Sugarcane, I could not have answered TexasP any better. Your experience at Lowe's is the same that would one would find at any other big-box store. They all purchase their orchids from huge commercial growers, and these growers have arrays of grow lights, so that there is 24hr light, seven days a week. They also use automatic timers to mist, water, and fertilize the heck out of the "baby" orchids to force not only fast growth but fast blooming. Add to that the fact that these plants could have been sitting in a warehouse for days if not weeks, and could have spent addtional days in transit. Once in Lowe's, at least the Lowe's here, the orchids go inside and are never watered or misted. These are the reasons that so many people have failed in growing their big-box orchids. The home enviornment is nothing like the commercial grower's enviornment.
I don't really know which species is the easiest to grow inside the house. I grow a large number of Cattleyas but also grow Dendrobiums, Vandas, and Phalaenopis. They all grow well but each has a little bit of difference in growing needs, at least they do from my observations. I would not leave any orchid with sphagnum moss as its growing medium. Orchids don't like wet feet and sphagnum simply hold water too long. You might get away using moss in a net basket or net pot but you would need excellent air movement to make it work.
Like Jim, when listing my Catt's, I say whether they are fragrant or not. Most of what I grow are very fragrant. I am not sure you will ever see that listed on a commercial growers label. Ken
