Orchid recommendation for basement?

[OrchidAddict]

Hey all! I'm looking for a recommendation for some types of orchids I could grow in the bathroom of our finished basement. The bathroom gets tons of light through a ground-level window, so it's a very bright room. It's cool and relatively humid. The temps don't go much above 70 even in the hottest parts of the summer, and in the winter it drops down into the low 50's.

So basically, the orchid would need to be tolerant of temps down in the 50's, but it would also need to like bright sunlight (though not necessarily direct sun), because it would be in a bright room for a good portion of each day.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! I don't have much experience with the "cool" growers, so I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Thanks!

[Halloamey]

You seem to have a perfect recipe for Cymbidiums Look into their culture.

[Magnus A]

Basement and strong light does not seem to match. How big is the window and in what direction is it located? South?

Without knowing I do think the light levels can be quite low... it though may feel high for the human eye as you come from a very dark basement to a room with a window. I would be carefull to buy plants before I measured the actual light intensity in the room.

I have a south-west large window in my livingroom on the second floor and I have problems growing high light demanding plants without extra light.

[OrchidAddict]

Basement and strong light does not seem to match. How big is the window and in what direction is it located? South?

It is a south-facing window. We live on a slope, so the basement isn't entirely underground the whole way, if you know what I mean. I'll see if I can remember to take a picture of the room I'm talking about so you can get a feel for the light levels.

Amey, I'll look into Cymbidium conditions, too! Don't they get quite big, though? It's not a huge room.

[stateless]

there are minature or smaller sized cymbidiums, some of the smaller are more temp tolerant but those conditions should be good.

[cakedaddy]

There are lots of things for your conditions...if you are short on space and like minis, then you have an array of little guys at your fingertips!
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[pavel]

If it is cool and humid (a digital temperature/humidity gauge easily found at most BBSs would be useful) and well lit, there are a number of the pleurothallids (such as Masdevallia) which would work.

[HHLL38]

I second Pavel's post, however, be sure that it stays quite cool and quite humid.

Masd. have been the pickiest orchids I have come across in my one year of growing.

Depending on the intensity of the light, I would also suggest Neofinetias. They are temperature tolerant and enjoy it fairly humid, the variegated types also particularly like high light.

[OrchidAddict]

Depending on the intensity of the light, I would also suggest Neofinetias. They are temperature tolerant and enjoy it fairly humid, the variegated types also particularly like high light.

OMG...I just looked at some pics of them, and I am in love with these little beauties!! I read up on their culture, and it sounds like they'd be quite happy in that bathroom. The humidity requirements seem just about perfect, and likewise with the temps. And I like their look a lot more than the Masdevallias. I'll have to do some additional research later tonight when my daughter isn't screaming at me to get her some ice cream.... LOL

[HHLL38]

I too have become hopelessly enthralled with them. I just bought a brand new LED growlight set up for them, hopefully they'll like it, too!

The most important thing, i've learned through the wonderful members here, is to ensure that there is a noticeable drop in night-time temp. I've been growing them for eight months with little success, but after opening the window that they grow on at night (after a members suggestion), i've got roots and leaves going out all over the place!