how to determine what type of orchid I have?

[DaddioAZ]

Hi All, New to the Forum and new to orchids. I bought an orchid at a home & garden show three years ago. There was no label in the plastic basket but I liked the orange flowers and long spiky leaves. How can I determine the type of orchid I have and how can I get it to flower again?

[ksriramkumar]

Hello and Welcome. Pls post a picture and that would help understand the genera.

[78Terp]

Hello from Colorado!

Pictures always help. We love to see!

[PaphMadMan]

Welcome!

Unfortunately, orange flowers and long spikey leaves only rules out about half of the most commonly grown types of orchids that you might find at a general home and garden show. A Cattleya alliance hybrid or Oncidium alliance hybrid or a Cymbidium are probably the most likely, but we really do need a photo to be at all sure. Even with a photo it will only be possible to determine the general type, good enough to determine how to care for it, but not a specific species or hybrid. We don't need to see flowers, just a clear photo or 2 of the whole plant. And something to indicate general size is good.

Even without a photo though, if you are growing it inside your house the most likely reason a basically healthy looking orchid hasn't bloomed is not enough sunlight. But once we know what it is and a little about how you care for it we can make more specific suggestions.

[Chris in Hamilton]

Welcome from Canada!

[JDT]

Welcome from Florida.

I would agree with what has been said so far, pictures help!

[DaddioAZ]

Hello from Colorado!

Pictures always help. We love to see!

There are no flowers now, but, I will post a pic this evening.
Another thing, I gently cut it out of it's little plastic cage and repotted last week in "orchid media" from Scotts. Is this a bad thing? I didn't cut any air roots and was very gentle, but all roots are now in the orchid pot. It gets about 8 hours a day filtered light and is an indoor plant as the temps here in the Phoenix, AZ area are pretty severe. It lives at about 75F average. Get watered lightly every other day and goes into the shower with me just about every day. No direct water in the shower, just steam. Fertilized with Miracle-Gro.

Go ahead and scold me, I had no idea how to treat this little gem.

[chingjervis]

Mabuhay from the Philippines. Picture please.

[PaphMadMan]

I see no major problems with the general care you have described, certainly nothing to scold about. Once we know what you have we can work on refining your efforts.

[Chris in Hamilton]

Sounds like a vanda type.