Suggestions for NON-Phal beginner orchids?

[Corry]

Hello all!

I've been an orchid lover for a while now, but I've not ventured beyond phals at all. I currently have four phals, three at home and one at work. Two are 'normal' sized phals, one given to me not blooming (my first orchid) about 3 years ago, and one purchased at Walmart. I have a large one that I purchased at Home Depot about a year ago that I have hear at work, and a mini one I got just a couple of weeks ago at Home Depot. There aren't many local options for buying orchids, if you can't tell.

The only time I've ever seen a non-phal orchid sold locally was at HyVee grocery store -- no idea what type they were, but they were ridiiculously expensive. So I'm looking at buying online.

Here are two I'm looking at that appear to be not terribly difficult -- can you tell me if these would be good for me to start with?

Vanilla Vine Orchid

Wilsonara Finial Fire Orchid

Some info about where they'd be grown: I live in an apartment that has two south facing windows and one east facing windows. It's pretty dry in the winter, but I use a humidifier in the room with the east facing window, I use pebble humidity trays, and I mist all of my plants (I have a lot) often. At work I have access to north, south, and east facing windows.

Thanks in advance for suggestions!

Edited to add: I had Amazon links for the above orchids I listed, but my post was denied saying I had too many links? So I just took them off.

Edit again: I'm not sure it matters since it's indoor growing, but I live in Northern Illinois, USA.

[violetta]

I don't know anything about Vanilla Vine Orchid, but I think that oncidium and oncidium-type orchids (Wilsonara, Beallara, Vuylstekeara, etc) are easy to grow indoors. Also den-phals could be an option for you, they like warmth and bright light all year round.
These are my suggestions because I grow them at home and at my office successfully, without tons of humidity.

[Ray]

There is no such thing as an easy, beginner orchid, as what might be great for me might be impossible to grow for you.

One of the biggest problems novices get themselves into is that of buying plants they like the looks of and hoping they can grow them, rather than understanding the conditions they can readily provide, and then buying the plants that are well suited to those conditions. That sounds like it's asking a lot, but with some 20,000-30,000 natural species and countless hybrids, with very few exceptions, there are bound to be orchids that will grow under your conditions.

Another common problem is that of folks buying one or two of each a wide and disparate variety of plants before they become an experienced grower of one or two types. Orchids, being a very highly evolved group of plants, have become developed for very specific cultural niches, so conditions that are great for one may be totally wrong for another.

I typically recommend a conservative, multi-step process:

1. Read, read, and read some more. Start with the culture guides available on websites (like mine, the AOS, etc.), then hit the library to learn more details. The Ortho book "All about Growing Orchids" is a pretty good basic reference, and at about $11 at most Home Depot stores or the like, it's not too bad on the budget, either.

The key items to consider are the amount (intensity and duration) of available light, whether that's outdoors, through windows, or from artificial sources, the maximum and minimum temperatures in the growing area, and the humidity.

2. Talk to local growers, both commercial and hobbyists. If you point your web browser to www.orchidweb.org, the American Orchid Society website, you can look up local orchid societies and vendors. They're both great resources, as they'll know more about your local conditions than I. The Orchid Mall (www.orchidmall.com) is another great resource for identifying nearby vendors, and asking questions on forums like this is always available to you.

3. Then, and only then, go buy one plant. Home Depots and Lowes are good places, as even though the folks there tend to not know a thing about orchids, the prices are hard to beat!

One of the most important aspects of orchid growing - and the one that trips up beginners the most - is that of understanding the balance between watering and keeping good air flow to the roots of the plants.

Orchids, for the most part, are epiphytes that grow with their roots attached to the bark of trees, not submerged in soil. In the wild, they generally get watered frequently, but dry out quite quickly. As you're not likely to be transplanting a huge tree to your living room so you can attach orchids to them, we have to find a way to simulate the conditions for the home. Most often, for growing plants in pots, we utilize pieces of fir bark, coconut husk or loose sphagnum moss - singly or in combination, and often with other additives - to provide a moist but airy environment for the roots. There are two aspects of the growing medium that you must pay attention to: the moisture-holding capacity and the degree of packing, which controls the air flow to the root system.

While you are researching your preferred orchids, pay attention to the recommended growing conditions and to the plant structure. If the plant has pseudobulbs, it can probably do fine if the medium is permitted to dry out between waterings, while those without pseudobulbs should be kept evenly moist, but not sopping. It seems that everything about orchid culture is a matter of degrees, not a concrete rule. For example, both cattleyas and oncidiums have pseudobulbs, but have different watering needs: a cattleya, with it's thick rigid leaves can stand relatively long periods of "drought," while an oncidium, having thin, strap-like leaves, will lose more water through transpiration, so requires more frequent watering.

When buying plants, and later in your ownership of them, check how densely the medium is packed. If it looks like it provides little room for airflow to the roots, avoid buying it, or repot.

