Here, WE need the starting point. Or a crystal ball. Either one. environment. hot, cold, humid dry, your availability of you to water. You said culture matters but provide nothing to go on.

Bea, you will never get a specific recipe because it depends on where the orchids are to be grown. Generally in the "tropics" more arid mixes are the norm because materials like treated pine bark break down quickly in constant heat and humidity.

Hi Bea, my climate is tropical and I am very heavy handed with water so I use a mix of small river stones and charcoal this help my plant to dry properly. I mist every day and I thoroughly water every four days. And my dens are doing great. To be honest I normally kill them but since using this mix I surprise myself. Pic below is of a Den I repotted in January which only had a FEW good roots, and look how much roots it has now. Velleta

It looks really good ;)

Thx Velleta. I'm the opposite. I tend to underwater. I grow my orchids indoors. Intermediate temps - 68 night, 75-80 day. Humidity 65-75%, i mist all my orchids daily. I'm retired so I pretty much spend all day gardening.

Sounds like a plan. Thanks Velleta

Bea, I think you have built a special microclime. There are orchids to fit every climate as they grow everywhere. There are orchids that will thrive in your space. The trick is which ones? My microclime is different so I am not sure but I think ceologyne might be a good fit.

Orchids will sometimes survive for a long time but not thrive. But with the same care a different orchid may thrive. A matter of environment.

Our local expert orchid nick has multiple growing environments. Nick please chime in. Does Bea have a microclime similar to one of yours and if so what thrives?

After 20 years it finally sunk in. Grow orchids that match my habits and environment. It seems to me that tropical Australian orchids thrive here. Difference is I need to give them protection from the cold. I keep them 50 and above in the winter. Phals come here for a very slow death. Exactly which orchid would thrive for you I'm not sure. I bet there are a bunch though.

With your consistency there are orchids that will love it there.

After finding out the best orchids for your space, then the quest of which potting material for which dendrobium? Dens are such a big group there must be dens perfect for your microclime. My growing experience is tailored to where I live. The answers lie with those that grow intermediate with high humidity. Maybe a tropical rainforest at altitude for the lower temps?