Name your favorite top 5 orchids.

[Jmoney]

Paphs are like crack cocaine. Your life goes into a downward spiral, and that's that. But there is no 20-step program for paphs.

For the record, I still love macrocatts and hope to build up a collection again if my growing area increases a bit. They're downright cheap compared to paphs.

[Heather]

Well, that's encouraging! I'm doomed!

[OrchidTraci]

Sssshhhhhh!! no more talk of this. You guys are seriously enabling me and it doesn't help that I trust your opinions!!

Hush!

This is an orchid forum, we are all enablers. LOL

[Heather]

Well, my top 5 have totally changed! Did I have a catt on that list???What? More than one??

Lol... right now all my phrags that are blooming are the fav's. And all my new plants. That's more than 5, though!!! Lol!!!

Personally, loving my P. Grande right now because of the...gasp...leaves!

[orchidaddict789]

I actually like all orchids...but here...trying to put together a list (by looking at how pretty they are, in my opinion)

1-Phal hybrids, especially those fancy award-winners
2-floofy catts
3-paphs (flipping through orchid book...Paph. Insigne, the green Paph. Maudiae, etc.)
4-ondontiodas, oncidium, vuylstekeara (can't decide which I like more)
5-dendrobium species/hybrids

I am quite broad in my preferences of orchids...not too picky. I can tell, many of you like paphs/phrags, don't you?

[PAGrower]

In no particular order, here are some of my favs:

Laelia Tenebrosas because the overall shape is so graceful and elegant and the contrast between the color of the lip and petals is so striking.

Miltonias because the colors and patterns are so sharply differentiated. The waterfall Miltonias are an absolute natural work of art.

The semi-peloric Diacattleyas are really cool. I only see one once in a blue moon, which might be why I like them so much.

Zygos are great for their outrageous color combinations like lime green and purple.

Odontoglossum crispum is the quintessential orchid for me. This might have something to do with the fact that I can't grow one, or it might just be that they are incredibly gorgeous.