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The 5 Most Popular Types of Orchids: Exquisite Varieties

Maryam P
Maryam P
23 Min Read

There are thousands of plants that are unique and special in their way. To describe any plant, you have to write an extensive full-blown article to describe the plant and its importance, the flowers it grows, and whatnot.

There are innumerable plants one can study. Orchids and types of orchids are particular kinds of plants that have so much to tell about their uniqueness.

purple orchid white background
Image Source: depositphotos

What Is An Orchid?

Orchids are beautiful. They are rare to see sometimes. Orchids are types of plants that are of bright colors and are of unusual shapes.

The orchid plants have very unusual flowers. That’s why they are easy to identify from others. They are the largest growing flowering plant on earth.

They are the oldest and most long-lasting flowers to exist. The Orchidaceae is the term given to the orchid family as they are a diverse plant family.

Importance Of Orchid Plants:

As it is said, plants are the nature we breathe in. Having any plant helps us with the health of our body. Orchid plants play an essential role in the environment. Orchid plants help to obtain nourishment from the air.

As orchids smell divine, they are also called fragrant flowers. Therefore, they are used to make perfumes and are very popular for the fragrance industries. In some countries, orchid plants are an income for the people of their fragrant blooms.

The meaning behind the name orchid is usually considered a symbol of love, wealth, rare, and strength. Orchid flowers are very delicate but with a graceful appearance that represents luxury, love, beauty, and strength.

Your Orchid Will Bloom all Year Round. 7 Growing Orchids Tips You Should Know | iKnow

5 Ways To Keep Orchids Alive:

Orchid plants are beautiful plants one can have in their home. They are flowering plants. That’s why there are specific ways to keep the orchid flowers blooming. As they are delicate, they need extra care to be alive.

Below are listed some ways to keep an orchid alive.

1. Orchid Needs The Right Amount Of Light:

Orchid plants need to have a very bright light to be alive and have long-lasting flowers on them. Orchid flowers are very delicate; that’s why direct sunlight can burn up the petals of the orchid flowers. Therefore, it needs indirect sunlight that can help in its growth.

You can put it on the window during the morning and evening light but not the afternoon sunlight as it is very harsh for the orchid plants.

2. Orchid Needs To Be Water The Right Way:

As an orchid is a flowering plant, it needs some proper assistance to water it. We need to make sure that without damaging the plant’s flower petals, we need to water it.

Orchid does not need to be water every day but depends upon the types of orchid one has. Most orchids are supposed to be watered once a week. Keep an eye on the plant’s bark to see if it is dried or not, and water it accordingly.

Orchids should not be held in the water; therefore, whatever the pot you are using to grow the plant, make sure it has a drainage hole to let the water flow away.

orchids with water droplets
Image Source: depositphotos

3. Orchid Needs To Be In A Warm Room:

Orchids need an environment of about 65 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. The room you are keeping your plant in should not be too hot or too cold, and it should just be warm.

Also, it is ideally said to keep your orchid away from vital sources of heat as the air around strong sources is quite dry, affecting the orchid and making it dry out the leaves.

Also, one should pay attention to the house’s temperature because if there are a lot of fluctuations in the temperature in the house, then the buds of the plant can fall before they can bloom.

4. Died Orchid Blooms Need To Be Cut

When it is visible that your flower blooms are about to give out, you should take some care of them. You can cut off the blooms from the flower spikes to let them grow again with a more robust stem and fresh blooms.

Another thing you can do is cut down the node above the stem below the lowest faded bloom. So, the flowers can be produced again on the remaining stem within 8 to 12 weeks.

It is not an easy job to maintain an orchid, but the result will be worth it.

As the orchid family is a diverse plant family, there are so many orchid types to study on. Every orchid has its uniqueness with its characteristics. Let’s see some types of orchids and study them.

1. Moth Orchids

Moth Orchids
By Randy Cooper/Unsplash.

Moth Orchids are a type of orchid that is the genus of Phalaenopsis orchids. Phalaenopsis orchid is commonly called Moth Orchids. It has around seventy species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. The moth orchid has long, coarse roots, and short leafy stems with long-lasting flat flowers arranged on the flowering stem that branches near the end.

An Orchid genus in Phalaenopsis is native to countries like India, China, Taiwan, and Australia, with its majority in Indonesia and the Philippines. Phalaenopsis orchid or moth orchid is the most common orchid due to its ease of production and availability to bloom plants year-round.

The Phalaenopsis orchids are beginner orchids due to their easy-going nature or easy care. It is the most straightforward variety of orchids to be found to be grown as a houseplant. Phalaenopsis orchids will typically bloom about once a year for about 3 months.

The physical appearance is that they have bright green leaves, and they should be vibrant and bright in color to show that the orchid is healthy to grow more.

How To Care For Phalaenopsis Orchids (Moth Orchid):

As moth orchids are easier to maintain than to, there are ways to keep your orchids alive and healthy.

