Caring for Orchids

Orchids have long had a reputation for being difficult. However, caring for orchids is not much different than other flowering house plants. You just have to get to know them.

May I introduce you to a few? Phalaenopsis orchids (aka moth orchids) are the easiest orchid types to grow indoors, but there are others that also do well in the home.

Lady Slippers

Striped and speckled lady slipper orchids are captivating in rich, bold colors.

These orchids have a striking sepal (that's the top part of the bloom). What makes it most distinctive is its lip that looks like a house slipper.

Lady slippers thrive beautifully in their native tropical Asia. Provide the same warmth and humidity and you'll make them feel right at home.

Moth Orchids

Several flat-petaled flowers blooming along an arching stem look like moths in flight, lending these beauties their common name.

Actually, phalaenopsis orchid care is so easy -- and they're so widely cultivated -- that many people also know these orchids by their genus name, or call them simply "phals."

Cymbidiums

Cymbidium orchid plants are among the most adaptable for growing in homes. Thousands of cymbidium hybrids offer a huge selection to choose from -- in an array of colors ranging from white to light pink to maroon.

What they have in common is a 3-lobed center, beautifully spotted with a contrasting color.

Cymbidiums are prolific bloomers...with a number of flower spikes bearing as many as 100 blooms in a single season.

Dendrobiums

More than 1,400 dendrobium species exist in the wild, covering several habitats throughout Asia and south to Australia and New Zealand.

Their shapes and colors vary widely, but most are epiphytes, growing on mossy tree branches.

Take a look at these dendrobium orchid care tips to make these beauties bloom year after year.

Cattleya Orchids

Cattleya orchids are among the most popular with orchid growers.

Countless cattleya hybrids offer exotic combinations of colors and shapes. Their big blooms and frilly petals make them -- without a doubt -- some of the showiest orchids around. Fortunately, catts are also a good choice for beginners. Caring for orchids in this group is easy when you give them the humidity and light they love.

Sun-loving cattleyas do best in a south- or west-facing window. Give them plenty of sunshine for months of blooms.

Oncidiums

For sheer abundance of flowers and the sweeping variety, few genera can match the dancing sprays of oncidiums.

With 100s of species, and many more hybrids, you have a lot to choose from. Take a look at oncidium orchid care and find out what makes these so-called dancing ladies bloom.