I’m wondering if you can help me identify this plant (I think it is an orchid). It has multiple flowers in a stem, the flowers are about 2cm in diameter and they smell like honey. It sits in a sunny window in the winter and I take it outside in the summer. It is set in a little pot in soil and I water it when dry- about every 7-10 days. It has roots that grow above the ground.
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners;
Most common orchids found in Ontario Garden Centres are Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, Cattelya, Cymbidium, Epidendrum, Oncidium, Miltonia, and Vanda. It would have been great if you could have provided photographs of the basal leaves, the size of the flower, length of the stem, type of roots growing out of the medium and a photos of the back of the orchid petals and sepals. The leaves or basal leaves would assist us in identifying if it is a sympodial or monopodial orchid.
It looks like you are doing all the right things as your orchid looks great!.
Looking at your orchid, what I can see from the photo it looks like a Dendrobium but please know that there are many hybrids available. Here is some information by the American Orchid Society on caring for this genus:
https://www.aos.org/orchids/culture-sheets/novice-dendrobium.aspx
Sympodial or monopodial orchid information is explained in the American Orchid Society web pages:
The American Orchid Society has a list from A to Z with images for different Orchids.
https://www.aos.org/orchids/orchids-a-to-z/letter-a.aspx
Read more at Gardening Know How: Various Orchid Flowers To Grow Indoors: Different Types Of Orchids https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/orchids/different-types-of-orchids.htm
Lastly, please take a look at the Toronto Master Gardener Guide – Growing Orchids:
Jan. 22, 2022