Beginner orchid recommendations
 

Hi! Orchid beginner here. Planning my order with Hausermann, as soon as they start shipping. Currently have a Tolumnia that is doing decent, and a bonus Oncidium seedling that seems to be on its way out.

After much contemplation, I've decided to try out different types of "easy-going" orchids to see what fits ME and my environment. Here are what I'm thinking.

- Phalaenopsis Jiaho's Pink Girl
- Neofinetia Falcata
- Maybe a Catleya
- Maybe a more mature Oncidium. Sharry Baby maybe?

I heard Dendrobiums are pest magnets, and Vandas get SO BIG and hard to flower.

Any suggestions and recommendations from your personal experience is appreciated!

Thanks!

In defense of Dendrobiums, remember, Dendrobium is a huge and varied genus. So important to choose for the environment, Consider Den Micro Chip or its offspring Den Nano Chip. Floriferous, easy-growing in relatively warm environment like a house, doesn't need particularly bright light (so easier than the Den-phal type in that regard), In the Cattleya department, look for the smaller ones If you don't find what you want with Hausermann, consider looking at Sunset Valley Orchids - lots of mini and medium Catts bred for windowsill growing,

Phalaenopsis Jiaho's Pink Girl is a good call.

If you're interested in Phal, anything in the Phalaenopsis subgenus of Phalaenopsis (not confusing at all) will be very easy to care for, will adapt to a wide range of conditions, and will be free-flowering.

This includes Phal schilleriana, stuartiana, amabilis, sanderiana, aphrodite and philippinensis.
Most of them have big, showy, pink or white flowers with mottled leaves, and are the cornerstone of Phalaenopsis hybrids. They make a good beginner-friendly entry-point into Phalaenopsis species.

It all depends on the environmental conditions you have in your growing area but, in general, Phalaenopsis hybrids are popular, not only by their beauty, but also because they are more or less adaptable on a relatively wide range of conditions.

Some general suggestions:

Don't get anything mounted. These are much more difficult to grow in a home than are potted orchids. I myself wouldn't try to grow any mounted plant in my house. I don't have time to water them every day. I don't even do that well growing them in my humid sunroom.

Don't get seedling sized plants at first. They are easier to injure or kill with improper care.

I suggest waiting until they can ship safely, and looking at their selection then. It will change a lot from now to then.

I glanced at the Hausermann Web site. They do have a beginner section. Of those I would recommend only the Neo and the two Phals. The B. nodosa is mounted. The Paph. is a seedling, not flowering size.

There are plenty of Dens easy to grow in a home. I don't think any of their current Dendrobiums fit what you're looking for. They are either small seedlings, difficult for beginners or plants not that easy to flower inside a home heated for the winter. They will have more Dens later.

All the Oncidiums they offer now are seedling sized.

Most of the hybrid Phals they offer should do well for you. They offer flowering sized plants and seedlings. I suggest buying one available in spike when they are ready to ship. The selection will be different than now. I suggest you not buy species Phals yet.

As for Cattleyas, most will do well for you if you have enough light. If you don't have enough light they will grow but not flower. People here in more northern latitudes have said they need to use supplemental electric lighting in winter to flower Catts. I don't recall whether this applies to NYC. Do some reading here on OB.

Again for Catts I would wait and look at their selection when they resume shipping. The lower priced plants are seedlings several years from flowering.

When you are ready for a Cattleya, consider buying one of the plants in bud. They are slightly more expensive than the flowering sized plants not in bud, but you will get a huge plant that will immediately give you a great show. Click on "Plants in Bud." They don't have any Catts in bud right now.

And consider looking at other orchid vendors between now and the time to ship. Hausermann has pleased many people through the years. There are many other good vendors. We have a Vendor Review forum here at Orchid Board. Page through the different forums here.

Finally, with more reading here you might find other orchids you wish to grow. For example, many Paphiopedilums do very well in homes. Flowering sized plants can be more expensive than other orchids because Paphs generally need to be grown from seed rather than mericloned.

Here's another thought. Fred Clarke at Sunset Valley Orchids offers a lot of Cattleya seedlings. Some of these will flower this year.

Epicattleya (Epc.) Magic Wand is one of these. It has many small flowers in very bright colors, yellow through orange. It is very easy go grow. This cross has been popular over the years, and Fred offers it frequently. I really like it so I have bought several.

Here is SVO 7893, Epc. Magic Wand, which I bought in February of 2021. Despite poor care the past summer, it made a new growth, and is in spike with 6 buds:

Attachment 157132

Here is SVO 9324, Epc. Magic Wand, from the new list, which arrived this week, in spike.