  1. Always pot your orchids in a clay pot.
  2. Constantly water them when you feel that the soil is dried.
  3. Always keep your orchids away from harsh lights. Please keep them in a low-medium light that comes indirectly.
  4. Usually, any orchid is advised to be kept at a warm temperature. So it is mandatory to keep Phalaenopsis at a warm temperature to have healthy growth.
  5. After watering your orchids, fertilize them once a month or whenever you think it is necessary.
  6. Phalaenopsis orchids usually bloom for about 3 months, so after some time, if you notice that your stem starts to wilt, cut the stem of the blooming flower with the help of the scissors carefully.
vibrant pink spotted orchids
Image Source: depositphotos

2. Cattleya Orchids

Cattleya orchids are the orchid genus mostly found from Costa Rica south to Argentina. Cattleya orchids are typically described as showy, fragrant blooming flowers that come in various shapes, colors, color combinations, and many more. The origin of these orchids is from the country of South America, Brazil. Brazil is called for an Indigenous species of plant known as the Cattleya orchid.

The blossoms of Cattleya orchids depend upon the species of that plant. Some plant species can be pretty significant when they bloom and stretch wide, while some can be small, but there is no difference in their beauty. The blooming of the Cattleya orchid mostly happens once a year, but that too differs by the species one has, and sometimes it can bloom twice a year depending totally on the kind of species.

There are so many species of Cattleya orchid that need to be taken care of accordingly. This orchid is the epiphytic type of orchid, meaning that the flowers grow attached naturally to other plants such as tree branches. The foliage is mostly a dull green color.

These are long-lived plants and are slow growers taking the period of about four to seven years roughly to become fully mature. It is said that the seeds can be sown at any time in this type of orchid. It is seen that the best time to sow the seeds again is once the new growth is evident, which is probably after the orchids are done flowering.

How To Care For Cattleya Orchids:

Cattleya orchids are very easy to handle. Orchids are mostly a houseplant, but these orchid types make a difference as they can be grown outside year-round but only in tropical climates and during the warmer months.

There are certain factors required in taking care of orchids.

  1. Orchids always need bright light to grow in, not a harsh light that can burn down their flowers. It is mandatory to have your orchid where indirect light can help it grow.
  2. Orchids need to be watered the right way. The moisture of the water is what the orchid needs in the right amount. It is necessary to remember that any orchid is not supposed to be put in water for a longer time as it can rot the roots.
  3. Cattleya requires a specific temperature to be in. They prefer daytime temperatures between 70 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. At night time, the temperature should be around 55 to 60 degrees. Any orchid cannot survive in cold temperatures. It should have a humidity type of atmosphere around it.
  4. They are some orchids that can bloom for years healthily without fertilizers. But it is necessary to give your plant a small number of fertilizers that they need for the excellent and nutrient health of the plant.
  5. These orchids are those types of plants that do not like being distributed. So it is essential to report them when necessary to do so. When the roots start to grow over the edge of the pot or start to block down the drainage holes, then it is time to report it.

3. Dendrobium Orchids

Dendrobium orchids
By Laura Ockel/Unsplash.

Dendrobium orchids are the genus of epiphytic orchids and lithophytic orchids in the Orchidaceae family. It is said to have an enormous genus, containing more than 1,800 species that are commonly found in diverse habitats throughout South, East, and Southeast Asia.

Dendrobium genus is one of the largest groups of all other orchids. That includes countries like China, Japan, India, Australia, Indonesia, etc. It is also found in many of the islands of the Pacific. As the genus of these orchids is extensive, the roots creep out over the surface of trees or rocks, and because of that, the roots do not stay in the soil.

It will be easy to handle it if it is in a small genus, and these thoughts were looked forward to but were not accomplished by any selected plant families. In nature, it mainly grows on tree branches. Some species bloom through the stem, while others bloom only from the top of the stem.

The Dendrobium species also includes a few species of terrestrial. Most species in dendrobium orchids have a growth rate of moderate to fast. Some drop their leaves throughout the fall season, while others hold it for the year alone.

The best time to plant this orchid is at the beginning of the growing season or after the orchids are done flowering.

How To Care For Dendrobium Orchids:

Dendrobium orchids are good houseplants and are relatively easy to grow. But sometimes they are picky about the environment they are to grow. That’s why it is asked to pay more attention to their environment for us to have healthy, beautiful blooms.

These orchids require a small pot to be put in so that somehow the roots can be cramped. They are supposed to be put on the window plane for it to have a bright light.

There are many requirements for these orchids for them to bloom beautifully. Let’s see some of the requirements.

