thinking about a different orchid...

[Halloamey]

Nice, a east facing window means good light, unless it is obstructed with something. You should be able to grow Paphs, Phrags, Oncidium alliance and even Cattleyas if you provide the right watering and temperatures. You can look for orchids in plant nurseries or splecialized orchid stores, they will usually have a bigger choice and range compared to box stores.

[orchidbaby]

Thanks so much Halloamey! I will google some plant nurseries see what I can find....I have a blue mystique phal...While I was gone on vacation, it lost all blooms but is sprouting a new green leaf.....thats exactly what my pink Phal did...so I am hopeful it will sprout new blooms when it is ready

[coeruleo]

if you are on the bright end of phal lighting to cattelya lighting, then you can try an oncidium. they grow pretty easy and there are tons of styles, and usually pretty inexpensive to order online. they look different, grow different, and will give you some variety. and like someone said, sharry baby smells terrific, also the 'twinkle' varieties which are much smaller also smell great. oncidiums don't really have a rest period, and once they get going can almost always be in bloom.

[sand_tiger86]

The only thing I don't like about Oncidiums is how small their flowers tend to be. For a much more unique and larger flower, you could try a Brassia hybrid that should do well in the same conditions. Almost the same kind of foliage as Oncidiums but the flowers are insane.

[orchidbaby]

Thanks everyone, I am going to try a cattleya, called "fire island"..it's 40 dollars online.

[pavel]

You could also Google for an orchid society and/or orchid show in your region. Shows, in my area at least, are nonexistent over the summer -- generally not starting until October with the main ones in January through March or April. It is a good way to get exposed to a wide variety of orchids and no postage to pay.

[orchidbaby]

i found a orchid society but there is nothing on the calendar of events for 2012....it also mentions having to pay dues but vistors are welcome..

[pavel]

i found a orchid society but there is nothing on the calendar of events for 2012.....

Not all societies host shows. My old os was like that. Most of the members were of the very "mature" age bracket for whom the work involved of setting up and running a show would have been physically too demanding, while the few "young uns" were too busy to dedicate the time necessary. And the fact that it was a very small society didn't help -- that many fewer folks to take up some of the work load.

But even if the society does not host a show, they will know of any shows in the area and when they are. If they have a contact person, drop them an email.

....it also mentions having to pay dues but vistors are welcome..

Quite normal in all respects. As with any club/society, operating funds are needed to rent a room to hold meetings (unless it is a REALLY small society that can have all member meet in someone's home), and pay for guest speakers to come to the meetings and present. Some will also use the money to buy door prizes (orchids, of course ) to give away or raffle off at meetings -- particularly if there are no members who have any plants to donate at that meeting. Being nonprofits, collecting dues is a way of obtaining those needed funds. Dues tend to be fairly low, IME -- $10-$20/year. And yes, for any that I have attended, visitors are free. They know you will want to try it out a couple times to see if it is for you.

[coeruleo]

i have to add, that when i say 'oncidium' i really mean all the oncidium related orchids, and of course brassias i lump in there. mostly because you almost never see an actual oncidium or brassia etc. anymore that is not an intergeneric hybrid. some oncidiums have wonderfully fragrant flowers, like sharry baby. what they lack in size they more than make up for in number of flowers. if you see a nice Shelob hybrid, grab it! they have large spidery flowers and a light scent, and flower easily. and the flowers last a long time. i's like to see some crosses of sharry baby and brassias. i'm imagining big sweet smelling spiders.