Attachment 157133

I also ordered 9352, the other Magic Wand on the list, with different clones as parents. It is not in spike but I expect it to flower with the next growth.

(Fred sells them as Epicattleya Epc. but the correct nothogenus is Enenthleya Eny. The parents are properly Guaricyclia Gcy. (not Epicattleya Epc.) Kyoguchi x Cattlianthe Ctt. (not Lc.) Trick or Treat.)

Every hybrid with Ctt. Trick or Treat in its parentage has grown like a champ for me. Trick or Treat was one of my very first orchids and its survived many years of my beginner mistakes.

Phal Jiaho's Pink Girl is a very easy grower/bloomer and long lasting blooms. Phal. Summer Rose 'Blue Star' is a smaller grower and easy. It's been in bloom for seven months now.

Dendrobium Fire Wings or Den Silver Wings are both long lasting blooms and easy.

Procatavola Golden Peacock, same thing, blooming machine.

I'm with ES... don't buy seedlings for now. Get some experience under your belt. A larger plant can handle a lot more trial and error than a baby.

Thank you so much for this Dendrobium tip! This is one of the more confusing type of orchid to me with multiple genus. I will be on the look out for the Micro Chip/Nano Chip. Such tech names! I love it :D

Also will look at the Sunset Valley Orchids. There are so many nurseries I don't know the reputation, so it's great to get recos.

---------- Post added at 09:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:33 AM ----------

Yes, I'd love to have at least a few Phals. They are so beautiful and have reputation to be easier to care for. I'll be sure to get Jiaho's Pink Girl.

Phalaenopsis...they all say Phalaenopsis! LOL. But I will make note of those names and look out for them. I have seen the Scilleriana on videos, and the leaves are gorgeous. I'm also probably going to venture to Summer Phals (?) eventually and Bellina hybrids maybe. But probably down the road.

Thank you so much!

Small epidendrum cattleya mixes turn out to be easy to grow. I personally like "wet footed" plants that like a semi hydro existence. That way I water once a week, and that's it. It is the lazy way out, I know.

Yes! There are more Phals available, and they are mostly blooming size, which is fanatastic. I will be getting a few for sure. The tough part will be picking which ones...I want them all!!!

---------- Post added at 09:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 AM ----------

OMG thank you so much for such detailed, helpful suggestions!

Completely agreed. I can't stay on top of it, and my environment is way too dry in winter. I know some plants come mounted, so I will either avoid them altogether or pot them when I receive them. Probably will avoid hahaha.

Oh trust me, I have learned my lesson the hard way! Being used to buying regular house plants, I had no idea there were maturity levels involved. Now I will only be getting "Blooming Size" or "In Bud". At least the seedling I'm currently killing was a bonus that was free hahaha.

Yes, I have all 3 in my wishlist lol. I'm honestly not into the aesthetics of the other ones anyway, on top of the reasons you listed.

Thank you so much for looking at what they have and letting me know this! I really have no idea of what to look for in Dendrobium, so this is so helpful. I will see what they may have by the time I place the order in Spring.

All my windows are South Facing, and I have small grow lights to supplement in Winter months. Would that work?

Yes, I am so not getting a seedling again. At least till like 5 years later when I'm more comfortable growing orchids! At least I have one orchid in bloom...my Ludisia! She's been in bloom for quite a while now :) So cute. (I know I know, Ludisia may not count as "orchid")

Whoa, I had no idea! I'm not really into the looks of Paphs, but this is very good to know, and I'm glad I joined this board, so I can learn more! I will definitely look at the orchid supplier thread as well!

Whoa! Amazing! I'm gonna go check em out. Thank you sooooo much for going above and beyond with information and taking your time to help me out. I will definitely post updates, once I start placing orders and how they grow. Hopefully some will do well for me and flower!!!

---------- Post added at 10:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:57 AM ----------

Thank you so much!!! These are all going on my list of orchids to look out for. Looking at nursery sites don't really give me much information, so it's so helpful to get input from actual growers :)

And I'm DEFINITELY not getting any more seedling. One I got was not my doing! (It was a bonus) And I had no idea they had maturity stages...I was too used to ordering regular house plant! I'm learning a lot.

I do have to say...I just love those names that can be found on hybrids lol. They're so flashy! And some are rather...odd? Hahaha. Love it.

---------- Post added at 10:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:02 AM ----------

Epidendrum Cattleya Mixes. Noted! Thank you so much.

Ohh semi hydro! I see a lot of YouTube orchid growers using semi hydro. Obviously I'm not gonna go there since I'm a beginner, but it's interesting. Isn't it a lot of work to do the PH and all that though? I space out when they talk about that stuff hahaha. Too complicated for my brain. :lol: