Suggest an orchid type
 

I want this orchid if you know what it is:

leaves like a cattleya, fat bulbs, oncidium-like spikes, reliability, fast growth, ability to thrive in both 30% humidity and 70% humidity, likes both cool and hot, and a really nice set of thick roots that don't break when you re-pot.

Does this orchid even exist? Oh, I want it to be somewhat large, not a mini, maybe 1.5 to 2 feet tall leaves or so, and have lots of flowers, and be fragrant too.

Zygos need too much humidity and have snappy roots. The corn stalk leaves of many oncidiums get burnt and ripped up.

Does a colmanara have thick leaves?

So I kind of want an oncidium type with cattleya leaves, and thick roots. Maybe all I want is a different type of cattleya?

Does anyone have any idea what I am looking for?

I think you want a Cattleya,
My interest in orchiding goes up / down over the years. I have had 2 Catts nearly the entire 20-25 years I've been doing this and they are pretty hardy and put on magnificent shows (but no Oncidium like cascades - but definitely have had 8-10 blooms at once.) See the thread here to see what I am about to get :)

My humidity always goes to mid 20s in summer (though am determined to put in a humidity / misting system this summer). My temps always get in to 80s, and there have been one or two winters where temps have dove into the 30s for a week before I've fixed it.

They are damn near impossible to kill once established (or at least that has been my experience, and one just flowers despite my negligence.

I dont know what im doing wrong but i always seem to be to eager to kil my vandas.. Cattleya good option because they are not prone to crown rot.. and when they do get it you cut that part of the plant off and throw it away.. If treated correctly they grow pretty fast.. Phals are prone to crown rot but they are also very hardy.. I have mostly only phals because they grow almost anywhere in most conditions.. where i live is extremely hot and at time it gets really humid but most of the time its extremely dry.. what you are looking for is a Brassidium or a Miltassia some of them have huge leaves huge flowers and they are hardy and can grow really fast if in the right conditions..

hopefully this is of some help to you

I have one LC and 3 BLC's, and I think they are doing the best out of all my orchids. I just seem to read that the blooming is chancy. Out of the cattleya alliance, the orchid that has my interest most is the brassovola. Since I have had such luck with cats, I might go with that.

I am also low humidity and hot summers but in a year of two, I plan on moving to the Missouri river and that will be different as far as humidity.

Try one of the mule ear oncidiums. They have single, thick leaves which are held vertically. The pseudobulbs tend to be small and round. My favorite is O. splendidum. I had one of the larger clones and it grew about 12 to 15 inches tall. Up to 6 flowers with large yellow lips are produced. This plant tolerates a wide temperature range and the roots are quite large. The flowers are unscented. Pot it in coarse fir bark like a typical Cattleya.

That just might be perfect! Maybe it is what I am thinking about. Are these also called equitant? Thanks!

I just googled. Yes, the leaves bulbs roots are great! Hope there are more varieties.

Check out Encyclias, such as Encyclia cordigera. You will probably want to look at cultural requirements for specific species to be sure you can meet the cultural requirements.

Why??? What are you doing or what is happening that you want something other than a catt? Laelia? Oncid? Odont? Phal? Succulents are all the rage right now. Personally I think BLC's are the easiest to grow and flower. But with a little research, most orchids are very easy to grow and flower. We'll help you. If anyone can grow a good orchid, it is you. Patience grasshopper.