Alright, so I've decided I want an indoor, tropical orchid (and yes I'm aware of the possible addiction that rises with orchid succes :p ).

We've just finished our new bathroom and I have some space next to the bath that looks kinda empty at the moment, so ideal for a plant. There's a small window next to it(west facing, but with huge trees opposite of the street, so little light in summer):





I'd like to make something like this:



So I need an orchid that is/can: tolerate low light, low temps at night (and possibly during the day too), variable humidity, epiphytic. Preferable flower color white or green.

Personally I came across Coelogyne pandurata, it looks absolutely stunning. But I read that the flowers only last a week, so that's another thing; long(er) lasting flowers.

Ideas welcome!

Welcome to the board.

It really depends on what you classify as "low temperature." Based on your broad generalities and the example, I would suggest a Dendrobium Mini Chip or Dendrobium Aussie Chip. Extremely long lasting flowers. They can tolerate a range of temperatures and appear to be pretty easy to grow.

I wouldn't suggest starting with a species right off the bat with such limiting growing conditions. As FYI, most of the white-ish flower orchids are warmer growers. The cooler growers tend to be extremely bright colored because of the limited pollinators in cooler regions in nature. They have to be bright in order to attract the pollinators from a great distance. That is also why they have longer lasting flowers.

If you truly have cool growing conditions, you might try Dendrobium laevifolium or cuthbertsonii. They are compact cool growers that do not require a lot of light. The flowers last for months. In the right growing conditions, they are easy to grow. Where I live, they are impossible without special cool, humid greenhouses.

http://www.orchidspecies.com/d...
http://www.orchidspecies.com/d...

https://www.google.com/search?...

I would try a Phalaenopsis there. They like low light conditions, low 50's triggers flower spikes in Fall to Spring. Blooms lasts 3 to 6 months at times. Phals are quite common too, so it is a good starting point.

with Tarev! Phals were what I was thinking as I read your post...GOOD LUCK, and welcome to the addicting world of orchids!

For me at least, Phal. take more care and observation than just about any family of orchid I grow. Scale, mealy bugs, and crown rot all seem to go along with growing my Phal.

Wow...what are you doing to them Ken? lol! I've never had ANY of those problems! I've never had any problem with scale or mealy bugs on any of my orchids, but I prevent crown rot by using a paper towel to dry the crowns every time I water them (inside only, if they are outside I do NOT run out with a paper towel every time it rains! lol!)

I have no clue, Patty. I have always seen/had the scale and mealy bug problems. I don't mean it is a regular problem, actually quite seldom, but IF I have ANY orchid infested, it has always been in the Phal. family. Having had so many orchids over the last five years (certainly over a couple thousand), I guess just the shear number lends itself to seeing some sort of pests. I never see any pests on my Cattleya alliance plants though, and that is by far what I have had the most of.

I am with Ken! In my hands, if I see Mealies, they are for sure on a Phal! But then in my defense, most Phals I grow are always at the verge of death anyway, people give them to me when they are done with them, so this miracle grower here might rescue them from the compost pile.
Not! They hang on, get buggy and then I have enough and throw them out.

Gee, I thought it was just me.

I must be lucky then! My biggest problems with phals right now is that after the GORGEOUS blooms I had last year...they all seemed to go into some sort of slump with limp leaves and just overall looking like they are on the way out! They've been like that for months now, but I'm just starting to see some new leaves...so maybe they wre just tired and resting......

But maybe one or two in a bathroom for Arico may not draw those problems???

Patty, my Phals do the same thing, they go on that resting phase hiatus after the long blooming period. I always have them indoors and like you I dry off the leaves when I get it wet during watering, and have our ceiling fan running after I water them. One of them is busy growing a new leaf, while the others are just resting. I have learned to treat them like a cool weather loving succulent. Less water when it is cold, a bit more when it is warm. I do not have those mealy bug problems either, maybe because I keep them drier and our humidity here is really dismal.

My son has a houseful of varied plants including a couple of Phals. This last visit was the first time I did not see them in bloom, they usually have a spike or two going. I've tried talking to him about his choice of planting medium but kids never listen to parents and frankly, his orchids always look and bloom much better than mine. The specks on the smaller plant are not critters, just dust.

Alice, just last weekend a lady was telling me about her many-years old dendrobium that is huge and blooms almost all year long right by her front door..... potted in regular potting mix! I didn't even know what to say to her, except don't mess with success!

Now I see your son's phals in potting mix and looking a whole lot better than mine do right now!

Is this a new trend or something?

I think the secret here (and this is nothing but a guess) is that the "modified potting mix" is kept really dry, is open, and that it still drains very well. Simply looking at the picture does not really tell us what the media's components are.

Will had his in plain old Miracle Gro potting mix (he NEVER listens to me, )

OooooooKkkkkkkkkkkk. Surely he keeps it on the dry-side. Don't tell me he keeps it moist.

Nope, he overwaters too. It drives me crazy, he also has a lot of succulents and I keep telling him "let them dry out" and I send him articles on how most houseplants die from overwatering but it all falls on deaf ears and his plants continue to thrive. Go figure.
BTW, this "kid" is 42 years old.

Alice, if my phals looked like that I might not listen to you either!

I DO think you are onto the secret there Ken, DRY is the ticket....I sort of got that from the den. lady too.

Signing off for a week....see ya'll after the 7th!

Tell your Grandma I wish her an (early) happy birthday. All birthdays are to be celebrated, but 98 is extra-special.