Unpopular Orchid Opinions

[BrassavolaStars]

Hello all,

This was a very interesting video. I definitely fell for a few of these myths early on when I was learning to grow plants. I must have killed at least a half a dozen cattleyas waiting for them to become dry enough to water, thus letting the roots desiccate.
I think watering is really all about air-circulation and temperature/humidity. I do think if you are a windowsill grower, it can be very difficult to get these conditions to a favorable level.

I think if you grow indoors and have a dark, stagnant growing space, it is very easy for things to rot from watering "too much/at the wrong time." The real problems of circulation, temperature, and humidity are what really need to be addressed but, when you first start growing, none of the care instructions seem to tell you that.

Something else that I would add to the myth list is putting peroxide on the roots when repotting. I'm not ever doing that again. It seemed to worsen the plant's health significantly.

For my unpopular opinions:

• Phalaenopsis are not the best beginner orchids. They can get crown rot pretty easily, especially indoors.

• Phalaenopsis species and novelty hybrids are severely underappreciated and are some of the most amazing orchids.

• Tolumnias, with few exceptions, are ugly.

• Most complex Oncidium intergenerics (I.e. Colmanara, Wilsonara, Vuylstekeara) are boring.

• Den. spectabile and Psychopsis flowers are not that interesting.

• Big flowers and big plants are better. If space is not at a premium, it is better to have larger plants. There is nothing satisfying to me about a micro.

• Why bother buying it if it isn’t fragrant.

• I do not understand why people like Cattleya harpophylla, crsipata, coccinea, or any of those thin, spidery cattleyas. To me, the flowers are very unappealing.

• Phaius look like they should be bouquet filler.

• Jewel orchids are just foliage houseplants with hype.

• Sharry Baby doesn't actually smell that good.