4. Once you feel you're doing OK with that plant, consider buying more of that type - probably with different colored flowers - and get really comfortable with them, especially proven by your ability to have them bloom again.

5. After that, then you might consider other genera, and really expanding your collection. WATCH OUT! Orchid collecting can be wildly addictive!

[catherinecarney]

Hi Corry--

Welcome from one beginner to another! I too am just stepping into the wonderful (and confusing) world of orchids.

Just a quick question: by "vanilla vine orchid" do you mean Vanilla planifolia? It is a vining species, evidently grown terrestrially in commercial operations (it's the source of vanilla beans), and from my (limited) experience with it, fairly adaptable.

I have a small cutting of Vanilla planifolia growing on the back wall of my paludarium where the conditions are humid and warm, with high light. It is currently growing as an epiphyte (attaching itself to the wood and cork on the wall) and seems to be doing well. However, I have only had it in this setup for about 6 months, so I am still learning about how it will do long term and it will get far too big for this space down the line....Which gives me an excuse to build a much larger enclosure (grin).

Hope this gives you some help and ideas. Keep us posted!

Catherine

[Corry]

Originally Posted by violetta

I don't know anything about Vanilla Vine Orchid, but I think that oncidium and oncidium-type orchids (Wilsonara, Beallara, Vuylstekeara, etc) are easy to grow indoors. Also den-phals could be an option for you, they like warmth and bright light all year round.
These are my suggestions because I grow them at home and at my office successfully, without tons of humidity.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Ray

There is no such thing as an easy, beginner orchid, as what might be great for me might be impossible to grow for you.

One of the biggest problems novices get themselves into is that of buying plants they like the looks of and hoping they can grow them, rather than understanding the conditions they can readily provide, and then buying the plants that are well suited to those conditions. That sounds like it's asking a lot, but with some 20,000-30,000 natural species and countless hybrids, with very few exceptions, there are bound to be orchids that will grow under your conditions.

Another common problem is that of folks buying one or two of each a wide and disparate variety of plants before they become an experienced grower of one or two types. Orchids, being a very highly evolved group of plants, have become developed for very specific cultural niches, so conditions that are great for one may be totally wrong for another.

I typically recommend a conservative, multi-step process:

1. Read, read, and read some more. Start with the culture guides available on websites (like mine, the AOS, etc.), then hit the library to learn more details. The Ortho book "All about Growing Orchids" is a pretty good basic reference, and at about $11 at most Home Depot stores or the like, it's not too bad on the budget, either.

The key items to consider are the amount (intensity and duration) of available light, whether that's outdoors, through windows, or from artificial sources, the maximum and minimum temperatures in the growing area, and the humidity.

2. Talk to local growers, both commercial and hobbyists. If you point your web browser to , the American Orchid Society website, you can look up local orchid societies and vendors. They're both great resources, as they'll know more about your local conditions than I. The Orchid Mall is another great resource for identifying nearby vendors, and asking questions on forums like this is always available to you.

3. Then, and only then, go buy one plant. Home Depots and Lowes are good places, as even though the folks there tend to not know a thing about orchids, the prices are hard to beat!

One of the most important aspects of orchid growing - and the one that trips up beginners the most - is that of understanding the balance between watering and keeping good air flow to the roots of the plants.

Orchids, for the most part, are epiphytes that grow with their roots attached to the bark of trees, not submerged in soil. In the wild, they generally get watered frequently, but dry out quite quickly. As you're not likely to be transplanting a huge tree to your living room so you can attach orchids to them, we have to find a way to simulate the conditions for the home. Most often, for growing plants in pots, we utilize pieces of fir bark, coconut husk or loose sphagnum moss - singly or in combination, and often with other additives - to provide a moist but airy environment for the roots. There are two aspects of the growing medium that you must pay attention to: the moisture-holding capacity and the degree of packing, which controls the air flow to the root system.

While you are researching your preferred orchids, pay attention to the recommended growing conditions and to the plant structure. If the plant has pseudobulbs, it can probably do fine if the medium is permitted to dry out between waterings, while those without pseudobulbs should be kept evenly moist, but not sopping. It seems that everything about orchid culture is a matter of degrees, not a concrete rule. For example, both cattleyas and oncidiums have pseudobulbs, but have different watering needs: a cattleya, with it's thick rigid leaves can stand relatively long periods of "drought," while an oncidium, having thin, strap-like leaves, will lose more water through transpiration, so requires more frequent watering.

When buying plants, and later in your ownership of them, check how densely the medium is packed. If it looks like it provides little room for airflow to the roots, avoid buying it, or repot.

4. Once you feel you're doing OK with that plant, consider buying more of that type - probably with different colored flowers - and get really comfortable with them, especially proven by your ability to have them bloom again.

