Today, most types of orchids are grown in nurseries and are affordable, unlike in the mid-1800s, when plants were collected from the wild and harvested by wealthy greenhouse owners. Most of us will give or take a decorative phalaenopsis, or a butterfly orchid that blooms month after month. The spread of tissue culture allowed many identical plants to be grown on nutrient-enriched agar gel tubes.
The family Orchidaceae competes with the family Asteraceae, the largest plant kingdom. There are about 763 individuals and 28,000 species, some of which grow on the ground, but many are attached to plants using epiphytes and aerial roots that can also absorb moisture and nutrients from decaying organic matter. Many build storage structures called pseudobulbs to keep them under control during dry spells.
Orchids were one of the first plant families to appear around 120 million years ago, and the flowers we love so much evolved to attract insect pollinators. Some are skilled at mimicry, mimicking the scent and texture of certain female insects in order to attract males with their pollen. The small seeds produced in large quantities have no food supply and depend on the presence of mycorrhizal fungi for germination. Fortunately for orchid breeders, they germinate on nutrient agar.
Once you've trimmed the teeth of your Phalaenopsis orchid, it may be time to go crazy and enjoy even more of these charming plants. A good place to start is the phyla Cymbidium and the common Cambrian (a living group consisting of hybrids of different origins), both of which live in slightly cooler conditions.
Orchids are very hardy and if you find the best spot for each and take care of watering and feeding, you will soon be enjoying new flower stems.
- Buy Orchids in the USA: Look at the seal
- Buy Orchids in England - See Crocus
10 types of orchids worth trying
Here are ten types of orchids that will make long-lasting plants for your indoor garden. They are not always available, so it is recommended to keep an eye on your preferences.
1. Cymbidium
- Height and width: 2 feet (60 cm)
- Winter hardiness: USDA 11
- Minimum Temperature: 46-50°F (8-10°C)
With its long slender leaves and lush flower stalks, this beautiful spring-blooming orchid turns any home into a royal home.
In summer, the plants can be outside in partial shade, and in winter and spring they should be inside in a cool place. The miniature type is more compact.
Repot this orchid every few years.
2. Masdevalia weihiana
- Height and width: 9 inches (23 cm)
- Winter hardiness: USDA 11
- Minimum Temperature: 50°F (10°C)
Home to the rainforests of Peru, this orchid is a lithophyte, meaning it grows on rocks.
Short stems bear leaves, and in spring and summer, hideous orange flowers with sepals terminating in petioles. It rots easily from overwatering, so let it dry out, ventilate well and save water for the winter.
Look for interesting hybrids.
3. Sunset at Miltonia
- Height: 18 inches (45 cm)
- Spread: 23 cm (9 inches)
- Winter hardiness: USDA 12
- Minimum temperature: 55°F (13°C)
This colorful orchid hybrid is an easily available and relatively low maintenance houseplant.
Elongated medium green pseudobulbs and medium green leaves are randomly joined by daisy-shaped flower stalks of pinkish purple and vivid yellow after a year.
As the potted plant matures, it is easy to divide it into smaller parts for the pot.
4. Miltoniopsis
- Height and width: 10 inches (25 cm)
- Strength: USDA H1b
- Minimum temperature: 52°F (11°C)
The round, somewhat shapeless flowers of Miltoniopsis are more conspicuous and more similar to Miltonia flowers.
While the latter is mainly found in Brazil, Miltoniopsis is endemic from Costa Rica to Venezuela. Their pseudobulbs are more rounded and produce one or two grey-green leaves. He likes a potting mix of fine bark, charcoal and perlite.
5. Pafiopedil
- Height: 12 inches (30 cm)
- Spread: 9 inches (23 cm)
- Winter hardiness: USDA 12
- Minimum temperature: 55°F (13°C)
Sandalwood orchids grow from India to China, Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. Availability is somewhat erratic, so keep an eye on your favorite and available plants.
I like P. Mustache (shown) for the striped upper sepals, long broad side sepals (oblique whiskers) and yellowish brown pouch.
Note that this houseplant is prone to occasional watering because it has no pseudobulbs.
6. Phalaenopsis
- Height: 18 inches (45 m)
- Spread: 12 inches (30 cm)
- Winter Hardiness: $13
- Minimum Temperature: 60°F (15°C)
Many hybrids offer a wide variety of flower shapes and colors in long-lived plants that are fine in a typical warm living room but ideal for indirect light.
After flowering, prune these orchids by cutting the green flower tip in the first layer after the last faded flower - often a side spike will form.
7. Wanda
- Height: 20 inches (50 cm)
- Spread: 12 inches (30 cm)
- Winter hardiness: USDA 12
- Minimum Temperature: 55-60°F (13-15°C)
The most spectacular orchid, the Vanda grows in India, Southeast Asia and the Philippines.
Pseudobulbs are absent, but there are many aerial roots.
Historically grown in hanging baskets in shady greenhouses, it is now often sold in open-mouth containers in glass jars that are periodically filled with water and then drained.
8. Zygopetalum
- Height: 12 inches (30 cm)
- Spread: 18 inches (45 cm)
- Strength: USDA H1b
- Minimum temperature: 52°F (11°C)
The warm, humid forests of South America are home to an original species of this pseudobulb-shaped orchid, whose fragrant, brightly colored flowers bloom from autumn to spring.
The upper sepals are usually green and lemon brown, while the lower edge is blue and teal.
Good indirect light and cool night temperatures are ideal.
9. X Oncidopsis Nelly Isler gx AGMS
- Height: 10 inches (25 cm)
- Spread: 20 cm (8 inches)
- Winter hardiness: USDA 12
- Minimum Temperature: 50°F (10°C)
A vigorous, brightly colored hybrid whose mature pseudobulbs produce two to three leaves. The long-lasting fragrant flowers are deep warm red with a slightly patterned rim marked in yellow in the center.
Cooler winter temperatures encourage this orchid to bloom again. Beautiful but filtered light gives the best results.
10. Colloidal crystals
- Height: 12 inches (30 cm)
- Spread: 2ft (60cm)
- Winter hardiness: USDA 11
- Minimum Temperature: 50°F (10°C)
This epiphytic genus contains several interesting species, although C. The brown markings on the fimbriae always remind me of cockroaches!
C. cristata from the cooler eastern Himalayas is one of the best houseplants for this orchid variety. It has globose pseudobulbs and long, drooping clusters of fragrant white flowers with yellow throats and wavy petals in winter.
Cool, dry winters and regular summer watering are highly valued.
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