Which orchid will grow well??

[Aratz]

Hello, my name is Aratz and I'm living at this moment very near the Gatwick's airport, in London.
My window is west face and the temperature of my house is between 20 and 25. The humidity is about 60% but I think that I could have more.

Which orchids, and epiphytic plants in general, do you think that will be OK in this condition?
I preferred the miniature orchids, or plants not very bigs.

I think that Haraella retrocalla, Schoenorchis fragans and Ornitophora radicans maybe will grow well, but I want more suggestions.

Thank you!

[Orchid Whisperer]

You don't mention light, but if light levels are correct, your conditions should be fine for many orchids. In London I' d assume natural light levels are low so that suggests Phalaenopsis conditions. I don't grow the ones you mention, but other members may be able to offer advice.

[camille1585]

A lot of people on OB are windowsill growers, and it's possibly to grow a huge variety of orchids. With a west facing window and those conditions, you could grow Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Oncidium types quite easily.

Those minis can be grown successfully on a windowsill, but I think they are most often mounted, though sometimes you see them potted as well. Growing them mounted can be a bit of a challenge without a greenhouse or terrarium, since you really need to water regularily.

[syspila]

I agree with Camille regarding light needs in your apartment. If you have never had an orchid, start off with simplicity with a kick. Phalaenopsis is good, Ludisia, a small Oncidium...that gives you some variety. Water/fertilize them thoroughly weekly/weakly-1/4 of recommended dose of plant food rate on the box. Don't fret over not feeding everytime. Most of these can be gotten at a chain store here or at a Home Depot/Lowe's type store. Inexpensive here in the US.

[Leafmite]

They should all do well. I find that the haraella rectrocalla likes quite a bit of humidity. I grew the first one in a clear, enclosed yogurt cup for about four years but after everyone said that it needed air, I decided to experiment and it died pretty quickly. The other grows in a clear water bottle with the top cut off and does very well. It is mounted on a stick and the stick wicks water up from the reservoir of water on the bottom of the bottle.
The Schoenorchis fragrans is fairly easy. It likes high light (it is a little Vanda). I have this under lights which is really dry so I have this in a clear plastic cup for a little more humidity. If you are growing it in a window, you won't need to do this.
I grew the last one for a while but, again, someone advised me that I wasn't growing it correctly and I, unfortunately, listened. I had this mounted, bare-root, and every night, I would put it in a container of water to soak until morning. I gave it very bright shade (it was near a South-facing window). It did very well, putting out new growths and blooming. I will probably get this one again and grow it the way I grew it before.

[syspila]

I do have some orchids and back bulbs growing in Ziploc Bags.

[Aratz]

Thank you very much for your answers.
I don't have a lot of experience with orchids. In my country I had phalaenopsis and made them flower again for me twice, and I thought that is the moment to try here with another plants.
About your question, no, I only have the natural light, but, as you say, maybe will be not enough.
At the moment I have a Pleurothallis palliolata that is growing really well.
I'm trying to make a little windowsill greenhouse with a seed propagator to ensure that the orchids have more humidity.

Anyway, I have hygrolon too, maybe I could use it for some orchids...

If you say that the schoenorchis need lot of light, maybe mine will be not enough.

Syspila, could you show us how do you grow in Ziploc bags??

Leafmite, could you recommend me more easy miniatures??

[camille1585]

Your natural light is enough for a lot of things. I'm in the Netherlands, and even in my previous apartment with an east facing window I could still bloom Phals, Oncs, masdies, and even some Catts! And they were only getting sun until noon.

Yes we may live further north than most of the americans here, but it doesn't mean that our sunshine to too weak to be any good. I could still burn orchids in an east window...

[Aratz]

Hahaha so do you think that I could grow masdevallias here??

[camille1585]

Depends on how warm your place gets. I was only growing 2 temperature tolerant hybrid. Sadly they died some months after moving to my new place. With the moving and stuff to do in the apartment my orchids got a bit neglected and between that and the summer heat, they didn't survive.