Easy (Indoors) Growing Orchids

[Graham]

What actually defines an orchid that's "Easy to grow"?

You see, I've borrowed a book from our local library and it's got over 1000 different orchids, but I've got no way of telling which orchid would be an easy one for a beginner to start with...

As my space is limited, I want to focus on 'indoor' varieties.

As a beginner, all I've got to go on is what the plant looks like in flower.

Is there a select number of species that could be considered easy-growing, with the rest being for more 'intermediate-level' growers?

Also, what defines an orchid that's hard to grow? what is it that makes it such a challenge?

________
Graham.

[Tommyr]

Originally Posted by Graham

What actually defines an orchid that's "Easy to grow"?

You see, I've borrowed a book from our local library and it's got over 1000 different orchids, but I've got no way of telling which orchid would be an easy one for a beginner to start with...

As my space is limited, I want to focus on 'indoor' varieties.

As a beginner, all I've got to go on is what the plant looks like in flower.

Is there a select number of species that could be considered easy-growing, with the rest being for more 'intermediate-level' growers?

Also, what defines an orchid that's hard to grow? what is it that makes it such a challenge?
________
Graham.

Orchid growing inside the home

This is a good starter guide. Easy is different for each person. I would say (for me) Oncidiums and Dens are easy. Phals are popular starter orchids as well. You can get Oncs in small sizes or large. There are a lot of more experienced orchid growers here than me so I'm sure others will chime in! You'll love orchids, welcome!

Tom

[Graham]

Excellent starter, Tom ; thanks! I've got Judy Cole's page open in a new tab right now.

_______
Graham.

[Dorothy]

You can also go to Andy's Orchids website - Andy's Orchids - Orchids Species - Orchids - Species Specialist - Orchids on a stick
Scroll down and go to the left column - Find your Favorite orchid - then scroll all the way down to the last option - Easy grower and check it and click Search and 10 pages of different orchids will come up - You will usually get a photo of the flower along with a description and how to care for it. (Blooming Season, Light, Temperature, Size and Watering)

[Tommyr]

Originally Posted by Dorothy

You can also go to Andy's Orchids website - Andy's Orchids - Orchids Species - Orchids - Species Specialist - Orchids on a stick
Scroll down and go to the left column - Find your Favorite orchid - then scroll all the way down to the last option - Easy grower and check it and click Search and 10 pages of different orchids will come up - You will usually get a photo of the flower along with a description and how to care for it. (Blooming Season, Light, Temperature, Size and Watering)

Yup. Matter of fact I just ordered a Den. Chrysotoxum from there about an hour ago. It was on sale!

[Undergrounder]

Originally Posted by Graham

Also, what defines an orchid that's hard to grow? what is it that makes it such a challenge?

There's a whole host of reasons why orchids might be hard to grow. At the base of it all is that most orchids are epiphytes, they typically live in trees. Imagine you're an orchid in a misty mountain PNG forest. Up in a tree it's humid, you're given constant air movement, your roots are bare and breath easily, the mists roll in every morning and give you plenty to drink and the forest canopy perfectly blocks out most of the damaging sun while letting just enough through.

Returning to a windowsill in the East End, you have low humidity, direct sun or deep shade, your roots are hidden deep in a pot and there's rarely enough air movement indoors. It's just very hard to imitate the cool, misty humid climate of the mountains of PNG on your windowsill.

Easy orchids are more suited to your own environment to begin with and often they've been bred over the past century to be more hardy in your conditions. I suggest Cymbidium hybrids, Coelogyne hybrids, Den nobile hybrids... most of those are pretty fool-proof.

[Ray]

"Easy" and "hard" to grow pertains as much to the grower and his conditions as it does to the plant. Phalaenopsis and dendrobiums are usually in the "easy" category, but after 35 years of experience, I still have problems with dens, and you'll find others that have problems with phals!

Please read this: Beginners Advice for Growing Orchids

[quiltergal]

Ray is right. Even though Phals are considered easy growers I had a heck of a time keeping them alive. I think I have finally mastered them but not without a lot of mortality along the way. I had much better luck with Dens. though many people find them difficult. For me it seems like no matter what I do to them they thrive. They even started blooming for me when my culture got better. So, I'd pick a few different kinds ( a phal, a den, and an onc.) and see which ones grow best for you. BTW, LOVE Den. chrysotoxum. It's a beauty!

[Lagoon]

I think paphs and phrags are easy to grow, yet others can't keep them alive. You just have to give them decent lighting, some are okay with low'ish yet some need higher lights to bloom well. Also stay on top of the waterings with slippers.

I think everyone can grow atlease 1 genera really well, you just have to find your nitch in the orchid world

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

I think paphs and phrags are easy to grow, yet others can't keep them alive. You just have to give them decent lighting, some are okay with low'ish yet some need higher lights to bloom well. Also stay on top of the waterings with slippers.

I think everyone can grow atlease 1 genera really well, you just have to find your nitch in the orchid world

Gloria, I agree totally. And as a person becomes accomplished with one genera, they will gain confidence to try orchids from other genera that have similar growing conditions.

I can't keep certain Dendros alive to save my soul, but deciduous ones seem to grow OK for me. I used to routinely kill Phals (mostly from overwatering or bad mix) yet now have no trouble. I grow Paphs, Phals, Brassias, species Cats, Beallara, Miltonidium, etc. all in the same light with no difficulties.