My background, favorite 10 kinds of Orchids, and why
After working for Rod McLellan Orchid Company for many years I do have favorite Orchids and can’t say I just like them all. For the company about ten years ago as the company expert and brand, for years managed a team, worked in marketing/branding/advertising/PR, took trips gathering information and plants from exotic places (favorite was Hawaii as there are so many growers there), gave over 250 talks to groups of 50-150 people on Orchid care, was featured in books/magazines/newspapers, was an Orchid judge, hybridized the most expensive plants ($50-$10,000 individual Orchids), sales work, and more.
That experience gave me incredible insight in helping drive the Orchid industry. There are a large number of hobbyist Orchid growers out there as well as new Orchid growers. People love Orchids as they are the largest plant family and often very exotic and unique.
My favorite kinds of Orchids in order of top favorites first:
- Yellow Phalaenopsis Orchids. These are hard to find good ones and that is why. They also bloom for a very long time per flower, are very compact, and in my particular taste, are amazing. They are not hard to grow, but to me are the perfect Orchid.
- Small novelty Phalaenopsis Orchids. These are very compact and come in such a multitude of colors and varieties it is amazing. There are so many varieties of these that are unique, that coupled with the long bloom time these are terrific. They are not number 1 on this list only because I can’t have 2 #1’s.
- Dendrobium Nobile Orchids. These are amazing and on my first trip to Hawaii I was bowled over by these. Very floriferous.
- Big pink/purple Phalaenopsis Orchids. They can bloom a long time and have a big show. Plus, the range of colors is astounding.
- Big white Phalaenopsis Orchids. These are nice as well as in #3, but without as big a range of colors.
- Oncidium Sharry Baby Orchid. Easy to grow, blooms a long time, and smells like chocolate.
- Paphiopedilum Pinocchio. I love the colors on this compact long lasting flower.
- Dendrobium spectabile species Orchid. Very unique and interesting looking. Exotic.
- Green Dendrobium Orchids. Because they are not so common and are unique.
- Cool Paphiopedilum Orchids. These were the first kinds of Orchids I learned to hybridize since they are fairly easy to get a “take”. The flowers last a long time and they are very compact and colorful.
By the way, we’ve had quite a lot of requests for information about various kinds of exotic Orchids so look out for some posts on these coming up.