These easy-to-grow orchids will delight beginners and experts alike.
Here are the best types of orchids to grow at home.
About Orchids
Orchids are epiphytes, semi-terrestrial, or terrestrial.
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Epiphytes are plants that do not grow in soil.
They are often found clinging to trees with thick, aerial roots.
Terrestrial orchids grow on or in the ground.
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All orchid flowers are zygomorphic.
The flower has three outside sepals (looks like petals), two inside petals, and one labellum.
The labellum is the prominent lip which is a modified petal serving as the landing platform for pollinators.
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Tips For Growing Orchids
If orchids are new to you, dont be intimidated by them.
They may have a reputation for being finicky, but some varieties are easier to grow.
These tips will ensure you have healthy plants that bloom for years to come.
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The Best Orchids For Houseplants
This alphabetical list of easy-to-grow orchids is made for allorchid enthusiasts.
All are epiphytes except where noted.
Note too that you might not be purchasing the species for your home.
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There are about one to six blossoms, about 3 inches wide, on a 6-inch stem.
The plant is relatively small, about 9 inches tall.
The blossoms have a sweet fragrance.
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Lady of the Night needs bright light, warm temperatures, and high humidity.
It should be watered regularly except during the winter when it may need a short dry period.
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
These are the most popular orchids sold for home use.
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They are easy to find at garden centers and big box stores and are often given as gifts.
The petals and sepals are wide and flat with a relatively small lip.
The plant can bloom several times a year and should be watered year-round.
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Flower colors can be green with yellow and brown markings and can be fragrant.
The plants are about 10 inches tall.
Spider orchids need bright light, intermediate to warm temperatures, and intermediate to high humidity.
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Water year-round but less often in the winter.
Corsage Orchid (Cattleya)
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These are the large,fragrant flowersoften used for corsages.
Usually, the lip is large, prominent with frilly edges and a contrasting color from the petals.
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The entire plant is not tall, but each flower is large, up to 5 inches across.
Cattleyas need bright light and intermediate warmth.
The plants should be watered when growing and then sparingly when resting in fall and winter.
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These were very popular before thePhalaenopsis(Moth Orchid) gained attention.
However, in areas with mild climates, they could live outdoors year-round in the shade.
There are many hybrids available, including fragrant varieties.
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They need water all year long.
It flowers in every color except blue and has great diversity in the shape.
The two more popular ones areD.
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D. nobileis about 18 inches tall, and foliage appears along the pseudobulb.
It prefers bright light, warm temperatures, and 50 to 60 percent humidity.
Water all summer long but not in winter.D.
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phalaenopsisis so named because the flowers are similar toPhalaenopsis(Moth Orchid).
These plants are about 12 inches tall with foliage at the apex.
It prefers bright light, high humidity, and warm to hot temperatures.
Water all summer long but not in the winter.
Individual flowers are small and white with a yellow lip.
Water year-round making sure it does not dry out.
This is a terrestrial orchid that cangrow in a containerwith a commercial potting mix.
Water often, do not let it dry out completely, and provide high humidity.
Try growing the modern cultivars for better success in the home.
TheMiltoniasneed more light than theMiltoniopsis.Miltoniasprefer to be dry between waterings whileMiltoniopsislike to be evenly moist.
The plants can be about 18 inches tall; flowers can be up to 4 inches across.
It needs bright light, but watering, temperature, and humidity depend on the species.
The ladys slipper orchids grown indoors as houseplants are from the tropics of Asia and are semi-terrestrial.
Usually, there is one flower per stem, upright, above the foliage.
It needs bright light.
Water year-round with no resting or dormant period.
It needs bright light, warm temperatures, and high humidity.
It will need a cool rest with just enough water to prevent it from drying out.
The plant has tall, flowering spikes with sprays of 10 to 20 flowers.
Each blossom can be up to 5 inches wide and fragrant.
This is a terrestrial orchid with palm-like leaves.
The flowers have a highly unusual shape.
The lip is said to look like a cockleshell or a Florida clamshell, another common name.
The flowers are fragrant with a spicy scent and last months.
It needs bright light, intermediate temperatures, and humid conditions.
Keep moist, but reduce watering when it is resting for several months.
The plant can grow up to 2 feet tall.
