Suggestions to Expand My Collection
 

Hi, I have about 6 phals, 2 cattleyas, 1 vanda and 2 dendrobiums that live on my lanai in southwest Florida. They have all bloomed beautifully this year.
I have been thinking about expanding my horizons by getting some other varieties. I don't know much about oncidiums, cymbidiums, or any of the others.

Can someone suggest a variety that would be a good start to my expansion? Thanks

Cymbidiums will be a challenge to get them to bloom where you are so if you want to try one, make sure it is a warmth tolerant variety. I can tell you that a species that does really well for me in the Keys is Cym finlaysonianum from SE Asia. Warning, like a lot of Cyms, it can get pretty big.

You should do fine with just about any Oncidium or allied species and hybrids. They are pretty forgiving and again, ask about temp requirements as well as light, water, etc.

I don't see Epidendrum or Encyclia on your list. Most do well where you are and some maybe even native to your area of the state. If I may be so bold, try and find yourself an Epidendrum ciliare. Preferably mounted as it presents the flowers better and is a rambling spreader. The blooms are fair sized, white with a lacy lip and the evening fragrance will be intoxicating on your lanai.

I have over 200 orchids and it is absolutely one of my favorites.

Also, I don't know what type of vanda you have but if it's doing well, I would also highly recommend any of the Aerides or Rhynchostylis species. Grown just like a vanda and they have bright colors and lovely fragrance.

Let the IOSPE be your friend in exploration.
http://http://www.orchidspecies.com/#sec1

Look for what are called terete Vandas. Also large red-flowered Renanthera hybrids. Both take a lot of sun and can even be grown in the ground outside.

Carmela Orchids is selling 12" cuttings of a terete Vanda and I bought one because it was so cheap. It might have been a mistake. I've got the light right but nothing else. I could send it to Florida but it is probably better to get your own o.p.

Stanhopea should be interesting, Grammatophylum grow like Cymbidium but they can take Florida heat. I personally enjoy the Catasetinae species and hybrids. This is a Mormodes I grew when I had a 14th Floor office in NYC with a south facing window. Really, orchids are very personal. Why not pull up the website of a couple of generalist suppliers like Carmela and just browse. You'll know what to click on.

Maybe instead of suggestions of actual plants, we might suggest sources of orchids we like? I know I would like the names of some new growers to order from. I've just come out of a very long orchid hibernation. Just an idea.

Thanks for the input. It would be great to find sources to buy the orchids; so far I have been limited to what I can find in local big box stores and one grower in Ft
Myers, where I bought the cattleyas.

There is a forum here devoted to vendor feedback. You can read about lots of different vendors. All are accessible via the left yellow menu, Forums.

Start saving your pennies now. The Redland Orchid show (about a 3-4 hour drive from you) will be the first weekend of October. Hopefully it will draw all the great vendors it used to attract pre-covid when it was held in May. It's the largest show in the US.

http://https://redlandfruitandspice....id-festival-2/

Thanks for the input
 

I will mark my calendar for the show, and take a look at the vendor forum, which I had not seen before.

There's so much great information here!