5. After that, then you might consider other genera, and really expanding your collection. WATCH OUT! Orchid collecting can be wildly addictive!

Thanks for your advice!

---------- Post added at 09:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 AM ----------

Originally Posted by catherinecarney

Hi Corry--

Welcome from one beginner to another! I too am just stepping into the wonderful (and confusing) world of orchids.

Just a quick question: by "vanilla vine orchid" do you mean Vanilla planifolia? It is a vining species, evidently grown terrestrially in commercial operations (it's the source of vanilla beans), and from my (limited) experience with it, fairly adaptable.

I have a small cutting of Vanilla planifolia growing on the back wall of my paludarium where the conditions are humid and warm, with high light. It is currently growing as an epiphyte (attaching itself to the wood and cork on the wall) and seems to be doing well. However, I have only had it in this setup for about 6 months, so I am still learning about how it will do long term and it will get far too big for this space down the line....Which gives me an excuse to build a much larger enclosure (grin).

Hope this gives you some help and ideas. Keep us posted!

Catherine

Yes, that's the one. I tried to put a link to it, but it wouldn't let me post with that. Heck, it wouldn't let me quote the last thing I quoted without removing the URLs in it! I guess because I'm new.

[camille1585]

I agree, there is no such thing as pure beginner plants, as in anyone who buys it will grow it successfully. When I was starting out I used to kill every single Oncidium type that came into my care, I just couldn't grow them, while for other people they grew like weeds. Even now, when I venture into a new genus I only get one orchid and wait to see how I do with it before buying more. Basically, you need to select orchids which match your conditions, and after that, you don’t know if you can grow them until you try!

Your conditions sound fine for Oncidiums and their intergenerics. As for Vanilla (if it's Vanilla planifolia) while it is often an easy grower, getting flowers is not so easy. Many of the successful people I know are down in Florida or similar, and the vine needs to get rather long before it blooms. I’ve seen pics of people wrapping it around a trellis a dozen times or so. With southern windows you could look into getting a Cattleya. The previously suggested Phal type Dens are often pretty forgiving.
In northern Illinois if you are not far from Chicago there is a wonderful grower just outside the city called Orchids by Hausermann. They have a great range of orchids, and is always a highly recommended grower here. Of course you can order online, but the advantage of going there is that you’ll get good advice too.

[terracotta7]

I have not had a chance to welcome you, Corry...so consider yourself welcomed to OB! Hope you have a lot of fun getting to know everyone here.

I agree with all that has been said above. I live in NY. I started out with some phals that people gave to me as well. The next orchids I tried were a dendrobium and a cattleya. I have had good luck with the den, but not with the catt.

Next I tried the oncidium family. I have had even more success with these plants in my environment. Now, I do as Ray says. Before I buy anything I look at the cultural requirements. If they need high humidity or a lot of warmth or real bright light I don't try to take them on. If the cultural needs are the same as what I have had success with, then I give it a go. I also ask a lot of questions when
I order orchids. Most of the vendors have been extremely helpful!

Because I do not have a lot of excess dollars to spend, I have been buying small seedlings from online vendors, or taking advantage of sales that they have. I keep a running list of orchids that I have admired here on OB or in books that I have read, and I look for those at the best prices. Each time I buy, I try to get things that I am pretty sure will survive and also get something new to me. Just last week I made my first orders of the year and going to try an epidendrum and a phaius and a aspasia lunata for the first time. I also am trying my second paph since the first one I ordered(from Ray!) is doing so well, and another encyclia and den. All of these will be very small when they come, which I think is not universally desired here on OB, but (as I said) works for me.

I really like the oncidium types of orchids. I love my Nelly Isler Burrageara and my Wilsonara. BUT...I think that you will find that not everyone feels the same way. If you can do some research and ask a bunch of questions, I am sure that you will find what works best for you, too. When you do, I hope to see some photos of your successes. Happy growing!

[tucker85]

For a window sill I like paphs or mini-catts. Look for plants that are described as vigorous growers, reliable bloomers, easy to grow and flower or blooms a couple times a year. Those kinds of plants would be more rewarding for a new grower. Also I would recommend blooming size plants. Seedlings are cheap but they can take several years to bloom. Be careful, some on-line vendors aren't clear about what size their plants are.

[bballr4567]

Being in northern Ill you have a great opportunity to visit a few greenhouses in the area. I highly suggest Hausermanns' and if you google search you will find a few smaller ones close by. It will be worth the day trip just to go see the impressive variety that is available and how big each plant can get.

[Corry]

So many great replies so quickly! Thank you all!

I googled Hauserman's and it tells me that it's an hour and a half drive. I know most of the drive because I used to visit my cousin in a medical rehabilitation facility not far from where Hauserman's is. It can be kindof a crappy drive when you're in a rundown car, but I'd really like to go, sooooooo, I'll have to make a point of it after I get a few things fixed with my tax refund!