Plants to grow with orchids?

[greengarden]

I grow them under my patio in the same location as my orchids.

[camille1585]

African violets are nice, and they like the same light levels as Phals (I've read, for new Phal growers, that if you can bloom an african violet, then there's enough light for Phals).
The only potential issue is that they don't like high humidity, and don't like getting water on their leaves. With such fuzzy leaves, it just leads to rot.

Why not look into getting some jewel orchids? Their folaige is fantastic. They do bloom, but the foliage is the most interesting part.

[Ray]

(Insert grin here). I think there is a major character flaw showing in all of you - why would you grow ANYTHING that would take away space for more orchids!?!?!?!?

[camille1585]

Hey, but jewel orchids are orchids!!

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by Ordphien

I'm digging the idea of African violets... Can they really live using orchids culture?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

mine do. You also get a tremendous variety; from super compact to pretty huge. I have one that grows straight up - about 8 inches - I have never seen that type before and again. Its also keikis ! Its another one of my "heirloom" plants I snuck in from South Africa. I'll post a photo....... ( its the reddish one in the white pot. It was repotted in the last year ! )
I don't know about your set-up but I would agree with Camille that you shouldn't let water accumulate on the leaves - but that also goes for phals.

They are cheap enough, well at least here, for you to experiment. I also have jewel orchids and can recommend them.

[Leafmite]

Originally Posted by Ray

(Insert grin here). I think there is a major character flaw showing in all of you - why would you grow ANYTHING that would take away space for more orchids!?!?!?!?

Why? I grow other plants for their fragrant leaves, flowers, culinary value, and history. When you crumple a leaf of allspice or cinnamon verum between your fingers, it is like smelling a bit of heaven. The amazing history of cinnamon, bay laurel, piper nigrum, tea, and Theobroma cacao is quite enthralling. I grow various herbs for their medicinal and cultural history. For fragrant flowers, I really haven't found many orchids that have a fragrance superior to roses, tuberose, freesia, lilac's, jasmine, lily of the valley, hyacinths, irises, certain tulips, etc....
That is why I grow more than just orchids.

[Ray]

...and that's why my comment was tongue-in-cheek!

[Leafmite]

I couldn't help it. I always wonder how some can grow only orchids with the amazing variety of plants out there!

[Stray59]

Hi everyone!
I have a very tiny Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis campos-portana) that does well with my bromeliads and orchids as it like humidity, unlike most Rhipsalis. The stems are about the size of heavy thread and the blooms are tiny little white things that are not that noticeable. With a small root-footprint and long draping stems, it accents mounts and pots well. Also, I have seen Rhipsalis capilliformis used, it's a little larger and I don't have it so I can't attest to it's usage, but have seen others add it to their mounts.
If you have a huge mount, Staghorn ferns, Hart's tongue fern and the like are often used as they seldom set spore in the medium. But again, you have to have HUGE mounts as these can get very large.
Happy hunting!
Steve

[sbrofio]

Not in the same soil, but with same conditions, I grow a normal Anthurium (1.5 foot tall and 1.5 large), one Aechema (fasciata or hybrid), getting bigger with new sprouts (5 now), some young Amorphophallus (konjac, bulbifer and yulensis). Now in winter, I live in northern Italy with -10°C/5°C (14°F/ 41°F), all my Asclepiadaceae are under the same LED light of my orchid.