Hello everyone!

Typically I am in the succulent/carnivorous plants forums, but I have started to become more involved with orchids! I am not at all experienced with identifying orchids, so I was wondering if you could identify these two?
Dendrobium or Phalaenopsis maybe? Not sure what the difference is between the two. The first one I also have in white, I currently just do not have any pictures of the blooms. Thank you!

These two plants are phalaenopsis plants. Their leaves are large and have a somewhat leathery feel to them. The dendrobium orchids have a smaller leaf and grow differently.

You have some very pretty Phals there.

There is a terrific sticky thread on growing Phals at the top of this forum. They are often called Supermarket orchids as we find so many of them there. They just jump in our baskets and cme home with us.

I find Dendrobiums are a broad family of orchids with different physical characteristics and different cultural requirements.

Lindsey. Nice group of orchid lovers you have found here.

Jim

Lindsey!

Hope you stay a while and look around!

welcome Lindsey...I like your name!

Lindsey!

A Phalaenopsis Orchid is "monopodial" generally in nature. It grows ever upward with its leaves arising from the center of the plant. One leaf goes left, the next one alternates and goes right. Leaves can be flat, Long and often quite broad.
A Dendrobium is a "sympodial" orchid growing from new psuedobulbs or New canes. These arise from a rhizome. Leaves are often laceolate, more narrow and not nearly as long as Phalaenopsis leaves. There could be, 1,2, 3 up to 5 or 6 leaves per pseudobulb.
If you hang out with us, we can guarantee you a great and wonderful trip through the world of orchids!!!

WOW thank you so much everyone!!!

Welcome! Beautiful blooms! I'm also a newbie to orchids' area and I too started with Phals.

Hi and welcome, Lindsey and hi again, Faridat. Yes, Phals are often thought to be "beginner" orchids and they do seem to do well for most people who grow orchids indoors. For me, growing my orchids outdoors in hot, humid sunny Florida they are very difficult. But still, I do buy the odd one because the flowers are so very nice and last SO long. They limp along and just peter out on me, painfully slowly after they finish blooming.

Beautiful flowers you have going there, Lindsey.

Here's another orchid I just bought! What kind is it, also any tips on care for it? Thanks!

I think you've got a Cattleya orchid there, Lindsey. They need a lot more direct sunlight than your Phalaenopsis. Maybe start by putting it where it will get morning sun only, then acclimate it to a sunnier position.

It is potted up in sphagnum moss which is really not a good medium for Cattleyas. Recommend you get some orchid bark at the garden center, and a vented clay pot for that baby. Cattleyas really like to have lots of air around their roots, and to dry out completely between waterings. If they get happy they will attach roots to the pot and put them out into the air as well, so don't be worried if this happens. It's their way of collecting moisture and nutrients from the air.

Here are pictures of a couple of vented orchid pots. I used to grow my Cattleyas in these, but now all of mine are in the slatted wood baskets like the one on the left in the second picture.

Thank you so much!!! I have a bag of orchid moss here at home! I have a greenhouse where I keep half of my plants, would that be good for it?

*** correction... I meant to say mulch! My dumb phone corrected it to moss haha

Hi Lindsey,
If it says 'Moss', I would not use it.
Look for this at Lowe's or Home Depot


When you do repot, pick a pot ( or basket) that's only a little bigger than the pot it's currently in.

It is NOT a Cattleya! It is most
Likely an Oncidium of some type. I can't be very precise in my identification without knowing the exact name. But in general Oncidiums like a couple hours of sunlight each day, otherwise a bright location. They have fine roots and like a fine mix. They like a little more water than a Cattleya.
Some growers have success with sphagnum moss as a media but I would not suggest it as a beginner. Try a mixture of seedling grade for bark, charcoal and sponge rock. The mix in the bag is too coarse in my opinion and will dry out too quickly.
Use as small of a pot as possible, if it is in a 3" pot, keep it in the same size or use a 3 1/2" pot, no larger.

Thank you, Bill , for catching what I missed on my small screen phone!
Good advice for Lindsey ( it's so weird having 2 of us with the same name and spelling... hardly ever happens!)

Good luck