My most favorite

[LadySlipper]

Can anyone tell us their most favorite non-slipper orchid and why?

 

[Tony]

Brassia Datacosa 'Coos Bay' AM/AOS, it was the first orchid I ever bought back in the early 90s and I still have divisions in my collection today.

 

[Linus_Cello]

Vanilla- yum!

 

[TyroneGenade]

I am a sucker for Tolumnias.

 

[Anca86]

Wow...that's a very good question... Acantheppipium species. They are difficult to find and the flowers are quite interesting.

 

[BrucherT]

I love the Asian grass-leaves “Jensoa” Cymbidiums. I find the traditional pottery and form of the plants existentially satisfying. Sadly, I struggle to grow them. The mountain of dead plants is a whole mood of chagrin.

 

[Linus_Cello]

“Jensoa” Cymbidiums

How are your growing them? I'm experimenting with some cheap ones in s/h, and so far ok.

 

[OrchidAnna]

I say everything is my favorite when it’s in bloom.

that said, I’ve really been enjoying bulbophyllums in the past year or two. Thai Spider was a favorite, as is ambrosia.

 

[Tom499]

Sedirea japonica

 

[KeysGuy]

Any Aerides but houlletiana in particular.
Just something about that coloring combination and fragrance.

 

[abax]

Phals are wonderful because they bloom just when I need the color and encouragement to
get through the rest of winter. One blooming now and many showing spikes. Hooray!

 

[cnycharles]

I love caladenias but have never seen one in flower in person

 

[Paphman910]

Cattleya walkeriana and Phal bellina. The scent is heavenly!

 

[LO69]

If only one Is allowed then no doubts it's Phal. bellina for me!! Love the contrast of magenta and greenish white and the wonderful fragrance too. Plus a long lasting flowering!
Mounted It makes a better display.

 

[Happypaphy7]

I can't just pick one. Too many!!
My current favorite is Neostylis Pinky that has been in bloom for quite some time now mainly for the sweet fragrance it emits day and night.
The plant itself is too big. I have much smaller Pinky but they are blasting queens. I lost spikes on all four or five of them this time last year and again, two of them just decided to dry up its spike after many months in the work. Frustrating!!

Oh, and Brassavola nodosa just opened up a couple of days ago showing off its lovely heart-shaped white lip offset by thin little green petals, and of course, the powerful scent at night.
Phalaenopsis schilleriana is going to open in about a week or so, and it will become my favorite then.

If I ever owned a greenhouse with lots of space and enough cooling in the winter, other than having more Paphiopedilum seedlings (yay!!), I would also love to expand my Neofinetia falcata and Dendrobium nobile type hybrid collection. I love the fragrance of these two groups, and they just look great!

 

[NEslipper]

Cattleyas, particularly the heirloom corsage types. Think Bow bells, Bob Betts, and Norman’s Bay. They were bred for vigor and floriferousness, so they are very rewarding to grow, and as a bonus, the blooms smell amazing. They’re also living pieces of history. While most of the plants I listed are post-1940, if you want something old, you can still find divisions of plants from the latter half of the 19th century.

 

[Ozpaph]

Maybe Sophronitis coccinea

 

[LadySlipper]

They’re also living pieces of history. While most of the plants I listed are post-1940, if you want something old, you can still find divisions of plants from the latter half of the 19th century.

That's so amazing. Do you mean plants from before 1940 are still grown today?

 

[JustinR]

A huge Cattleya warscewiczii with multiple spikes each carrying 5 or more 25cm flowers. Not much could compete with that for sheer impact I guess.

 

[Greenpaph]

Spotted bifoliate Catts! Easy to grow, most are fragrant and a variety of colors!