Some of the common plants you will find are all Oncidiinae hybrids:
- Oncidiums: Grower Ramsey with its bright yellow dancing ladies and Sharry Baby with its reddish brown flowers and strong fragrance.
- Phalaenopsis: Also known as "Moth orchids" with their graceful arches of blooms.
- Dendrobiums: Noble and Phalaenopsis hybrids, the nobles will have flowers growing right out of the pseudobulb (stock) and the Phalaenopsis type has long branching inflorescence.
- Colmanara Wildcat hybrids: This new comer has beautiful exotic patterns on the flowers of red, browns, white and yellows.
- Vandas and Ascocenda: These hybrids are the orchids with the bright purple, red, and orange blooms.
- Cattleya, and Cymbidums: Seen at different times of the year.
If you happen to be one of those people that just have to buy the "orphans" that are laying around half dead, PLEASE understand what you are doing. The plant has undergone a lot-- over watering, under watering, too much heat, too much cold, and heavens knows what else. Saving these "orphans" can sometimes be done, but taking them to a dry home and expecting miracles is not reality. Most often it will require the intensive care environment of a well-controlled greenhouse to save the plant. It can take YEARS for a plant to recover to the point of producing new flowers or even new growth. Never cut back the flower spikes on sick orchids to promote more blooms. The orchid needs all the energy it can make to even survive. Producing flowers is very taxing on any plant.
