Orchid Plants

With around 18,000 species of orchid available without including hybrid varieties, there is a vast range of conditions suited to the different types of orchid. Appreciating which species will suit the environment is only part of the picture. Understanding how much care and experience will be required are important aspects in selecting which orchid to grow.

Epiphytic Or Terrestrial Orchids

While terrestrial orchids are grown in soil or occasionally sand, epiphytic orchids grow on the branches of trees. Some types, saprophytes, grow in leaf mould, while lithophytes grow on rocks. Terrestrial orchids are generally the most hardy orchids but epiphytes tend to be viewed as more attractive and as some types can be grown in pots or suspended on bark or in baskets, they are a popular choice.

Selection Criteria

Aside from personal preference as regards the orchid’s appearance, the main criteria for choosing which orchid to cultivate should include:

• temperature
• humidity
• light and shade
• hardiness
• ease of care
• grower’s experience

Orchids are often grouped in temperature ranges starting with the most cool-loving epiphytes from around fifty degrees, through to around eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Many can be grown outside while temperatures remain in the correct ranges. In the wild, most orchids are subject to some variation in temperature. The hardiest terrestrial orchids can withstand some light frost. Most orchids require at least 50% humidity but there are species that thrive in as low as 40%. Tropical types will require as much as 70% humidity or more.

Light is one of the most important considerations. Few orchids will survive for very long in direct sunlight in summer but many varieties will require good light exposure in the cooler months. Some species are especially partial to substantial amounts of shade. Black spots on an orchid’s leaves usually indicate that the plant is receiving too much light.

Placing an orchid in a window for prolonged periods is not usually advisable as there is often too much variation in light for the orchid to grow accustomed to. Hardiness varies by species and is not always related to temperature requirements, so research is required to find the best types for the environment.

Selection of orchid types to grow for the first time should take account of how easily or difficult a species can be to tend. Some require little attention once settled other than watering, whilst the more delicate types require regular attention during their growing cycle. All orchids will require composting correctly to set them up. Most orchids will require to be kept under glass during the winter though many are grown as houseplants in any event. Pots are the most commonly used seating. Greenhouses help keep temperature and humidity stable but there are many variations to be explored depending on one’s experience. Epiphytes are often wired to trees to simulate their natural habitat, which does require care and experience to avoid damaging the plant.

Suitable Orchids

The dendrobium orchid species is relatively easy to grow and maintain and very suitable for hanging vertically in a greenhouse. Most types require to be partly shaded in summer but there are occasional exceptions. Another orchid species very suitable for first-time orchid-growers is the Phalaenopsis orchid, which is another easily-grown epiphyte with attractive blooms, this one requiring more shade in summer and normally kept in a warm greenhouse. Both types bloom for around three months at least once and sometimes twice a year.

An alternative approach, while not to every taste but possibly good while gaining experience, is to consider hybrid varieties, some of which are bred for greater hardiness and ease of care. With a little research about the different species of orchid, inexperienced gardeners can enjoy these beautiful and much-admired flowers.