In the latest Blooming orchids in March, there was mention that many orchid collectors do not seem to be attracted by small, compact orchids. I am a windowsill grower just starting collecting orchids, and I need small, easy-to-grow orchids still with showy blooms. I would love and would be very grateful to hear about ideas on this topic. Thanks.

Hi JMaurissen...what sort of light can you provide in your windowsill environment? There's quite a few
plants that are small with beautiful flowers..







If you go to our various threads of 'what's blooming this month'..you will likely see
many plants that fit your bill. and then the fun starts trying to find them! If you live
in an area where there are orchid shows..it's easy to see plants in bloom and pick
the ones you like...but you have to be able to provide the right environment to keep
them alive and rebloom for you.

I agree! We need to know how much light your windowsill gets or if you are willing to add a grow lamp if light is not sufficient.

@JMaurissen, please take a moment and go to your "Profile". Enter your location under "Public Profile" and then click on "Update". Now, every time you post we'll know where you are. Growing conditions, whether inside or outside is everything when it comes to growing plants. Thus, knowing where you are will help us answer your plant questions.

Keep in mind that most compact, sub-compact, and miniature plants will also have proportionally-sized flowers. A tiny plant stem simply cannot support a huge flower. Though I find the small/tiny flowers to be equally beautiful as the large, bold flowers of the standard-size orchids (such as the Cattleya Alliance orchids), they will never have the "pizazz" or volume of fragrance associated with the larger flowers. But for those growing in a small space (such as window sills), the smaller growers may be all that's practical to grow. There are lots of choices when it comes to the smaller orchids. Knowing your growing conditions (as much information as possible) will help determine what would work best for you.

Hmm, so called Windowsill Cattleyas have nice sized blooms and a wonderful fragrance to boot, C. Mini Purple and comes to mind. C. Love Knot is perfect too, but the blooms are slightly smaller, but also fragrant. Any of those need bright light.

I was also going to mention mini Cattleyas. Another tiny favorite is Phalaenopsis. Brassavola nodosa is small and beautiful.

Don't get Dendrobium honohono. The only thing small about it is the pot. But the Dendrobium 'micro chip' and 'Aussie's chip' are small and amazing bloomers.

Daisy

Den. spectabile can be a small grower and Den. aggregatum is a compact grower. Lots of the Dtps. are small and I do grow the Phal. equestris, Dtps. I-Hsin 'Sun Beauty', Phal. Hitomi Watanabe, and a few other compact/sub-compact ones.

I have added the "Window Sill Orchids" page to my site but it will take some time to populate it. It looks like I will have at least 40 varieties on that one page.

Den. spectabile in my hands is beyond huge at four to five feet across. I've never seen a small one unless it's a seedling.


Jim

Don't forget the lovely Tolumnias we were discussing earlier this week. Very small plants that produce amazingly generous cascading stems of gorgeous flowers. Look for those for sale at Lowe's this month, they're very popular. If I had a windowsill with morning sun, that's what I'd fill it up with.

Beautiful mini-Phals are available for relatively little money, too. I think the small Dens are the best value for repeat bloom, though. Most of the others only bloom once a year, although their flowers last a month or more sometimes.

Not sure about Den Spectabile being small, Ken.. . . all the ones I've seen recently have been pretty huge.

Boy, that is a whooping large one, Jim. I have had my plant for 1 1/2 years and it was a division when I got it, with a couple of canes only 4-6" tall. Though mine has grown some, and I do have it now in a 5" mesh-pot, it still is only 8" tall. It has not bloomed for me. Perhaps I am doing something wrong for it to stay compact-size. Regardless, it won't go on my "Window Sill Orchids" page. Thanks for the head's up.

I am also thinking, some Orchids like Dendrobium aggregatum prefer to grow mounted and do get to be sizable plant also.
We really need to see the original poster to please chime back in here. I could imagine plants being watered over trays, sitting on a rack of sorts. One can go on and on.....
Beautiful small plants quite suitable for windowsill growing are Neofinetia falcata, these are miniature gems which are very pretty to look at, even when not in bloom. They bloom in the Spring and the delicate and beautiful blooms are very fragrant in the evening. One might want to google them... The downside is that they can be expensive, it helps to shop around a bit.

Ctna Flying Colors 'Mendenhall'
Rodrigueriz lancelotta ( sp?)
Pot. Birthday Dream 'Tiny Titan'
Blc. Royal Beau 'Himimanu'...
are just a few that stayed within window sill limits for me...but all of these would require lots of light.

Such lovelies, I also have a small one related to your Rodriguezia that is Howeara Lava Burst 'Puanani'
These were four little plants I had in 3in. pots, inside a larger clay bowl. Leaves about 5in. long and flowers on a long, thin stem, maybe 10in. They were generous bloomers, too. I've given them all away as gifts and only have one left.

I love every one of Howeara Lava Burst series. Small but in constant bloom.

My little Den kingianum loves sitting on my windowsill. It bloomed last fall and is once again in bloom. I don't think they get too large, what do you think experts?

You have all posted great plants for window sill growing. Unfortunately, I have none of them.

and the original poster seems to have left the building

Jacques is still watching and reading, Lindsey. I got a T-Mail.

oh good...he's probably working on his 'wish list'!