I need a new orchid! Suggestions?

[Kristen616]

My birthday is in a couple of weeks, and my husband asked what I wanted this year. So I said I'd love a new orchid!

Right now I have 3 phals...two with white flowers and one with sort of orangey red flowers. But I'd really love something different, ie. not another phal. Im definately a newbie orchid grower (got my 1st phal just over 2 years ago) and so far the Phals have been doing well with me, so I don't want anything that needs too much maintence and know-how I guess. Any suggestions on a good variety? Any websites you can reccomend to get diferent varieties? Or, to the Central NY people, Any places around here you can recomend to buy different sorts of orchids?

Thanks!!

[kavanaru]

Hi Kristen,

provide some info on your growing conditions: east / west / north / south faced windows, where you live (Florida, NYC, North Pole) temps in your growing rooms... how often you water your plants... enough space for big plants, or rather compact growers... all this could help to reduce the options and give a better suggestion...

[irrka]

I think catts are supposed to be low maintenance but they need high light. That said, i haven't been able to get mine to bloom yet, but i've only had them since about october.

[Kristen616]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Hi Kristen,

provide some info on your growing conditions: east / west / north / south faced windows, where you live (Florida, NYC, North Pole) temps in your growing rooms... how often you water your plants... enough space for big plants, or rather compact growers... all this could help to reduce the options and give a better suggestion...

Ok sorry! I forgot that that's important.

I live in Northern NY..so it gets cold in the winter (but of course we have heat) and pretty hot&humid in the summer. Our house is relatively comfortable most of the time...usually in the 60's. We dont have central air so in the summer it does get quite warm and this area of the country does get humid.

I grow my orchids in a south-west facing window...it's hard to describe but it's in a corner, with 2 windows on 1 side of the corner, and 2 windows on the other side, and a skylight directly above the area, so the area gets quite a bit of afternoon to evening sunshine. I also have sheers over all windows so they wont get sunburnt (i learned my lesson on that one!) My phals are really thriving in this area. I moved them around quite a bit when i noticed how dark the leaves were...they werent getting enough light. But like i said they are doing well here.

I water my plants when they need it, about once a week? But i will adjust based on how the medium looks. I grow in clear plastic containers so i can tell when it looks like water is needed or not.

I have pleanty of room so that's not a concern. It can be as big or as small as i want...i just want something 'different' if that makes sense!

[(..._...)]

Maybe an oncidium? like sharry baby or the regular yellow "dancing lady" ones. They are low maintenance, and can tolerate drying out between waterings

[caseydoll]

I was thinking a Sharry Baby too! Easy to grow and bloom (especially in your kind of light) and smells like chocolate when it blooms! How can you beat that?

Oak Hill Gardens

Oak Hill is an excellent place to order orchids from as well. If you aren't crazy about the Sharry Baby look around on that site! The prices are good and all their plants are really healthy.

[Kristen616]

thank you very much! The sharry babys are very pretty! And your right, you cant beat anything that smells like chocolate! how neat! That's a great website too, thanks for the rec.!

[kavanaru]

Ok, Oncidium should do fine. Cattleya hybrids would need high light, but if you have a south faced window, that should be fine. In this case I would suggest Bc. Maikai 'Mayumi' http://www.oneorchid.com/Orchids/BC.-Maikai-05_3.jpg a cuite or Cattleya skinerii quite easy and a very nice plant Orchid Web: Cattleya skinneri 'Heiti Jacobs' FCC/AOS.

If you want something unique... I would go for Dendrochilum magnum (can become a bit large! and don't like its roots to be bothered too much ) Orchid Web: Dendrochilum magnum IOSPE PHOTOS Santa Barbara has it for $25 (I assume the $100 at Orchidweb, must be for a huge plant!)

a plant that is now a bit out of fashion, but nevertheless it is still a great plant is Rossioglossum. I would suggest Rossioglossum Rawdon Jester (you find it also as Odontoglossum) Orchid of the Week Library: Odontoglossum Rawdon Jester my plant:

or another good option are the Psychopsis. For which I would suggest the hybrids, which are easier to grow and to bloom Orchid of the Week Library: Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos' FCC/AOS

of course, also all Paphiopedilum are good candidates...

[Dorothy]

You might also want to try your local orchid society as you will meet people who grow orchids in your area and are subjected to the same growing conditions
I agree that Cattleyas are a good choice and Oncids .. possibly Tolumnia as they are small in size and some have fragrance .. Oh, Ross .. ?
Here are some to view from Oak Hill - Oak Hill Gardens

[Kristen616]

Ok what if I want all of them?!!! lol!! Out of the ones you posted, I really love the Bc. Maikai 'Mayumi' & the Rossioglossum Rawdon Jester. What gorgous plants.

I can tell this is going to be the start of a very long, happy orchid obsession.

Thank you so much for all of the suggestions!!!