New - Looking for help choosing a nice orchid

[rainbuilder]

Hello everyone! I am new here, and signed up because I wanted some advice on picking an orchid to keep! I am thinking about setting up a terrarium with an orchid as a centerpiece.
Here's what I am looking for in an orchid:
-Not a hybrid
-ephiphytic (I want to be able to mount it on a piece of wood)
-not a run of the mill common orchid
-smaller species, but not necessarily dwarf
I am pretty confident in my plant keeping abilities, so as long as the type of orchid doesn't require expert care I'm pretty sure I could keep it. One of the ones I liked in particular was the hanenaria medusae orchid, but it is terrestrial. I may decide to go with that one just because I love the way it looks, but my first choice is an epiphytic orchid.

[Wrebbitrocks]

by eliminating hybrids, you get rid of some of the ease of care. species are more demanding of their culture requirements although from my experience either they've adapted quite well or just grown slowly. it will be trial and error. also the common ones are the ones that have most likely been proven to grow easier hence them being more common. otherwise everyone would grow the less common ones anyways, from what i've read and seen in pictures from users here i think these species might fit your requirements (maybe, i dont think ive seen any of them except the den.)
-dendrobium aggregatum
-sophronitis cernua
-maxillaria sophrontis or tenuifolia
-something from the masdevalias
-phal equestris
-an alba psychopsis

im sure others will know WAAAY more than that.

[rainbuilder]

Those are all GREAT reccomendations! Thanks! I'd get a hybrid, but I am a big fan of all things natural.

[naoki]

Me, too. I prefer natural beauty over human creation. So I don't like (artificial) hybrids. If you can keep your terrarium cool enough, Pleurothallids have interesting small orchids. Masdevallia & Restrepia species? Or Bulbophyllum has lots of weird flowers.

[rainbuilder]

I like the bulbophyllum medusae. While I'm asking about them, What kinds would be good to keep indoors on a mount? I'm thinking about mounting a large orchid and keeping it on my wall. I especially like aerides houlletiana, because of its large roots. So maybe things that look like that.

[AnonYMouse]

You might want to cruise these sections of the board. Lots of ideas and info:
Terrarium Gardening - Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web !
Growing on Mounts - Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web !

[naoki]

I don't know where you are located, but you should grow species which is compatible with your condition and life style. Otherwise, you (or orchids) might not enjoy this hobby. I don't have a heated greenhouse, so I prefer to use pot culture, and I use mounting only for species which will do better on the mount. Mounted orchids look cool, but you'll need to provide high humidity, and frequent watering. Depending on species, you may need to water twice a day if your room is dry. If you have only a few plants, it is doable.

I don't know well about Vandaceous orchids, but you probably need fair amount of light for Aerides (probably more than Cattleya level). Can you provide it?

I've grown B. medusae long time ago, and it is a pretty easy species and I like the flowers. It is relatively common/easy to find species (so it doesn't quite fit with your 3rd criteria, but I agree that it is unusual looking).

Andy's Orchids - Orchid Species - Orchids - Species Specialist - Orchids on a stick is a good place to look for interesting/unusual species. Other place which have some Pleurothalids are

J&L Orchids ~ Home Page
Mountain Orchids, Orchids & Plants for discriminating tastes.
Other Orchids from Hawk Hill Orchids

If you need warm tolerant species:
Tropical Orchid Farm

You may find something you like there.