New to the World of Orchids
 

Hi from the chilly north here in Canada. I have three Phals and I have fallen in love with caring for them. My son gave me my first Phal two years ago and it hasn't stopped blooming. At this momemt it is in full bloom with 23 flowers on it. I am not sure why but I am totally hooked on growing Phals. I am thinking about branching out of the world of Phals. Any recommendations out there? I have a sunroom with exposure to the north, west and south. (My Phals sit in the centre of the room and get a wee bit of exposure from all sides.) The room typically has 50-70% humidity.
Any suggestions?

hi chips. welcome to ob. paphiopedilums are wonderfull orchids which look like ladyslippers and require about the same type of culture and leght as phals.

I have four phals in my collection, two dendrobiums (which can be finicky -IMHO-), an oncidiinae/odontoglossum hybrid, and a blc. hybrid cattleya (which I'm nursing back to health)... It's all dependent on your personal preference, but I'd suggest looking over the various species at the sites below and see what you like and might find nearby:

OrchidMania: Orchid Species of the World

AOS | Culture Sheets

The possibilities become endless when you find the right resources ;) Best of luck!

Hi Chips and welcome to OB.

I recently ventured out of Phals as well. Paphs are meant to be similar to grow and I got one just under a month ago. I also have a Dendrobium although I've been told it is the Phalenopsis type and it is also looked after very like the Phals (well that's what I'm doing and it's growing a new cane just now).

I have been looking at a Paphs but I was not sure. Do they just get one bloom or will they produce several? I also thought they only bloomed once a year. I love the Phals because they bloom so long and produce several blooms at multiple times of the year.

there are many dif types of paphs. some of which can bloom as long as a year or two .some have multyflorals some are small and some are very large. the sky is the limit with paphs, not to mention phrags which have some what the same cultural requirements. look up the forums on paphs and you,re eyes will show you a dream.
from a paph lover. ( as if you did not already know )

I haven't made the venture into any other orchid species myself just yet, but I do believe the next two, well three... LOL... I am going to get a vanda, a neo, and a Nun's orchid... Oh, and a good friend of mine has a ground orchid he's dividing for me for outdoors...

What is a ground orchid?

Also how do you know if a paph is mulitflower etc. I usually find just the name, not a whole description of the paph.

Ground orchids are of the species bletilla striata and are terrestrial, which means they thrive in soil versus the majority of orchids which are epiphytic using other plants/mediums as hosts to live on, although they derive their own nutrients through means other than their hosts; that is why most orchids roots tend to stretch out into the air - to seek moisture to supply water and nutrients to the plant. In regard to the ground orchid check out this link here:

Bletilla striata -- species description

And about the paph orchids, here's you yet another link for detailed information:

http://www.orchids.org/culture/paphiobeginner.pdf

I have found that entire site to be extremely varied in its information and quite helpful in ways more than one! Hope this helps and answers your questions ;)