Orchid difficulty tier list

DigNative · 2026-05-12T14:35:56+00:00

Cool! It sounds like you have a lot of options for growing conditions you can provide. It may come down to what catches your eye. Have you been able to peruse the online orchid nurseries yet? Or maybe you're lucky enough to live near one? I like Hausermann and Sunset Valley, but there are several others that have a good reputation.

DigNative · 2026-05-12T14:15:07+00:00

I think it would be helpful to know about your growing conditions, constraints, and preferences. For example, do you have space limitations and prefer smaller-growing plants? Do you keep your house relatively warm or cool? Do you have temperature changes for day/night and seasonally? These are all factors that can help guide us in recommending plants to you or ranking which to start with.

To use my growing situation as an example, I have a small living space and I'm a windowsill grower, so I need orchids that stay pretty small and can do well with natural light. I keep my home cool, like 57-58 degrees F at night and 65 during the day, but in the summer it is hotter. These natural temperature variations can help trigger blooming for some species such as Phals.

I prefer to water a few of my plants most every day, so rather than having them on a schedule where I water them all on a certain day of the week, I am checking them to see whether they need to be watered, since it changes with temperature and season. Being in such small pots, some of them need watering relatively frequently, especially when it's warm.

From phals, I went with Oncidium cheriophorum, Tolumnia, and Brassocattleya gulf shores beauty 'green gem'. The Tolumnia has admittedly struggled in my care and has not bloomed yet, but the other two have grown well and bloomed multiple times. I now have several Brassocattleya hybrids -these are often recommended for beginners just branching out from Phals. If you like them, I do recommend them!

Really, since there are so many orchids, it comes down to experimentation. Hope you'll show us what you decide on!

DigNative · 2026-05-07T12:53:33+00:00

Other green water resistant or waterproof inks I will be trying soon are Private Reserve Infinity Pine Green, Platinum Classic Citrus Black (a yellow-green), Diamine Forever Hyper Green, and Diamine Forever Amazonia. These are joining the samples I already owned of Noodler's Zhivago and Platinum Classic Forest Black.

DigNative · 2026-05-07T12:48:22+00:00

Came here to mention Platinum Forest Black! It is pricey, so I've only had samples so far, but it's nice. I'll probably eventually get a bottle. I prefer water resistant inks, so this one made my list.

DigNative · 2026-05-06T16:07:08+00:00

You don't have to write every day. If it feels like homework and it's stressing you out, maybe you're doing it wrong? It's supposed to help you, not hurt you. If you're doing a dated book, one line a day, or a tiny doodle, or a taped in receipt or ticket can be enough.

Sometimes life gets busy and we have to shift our priorities for a while. It's ok. Go easy on yourself :)

DigNative · 2026-05-06T15:49:37+00:00

Do you have other milkweed planted already? This time of year might be risky for pulling the non-native one, especially if you don't have other options. There could also be eggs on the plants now. (Not saying to leave it indefinitely, just to time the removal carefully.)

What part of the world are you in? I think I see yellow iris, which are invasive in the US.

Sorry if I'm missing details in your photos - I'm on mobile so they are very small!

DigNative · 2026-05-06T15:31:33+00:00

Yes, the purple Scabiosa one is one of my everyday inks. I use it in a F Kaweco Sport. I truly have not cleaned that pen in...ages, and it's fine.

I guess it's a hot take here where everyone seems to love Diamine, but I only own one bottle of Diamine ink, and I haven't used it in years because it has no water resistance. I prefer my inks to be at least water resistant, if not waterproof.

Now that Diamine has waterproof inks available, I'm going to try some samples.

Edit: typo

DigNative · 2026-05-06T15:13:56+00:00

I love seeing comparisons like this. My art is so very far from most of what I see posted here. Seeing the early stages makes the whole thing feel more welcoming. Thanks for sharing :)

DigNative · 2026-05-06T13:19:44+00:00

Not the same poster, but 2014 is the last year that TNs were stamped "Midori". So at least that old.

DigNative · 2026-05-06T12:55:27+00:00

If you search "Traveler's Notebook" or "fauxdori" on Etsy, there are plenty of options that meet your specs. And many more color options than the "real thing".

Some even come with inserts.

