almost eleven years ago. That Brassavola kicked the bucket after being brought to the Midwest, and the Dendrobium went back to it's original owner, where it is still doing well.

I currently have the following plants:
Beallara "Patricia McCully" (I think - it's from Matsui nursery, a Trader Joe's purchase. Confirming my ID would be appricated)
Brassavola "Little Stars" (well, the tag just says "Brassavola hybrid")
Miltoniopsis "Pink Lemonade"
Phalaenopsis hybrid

I'm attempting to attach some photos. Help with some basic suggestions for these plants would be helpful. I have had the Brassavola hybrid for several years. I assume it's "Little Stars", but it has never bloomed. I have recently been giving it more attention and it looks healthy and is putting on new growth.

I've been reading these forums for a couple of months, and I have learned a lot - it's probably generated even more questions than I started with though. Thanks, everyone, I'm happy to be here.

[Dollythehun]

Very nice purchases. Welcome, we are an informative bunch!

[jkofferdahl]

Welcome aboard! There is a wealth of information here, from some very nice people. I'm personally ignorant and quite crabby, but will also try to help.

[estación seca]

Welcome!

Well, there is Zone 9b/14 and there is Zone 9b/14. Much also depends on natural day length and humidity range. What part of the country do you live in? Sacramento is pretty muggy in the summer, but Salinas isn't.

Miltoniopsis need cool temperatures all year. They are best with 70F max summer nights, and cooler in the winter. A lot of people buy them as disposable flower arrangements.

There are a fair number of lower-light plants you can grow. Many hybrid Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum do OK. Most Cattleya and Dendrobium relatives need a lot more light than you have. There are a lot of miniatures that do fine in low light, but they need much higher humidity than found in most homes.

There is also the possibility of using supplemental lighting for increasing light. You can use a humidifier, or grow in a terrarium, to raise humidity. Lots of people here use all three of these methods, and you can read a lot about them here. There are forums devoted to growing under artificial lighting, and to terrarium growing. You can find them from the Forums entry in the menu to the left.

There is an enormous range of Phalaenopsis available that most people don't know about, because they aren't sold at markets. There are real miniatures, and there are larger plants. They come in all different colors from white to pink to dark pink to magenta to yellow to orange to even tan! Many do well in home conditions, but some of them need much higher humidity than found in most homes.

[Optimist]

The brassovola needs a lot of light. It probably will not bloom without additional grow lights.

Welcome to Orchidboards.