What Orchid to get next? (help please)

[Potty]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and am here seeking advice please.

I currently have around 6/7 tiny - medium sized orchids. They seem to be doing well and most have re-flowered.

I know very little about orchids other than some information I was told about how to care for them and some info I google'd.

I'd like to buy a larger Orchid (Hopefully a more unusual one, I'm in the UK by the way), but am very confused by all the different types out there.

I'm looking for one with fairly big flowers (4-6 inch flowers and many flowers per spike would be good) and would like it to have quite a unique look to it.

Can anyone suggest some types to look for please? (I'm happy to try growing from a young plant or to buy one at flowering size, but doubt I have the confidence to try from seedling)

Sorry for sounding like to total newbie at this ^^ but I'll be looking through this site trying to learn some more

[Halloamey]

Potty welcome to OT ! Glad you are here. Could you start by telling us what kind of orchids are you currently growing, if you do not know the names just post a photo of them and we will see what kind they are. It will help us to know what kind of orchids you are growing and re-blooming successfully so that we can come up with suitable recommendations. Phalaenopsis are a group of orchids that I think will satisfy most of what you want from your new orchid, so look at what phalaenopsis hybrids are available to you.

[Cjcorner]

When I begin thinking about trying a new orchid type, I look up what their conditions are in their native habitat. Once you narrow down to a few species that do well in your conditions it will make your orchid growing hobby tons easier and much more enjoyable as you will get nice flowers that bloom for you and are easier to manage without lights, etc. If I were going to recommend a type for you to try, based on your location I would suggest you look up the "pansy orchid", or Miltoniopsis. They get large colorful flowers, several to a spike and should like your growing conditions as they like cooler temps and less sunshine. As a group, the oncidiums are an excellant orchid to learn as you go with. The Phalaenopsis will also do well in your environment. One other suggestion; buy one or two at a time, and over time you will have a collection that gives you blooms year round. If you buy large groups in bloom at the same time, there will be months where you have nothing in bloom, and other months with too many to display nicely. Welcome to the group, hope this helped...

[Magnus A]

I second Connie above!

And welcome to OrchidTalk!

One more information that could be good to know is if you have the possibility to move your orchids outside during the summer. And in that case how much sun/light would they recive...

/M

[k_andreev]

welcome to the forum and agree with Amey and Connie..the perfect plants to choose are the one that suit for your condition.

[PetSlayer]

I agree with everyone above. Some more info would do good. Because for example I fight the most with the Oncidiums, the only orchids I always manage to kill were pansy orchids and I find Phragmipedium to be the easiest to grow in my conditions.

Looking forward to see pictures of your chids!

/L

[Kmac]

Let me echo what the others have said...don;t make yourself or the plant miserable by getting something that needs conditions you cannot provide. Let me suggest that you consider zygos. I grow them indoors with moderately high light. I like their look, most smell good, and floers are very long lasting. They do like good humidity, but if you can provide that (mine are on a humidity tray, with pebbles and water). I think they are pretty easy.

This one blooms twice a year for me, and flowers are 4+ inches: http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...uisendorf.html

This is my newest one...mine is small, with 4 buds/blooms on 1 inflorescence, but I have read they can be very bloom-happy. More compact plant with smaller flowers that the one above: http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...of-am-aos.html

Here's another in the zygo family: http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...blue-bird.html

Good luck with whatever you choose!

[tradceci]

Welcome to Orchid Talk. The seniors have given you great advise, I second it. You've come to the right place. I've learned a lot here.

[Potty]

Hi all and thank you for your welcome's/reply's.

Most of my orchids are Phalaenopsis. (mini - medium size (I think!))

But I do have 1 Dendrobium Nobile. (Probably my current favorite, it's not yet flowered again but it looks like it will as it has a lot of spikes on the new cane and only 1 spike so far on the old cane.)(Hopefully you can see in the picture below.)

I have no idea what species any of these are etc, but they do seem to be doing well and coming again. (As far as I know anyway!)

I'd not considered moving them outside, but with the summers we sometimes have here, I think would be wise to stick to keeping them in-doors, for the time being at least.

We (me and the wife) generally leave them in the bedroom windowsill until they flower then move them into the kitchen window or the dining table for display (To show them off!).

The house is always fairly warm (Most who come in say how warm it is anyway) and they get a fair amount of in-direct light. (As we have net curtains/voile's in the windows)

I mist them with a spray bottle fairly every 2/3 days and water once a week or so.

If you need any more info please let me know

Thanks again and here are the pictures:

[Potty]

By the way the mini orchid in the first picture on the right is fairly new, the rest have/will be re-flowering.