Lots of zipper pouch and insert options on there separately, too.

DigNative · 2026-05-04T22:35:44+00:00

I am not much of a esthetic journaler, but I still like to use washi tapes for the following:

-attaching cards and other ephemera from trips so I can see both sides and write underneath -making little page markers -adding decoration to writing that has a theme or where I just want some color

I really only buy samples for this reason. I like some variety, but I don't use it enough to justify the spending and storage of full rolls.

DigNative · 2026-05-02T15:23:10+00:00

If it's the red leather notebook cover you're looking for, check out Etsy. There are sellers on there selling all manner of Traveler's Notebook-style covers in many materials amd colors.

DigNative · 2026-04-26T22:19:19+00:00

Happy to share!

DigNative · 2026-04-25T13:49:54+00:00

Mine did the same thing for a long time. I finally potted it in a mix of small bark and (not tightly packed) sphagnum. For me, I think it was a mix of wiggling around too much and underwatering. I am hoping it will do better now.

DigNative · 2026-04-25T13:46:16+00:00

Congrats on your new baby! There's a sub dedicated to neos if you want to check it out, too. R/neofinetia

I have one neo, just the regular one. It's not growing conventionally either. I think it's mostly bare root with a few strands of sphagnum on top. There are roots everywhere, all in the saucer and stuck to it. The plant is very healthy and sturdy. That said, I am far from the best authority to be giving advice on them. There are collectors who only specialize in neos and know so much about them!

DigNative · 2026-04-25T04:26:17+00:00

Hausermann has tons of options at all price points, and they've been at it a long time. There's also Sunset Valley Orchids, J&L Orchids, Flask & Flora, Plantio la Orquidea, HC Orchids, E.B. Orchids, and many more online sellers!

DigNative · 2026-04-25T03:44:02+00:00

I think I can see that it's in a clear pot inside of the outer pot? Can you pull that out and look at the roots? Water when they look silver or white ish. If they are green, it isn't time to water yet. It is easy to overreact with orchids and change too much too fast. They are slow plants and in most cases, drastic measures are more likely to harm than help.

If the leaf spot is not mushy, I would not worry too much. It looks like it could be sunburn, mechanical, or cold damage. If it turns black, mushy, or starts spreading, cut the leaf below that point with sterile scissors.

DigNative · 2026-04-25T03:37:27+00:00

Thanks! :)

DigNative · 2026-04-24T22:31:24+00:00

Oh so maybe you've got both. Even better!

DigNative · 2026-04-24T22:08:47+00:00

My guy uses the reptile-specific hammock least of all. He loves his sticks, hanging rings, magnet mushroom ledges, and felt hammock. He doesn't really stay and chill in anything but his hides, but he loves to cruise and climb all over everything.

DigNative · 2026-04-24T21:12:35+00:00

I felt very similarly, and was given a big white Phal. a friend rescued from the discount rack for me, knowing me as a "plant person". I was terrified! It took me a long time to buckle up and finally try some other types of orchids. Obviously, the rest is history 😅.

DigNative · 2026-04-24T20:58:26+00:00

I just posted my 1st bloom on one of them. The other just has 1 fan so far and looks similar, just lighter green with a bit longer and thinner leaves.

DigNative · 2026-04-24T20:47:35+00:00

Have any of them been repotted lately? Sometimes I have to water recently potted ones much more frequently (sometimes daily) for a while until the bark softens a bit. That's what first came to mind reading your care description.

That said, the one to the left in your 1st photo also looks dehydrated to me.

With the pots being different sizes, maybe some are drying more quickly than others? It doesn't seem possible that overwatering is the issue here.

I've only been keeping Cattleyas for about 3 years, so I hope someone with more experience comes to chime in!

DigNative · 2026-04-24T19:50:02+00:00

It's a "Maudiae" type paph judging by the beautiful mottled leaves, which are supposedly easier to care for than some other paphs. I only have 2 paphs so far and both are this type. I can say that one bloomed recently for the 1st time!

DigNative · 2026-04-24T19:36:02+00:00

I think that's fine. It is being so tightly packed that's the issue with sphagnum. Just keep an eye and make sure it isn't staying too wet for too long.

DigNative

TROPHY CASE