Suggestions for first Orchid in non-ideal climates
 

As the title says, I'm looking for a Orchid that can tolerate relatively low temps (60's) and simple window light. Does such an Orchid exist? Now i'm a complete newb, but through the minimal research I did I stumbled across the genus Paphiopedilum. Would this suffice? Are they hard to grow from seeds? If so, how common are they in flower shops? The one where I stopped here in State College (I'm a student at Penn State) never even heard of that particular genus, but was asking her suppliers. It's been a week since i've heard from her so i'm not holding my breath.

Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

Thanks ahead of time. I really look forward to what you have to say.

there are cool growing orchids; Masdevalias....Pleuros .... Draculas....Bulbophyllums....Dendrobiums; in fact a Vanda coerulea will thrive in 45 to 60 F south facing window sill provided it is given humidity and moisture
you will not find these in flower shops
but a lot of growers sell them on Ebay and in some on line websites
just do some research on cool growing orchids

Thanks for the reply.

All of those would work?

A search before I started this thread yielded nothing. Maybe I need to work on my google skills! lol

If you have an east to southeast exposure an oncidium hybrid would be a good beginner orchid for you. You can pick them up sometime in Lowes or Home Depot, or in some garden centers that sell houseplants.

Bill

I'll have to pay attention to what direction the sun comes up tomorrow morning.Well actually let me try Google Earth first...

I think it's E to NE

60 being average temp? Night temp?

The thermostat will most likely be around 65. Outside temperatures will be much colder in the winter.

I keep my home in winter 53 overnight, low 60s daytime - of course it's warmer in summer ...

Oncidiums and Oncidium alliance intergenerics, many Dendrobiums, mini Cattleyas do fine. probably most hybrid Phalaenopsis would be fine, too - I grow many outdoors in winter that take much lower over-night temps, not even noted cool growers - tho I'm certain it's less than ideal, but they do ok. I think most orchids sold in stores (except Cymbidiums which are hard to grow indoors, and need a cooler period) would probably work for you. How warm would they be in summer? Some cool growers really don't take much warmth ...

I'm not allowed to set the thermostat below 60 degrees, or else i'd have it set like you! During summer if I kept it in the house it would be around 70 degrees? Maybe mid-70s?

I sit all my orchids by the windows, albeit they are old and a bit drafty, with the temp set around 65 at night. They seem to love it and bloom religiously for me. I don't think the temps you just described would be a problem. I do take mine out late spring to early fall though so they can experience the temperature differences.

Oh, and as you can see I grow many types. The best to start with tend to be Oncidiums, Some Dendrobiums, Phals and Paphs.

Ha! I'd keep it warmer, but don't care to give anymore money to the power company than I have to :p

I don't think you need to worry too much about temps - probably ok for some of the cooler growers - and ok for intermediate - warm growers in my opinion.

East or west facing windows are good for most orchids except for ones that require very high light (the big Cattleyas, Vandas, Cymbidiums) or quite low light (some of the Masdevallias, some Draculas - I think, unless they are shaded)

I think there are many orchids that would do fine for you - Oncidiums and Oncidium alliance inter-generic hybrids, many Dendrobiums, Phalaenopsis (except for maybe hot growing species).

Usually, most orchids sold in stores should be good- except for the Cymbidiums, possibly the nobile type Dendrobiums (tall canes with blooms on short spikes growing from the sides of the canes) which need to be cool in winter, not sure just HOW cool they need to be ...

My Paphs though, I leave inside year round as they tend to not like large temperature fluctuations like you'd get outdoors.

:agree:

What is your year round temps, humidity and light like where you plan to keep the orchids? A southwest window near a heat register and/or a lighting fixture is going to be a lot warmer/dryer than a northeast facing window. Many orchids are cool grower but not warm tolerant.

You don't have to buy from them but Andy's Orchids has a selector using growing conditions for search parameters. I use it as reference whether I'm buying from them or not (I do have a few of their plants :biggrin:).

And of course, there are many simple things you can do to accommodate a plant.

Wow guys, thanks so much for all the replies. I got distracted for 20 minutes watching the Steeler's game and boom!

I'll look into all the different types that have been mentioned.

In regards to my temps and humidity and the sort, it's hard to tell. Temperatures (outside) can range from mid-80's in the summer (and go to high 90's every now and then) to the teens in the dead of winter. I plan on keeping the Orchids inside, obviously, and tend to keep the room around 65. The room is heated by a radiator, but I believe window faces East.

