Lots of people ask me what are my best orchids to grow. Here is a place for all to voice their opinions. What orchid can't you live without and why?

The pic is my Dendrobium Nora Tokunaga. This plant blooms all through fall and winter and into spring. It has been very reliable each year. I bought it at an orchid show a few years ago. It is a wonder.

I also recommend the reed stem epidendrums. They always seem to be in bloom.

And the cool flowers. Most are orange-colored but I also have this nice pink one. They grow wild from South Carolina to Argentina! Great for beginners.

Hmmm, I'm going to have to do some research on Laura Tokunaga. So far, I've had good luck with Dens, but the ones that get really large are going have to learn to live outside year round.

It's Nora. And she's only about 10" high.

Thanks! I'm still toying with the idea of going to Santa Barbra this comming weekend for the big show there. it's about a 2 1/2 hr drive, but so far, no rain is predicted.

Oh how I wish I could go!! You are so lucky. To me that would be heaven!! I get those big gorgeous postcards from them about shows and I sigh a lot. No matter how small my order, the shipping is $20 minimum from them. So I try to only break down once a year!

SBOE has some beautiful plants, but they are a bit pricey, and at the last show I went to, they had nothing in 4" pots. I can't see spending the money on large plants that may not survive my conditions, so I haven't bought from them...yet. There are supposed to be 70 vendors there, so we shall see....

70!! OMG!

Sorry, I should have said 70 exibitors. http://www.sborchidshow.com/sh... Had you going there,huh?

I can't imagine 70 exhibitors either! Sounds like a 2 day event!

Carol,
I think it is a lot easier to start out with a larger, healthy plant than trying to baby a smallish plant/division or seedling until it finally, maybe blooms a few years from now. I would rather pay the extra bucks and start out with a good blooming (- size ) plant, honestly!
Just my 2 scents.

Ursula, If I had your set up I would! So far, I have had good luck with buying from reputable vendors and buying small plants in bloom. I also try to avoid plants that aren't "temp. tolerant", or that need very high humidity. I also try to buy from local growers, if possible, another reason I haven't bought from SBOE. They claim to grow their Cats and Dens outside, year round. They are a block from the ocean...I'm 10 miles inland. Lot of difference in climate! Andy's and Sunset Valley are an hour south of me and about the same distance from the ocean as I am.
I didn't have time for orchids until I retired a year and a half ago. Now I have nothing but time, so I can baby them along.

Ok. I hear you.
It's not that I don't have a whole group of tiny plants myself, which I am babying along. Hopefully I see them blooming before I kick the bucket.

As of now, I would say I don't want to ever be without Paphs. Some varieties bloom for many months at a time...far longer than most orchids I have seen. Also I am getting rebudding now on alot of them.