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?