Thanks for the link to Andy's Orchids. I'll check it out now!

I read a lot of places how hybrids are better choices for beginners opposed to species. Is there any truth to this?

I only bring this up after going to Andy's website

ETA: My first search yielded no results :lol: perhaps i'm too picky

There is a check box for easy growers in that search. There must be other places that use "easy or beginner" as a criteria.

I don't think hybrids are particularly easier than species. Its a matter of finding what suits you. I use to pick up mass produced NoID orchids and mostly grew them on neglect because I could always go get another (they have all been adopted out). They are a good way to "cut your teeth" on (cost wise) but as you read more of the forums, you'll see that people have just as much difficulty with hybrids. I now have some species that I feel are too easy to be true and a couple of hybrids that drive me mental.

:goodluck:

Yeah i'm just an idiot and thought "country of origin" was asking what country I lived in...(that will obviously narrow the results quite a bit). When I used the filter properly, I got two results

I have yet to see any blue orchids. Do they even exist?

Some Vanda, and their hybrids, are blue and also some other relatives.
Could you tell the State where you live, so maybe some people living in there could be more detailed helping you?

Yes, where you live will help us greatly.

The blue orchids you see in big box stores are died blue by the way. The next year they will be all white. Just an FYI in case your tempted because they are sold as being "blue", lol....

My apologies, in my first post I mentioned what school I went to. I thought most people would be familiar...

I currently reside in central Pennsylvania (Centre County, to be specific.)

I did a quick search for "blue orchids" and WOW. They are soooo pretty. I don't even think they're real!

I just saw this now, lol. They could have suckered me in easy!

My temps in the winter is set at 64'F but on cold, dreary days and frigid winter nights, the window areas are likely colder. Neofinetia and Burrageara Nelly Isler 'Swiss Beauty' should do well. The first is small and cute but only blooms once a year (some varieties bloom less often) but the Burrageara Nelly Isler 'Swiss Beauty' is an undemanding orchid that would do well with your lighting and tolerates a variety in temperature over 50'F and blooms three times a year for over two months at a time.

I really like the Swiss Beauty..know of any particular place to get them? Or will they mostly all be the same thing online? I would imagine there are more reputable breeders/growers known.

Because this was a very complicated cross, all Burr. Nelly Isler 'Swiss Beauty' are clones of the original. Any by that name will be exactly the same. I bought mine at an orchid show. Good luck!

I might see if the green house here at Penn State has anything they'd give to a student..

Marlow's Orchids has the Nelly Isler. He was at the Pittsburgh Orchid Festival. He is very nice and the plants I bought from him were...fantastic! They are not as expensive as the ones I have seen online. If they aren't listed on his site, write him an email and ask. If you want to save on shipping, ask him if he'll be at any orchid shows or society meetings in the area anytime soon. I have a kid in college and one about to go so I do know what is like to want to save $. :)

Haha yes, money is definitely important. I get zero help from my family with school, too!

That's a good idea though, i'll send him an email sometime today. Might even send an email to the Pittsburgh Orchid Society..who knows?!

Where you are, there is likely a closer orchid society? You could attend a meeting for free to see if you like it (yes, I know, with college, this might be impossible).
If you don't get a nelly isler now, mine will be divisible in a year or two and you would be welcome to a freebie. This past year, I have been giving away orchids at my OS to make certain all my plants would fit. I had doubles, divisions, and those I no longer wanted. Nelly Isler looks like it grows fast once established (like an oncidium) and I don't have room to allow it to get too large. Just revive the thread next year and ask. :)
Good luck with college!

Thanks! I'm not sure I can wait that long, though! I don't know if I mentioned this in the thread, but i'm originally from Pittsburgh. I go there every few weekends anyways, so it wouldn't be that big of a deal. I could still search to see if Center County (or one of the surrounding counties) has one, too.

bmilla:
No body has yet mentioned Miltonopsis hybrids. They love cool temps. East facing windows are just fine. They do not like a lot of temperature variance. I grow mine outside year round. Winter nights here drops down to 50F. But if night is low 60s and days upper 60s it would be ideal for these.

You can sometimes find these in florists or even home depot.

Here is a sample picture of one of mine that bloomed this summer.
Andrew
http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/...toniaNOID1.jpg

Thanks for the suggestions! Those are pretty. I plan on keeping my room around that temperature so it could work..