I'd forgo the fragrance and start with the $7.00 Phaelies at HD or Trader Joes. When you can grow these then branch out into other things. For real fragrance you need an adult Cattleya which blooms 3 weeks out of the year and requires good orchid care.

Nick

That's great advice Nick, I do feel that after having gotten Phals to grow and re-bloom, I'm at the branching out point now, but still have to wait until spring anyway to mail order an orchid. Until then, any answer to my original questions would be great :) also there seem to be many, many more options then a Cattleya for fragrance...hence the overwhelm.

If you succeed with Phals, you might try the species Phalaenopsis violacea and bellina. You could also try Angraecum leonis which needs the same treatment as a phal.

You are in zone 10? That is warm. Can you grow any outdoors? If so, Cattleyas would do well. You could bring them indoors when flowering (I do) to enjoy their beauty and fragrance.

Please offer more information on your growing conditions.

Jane

Try Lycaste aromatica. I found an old Gardenweb post about them. Check it out, they smell like cinnamon, to be more precise, to me, they smell like Red Hots candy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardenweb forum

Zone 10? Zygopetalums. Enough said.

Sorry guys! I'm in Zone 8, but these are all INDOOR orchids. I tried putting my zone in but my phone browser doesn't like Gardenweb lol.

Boy I'd love to live in Zone 10!

Thank you all for the great suggestions! I'm really excited to try one (just one! not ten! lol).