  1. The orchids of dendrobium species grow well in partial sunlight in nature. But when they are grown as a houseplant, they need to be on the window with the maximum amount of bright light coming through, preferably the south-facing window.
  2. These orchids are not like other orchids grown in the potting soil. They require commercial soil that needs to be wild enough to handle the growth of the roots. Ensure the medium you are using has suitable drainage holes, not letting your orchid roots sit in the moisture, damaging the roots.
  3. During the growing season of orchids, they like to sit in the moisture. But it is recommended that the water should not be over the limit. Overwatering the orchids can lead to rot of the roots, and ultimately, the plant becomes yellow or wilt.
  4. During the growing season, the fertilizer process is a must with balanced orchid fertilizers. At the end of the growing season, the fertilizer process must be decreased by half.

4. Boat Orchids

Cymbidium orchids are commonly called Boat orchids due to their shape; it is one of the most popular among gardeners. It is a genus of evergreen flowering plants in the orchid family of Orchidaceae. These orchids are the genus of epiphytic, lithophytic, terrestrial, or rarely leafless saprophytic herbs, usually with pseudobulbs, an organ.

These orchids are usually between three to twelve leaves arranged in two ranks on each pseudobulb lasting for several years. The large numbers of flowers are arranged on an unbranched flowering stem.

Some species have thin stems, while most species have modified stems. Cymbidium orchids are the species of fifty-five and sixteen natural hybrids occurring from wild tropical and subtropical Asia to Australia.

How To Care For Cymbidium Orchids (Boat Orchid):

Cymbidium orchids, unlike other orchid species, do well as outdoor plants. The best time to grow them outside is in late spring to early fall.

There are some needs to take care of these orchid plants. Let’s see them down below:

  1. Cymbidium orchids prefer a warm temperature throughout the day between 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and a cooler temperature during the night around 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. A fun fact is that the standard cymbidium orchid if they are not exposed to the night temperature, may fail to bloom.
  2. Boat orchids can tolerate the frosting light and be acceptable in temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit. They can be fine in warm temperatures, but there should not be a sunburn. But it is recommended that it is better to bring the plants inside if the temperature drops below about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. The watering session of the boat orchids should happen in the morning with lukewarm water. The potting medium should remain damp. In the warmer months, the watering will be more frequent. Watering once a week is a general preference.
  4. Cymbidium orchid generally blooms in the early spring, when the temperatures are more relaxed. In early spring, the orchids look phenomenal. Once the flower blooms from the stem, it will not bloom again. So it is better to trim away the dead stem.

5. Butterfly Orchids

Butterfly Orchids
By Karen Mork/Unsplash.

Psychopsis is the genus of four known species of orchids that are native to northern South America, Central America, and Trinidad. The genus name of the Psychopsis is shortened to Phy in the horticultural trade. Psychopsis are hardy, unique-looking orchids that make a perfect plant for any house.

The appearance of psychosis is very appealing and almost looks like a butterfly; it has gotten the nickname of “Butterfly Orchids,” as they look like a blast of brightly colored butterflies. The flowers have long, thin petals that look like an antenna and brightly colored sepals that resemble the butterfly’s wings.

These orchids produce single flowers on 60 to 12 cm long flower spikes. The flowers are 13-15 cm long and long-lasting. The one flower blooms for about 18 to 20 months consecutively.

How To Care For Psychopsis (Butterfly Orchids):

Psychopsis is a type of orchid’s unique sympodial orchid genus that has its native to the wet rainforest and upland forest habitats in the land of Central and South America.

Psychopsis are epiphytic orchids that grow primarily on the surface of plants and trees and take most of the moisture and nutrients from the air surrounding them.

Certain precautions need to be taken while growing up a Psychopsis orchid.

  1. Like most orchids, Psychopsis is meant to be kept under the indirect, bright light. Psychosis orchids can tolerate the morning and evening sunlight directly. However, the intense midday sunlight can burn the petals of the orchids. Excess light can make your blooms paler and more negligible. So it is advised to give your orchids about 10 hours of light to have your blooms bright and healthy.
  2. Psychopsis orchids usually grow in their natural habitats. But if you want to grow your orchids as an indoor plant, then it is best to grow them in a soilless potting medium for your potted orchids. As Psychopsis orchids require good air circulation, make sure to have a proper potting medium.
  3. As recommended, orchids are not supposed to be in the water, they require drying time, and there should not be any waterlogging in the potting medium. Therefore, proper drainage holes should be made. Like most orchids, these required a sufficient amount of moisture and abundant water.
  4. As Psychopsis are native to South and Central America, they require a humid temperature to grow healthy and bloom perfectly. These orchids require an adequate amount of air circulation, which is a must necessary for these orchids to thrive.

Closing Thoughts

So, the conclusion is that every orchid is beautiful in its own way. Every orchid may look different from each other, but all of them have almost the same characteristics and the care that needs to be taken.

There are so many varieties that have their uniqueness, methods, techniques, and more. So, before buying any variety of orchids, it is better to study them and go ahead.

It does have many requirements that need to be fulfilled, but the flowers are so beautiful when they bloom, so in the end, it is all worth it.

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Last Updated on by Namita Soren

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