Orchids come in different forms and have a sweet, musky fragrance, much like vanilla and baked goods. They also grow in almost every climate.
So if you’re looking for some good orchid varieties to gift your loved ones, decorate your indoors, or beautify your garden, we have you covered!
In this article, we will discuss some of the most coveted orchid varieties, why you should choose them, and some care tips to keep them looking their best.
Orchids in a Nutshell
Orchids belong to the Orchidaceae family, which has approximately 28,000 species. They come in a variety of stunning colors and patterns and can grow in just about any type of environment.
Some varieties grow in the ground, while some grow anchored to tree barks or rocky outcroppings.
Orchids are often associated with thoughtfulness, beauty, love, refinement, and mature charm.
Why Choose Orchids
Here are some of the reasons why you should choose orchids to gift to people close to your heart or beautify your home:
- Aesthetic Elegance: A simple reason why orchids are so popular is their sheer beauty.
Orchids are an excellent choice if you’d like to add a burst of color and charm to your interior since they can infuse your living spaces with a vibrant range of colors.
- Enchanting Fragrance: Some species exude a fragrant scent that can elevate both your home’s ambiance and your mood. Moth orchids have delicate scents, while cattleya orchids are known for their citrus-like fragrance.
- Feng Shui Symbolism: In Feng Shui, orchids symbolize purity, beauty, and fertility. They are also believed to represent good fortune, which makes them an excellent choice for office or business establishments.
Types of Orchids
Vanda Orchids
Origin: Southeast Asia
Size: Up to 12 to 40 inches tall and 5 to 20 inches wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Twice a day in the summer and once a week in winter
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
There are about 80 species of orchids that make up the Vanda genus.
They feature a variety of vibrant colors and combinations. Some even have speckled patterns, which make them even more appealing!
Vanda orchids have a long-lasting fragrance, and they bloom several times throughout the year. The flowers can last a couple of weeks to several months, which makes them perfect for home decor.
These types of orchids thrive in places with 50% to 70% humidity, so it’s best to use humidifiers if they are grown indoors.
Best for: Vanda orchids are great gifts for families or individuals who are seeking unique home decor since these plants are best put in hanging baskets.
Cattleya Orchids
Origin: Central and South America
Size: Can reach 3 to 24 inches tall and wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Once a week
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Cattleya orchids are known as the queen of orchids. Most of them are slow-growing perennials and have over 50 varieties that come in various color palettes.
The petals of cattleya orchids are mostly broad and round with a ruffled edge, and the color of the flower’s lip often has a different color than the petals. These orchids are epiphytic, which means they grow by attaching themselves to another plant.
Best for: Since cattleyas are called the queen of orchids, they are ideal gifts for mothers or grandmothers, women that you consider queens in the family.
Jewel Orchids
Botanical Name: Ludisia
Origin: Southeast Asia
Size: Up to 12 inches tall and wide
Light: Medium to light shade
Water: Once a week
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
For a long time, the Luidisia genus was thought to have only one species, which is Ludisia discolor. However, a second species, Ludisia ravanii, was discovered in the Philippines in 2013.
Jewel orchids feature delicate white flowers and have attractive ovate leaves in either velvety red or deep green. These leaves are marked with light green or yellow pinstripes.
They are generally low-maintenance plants that thrive in medium to light shade and bloom in the winter to spring.
Best for: Jewel orchids are ideal gifts for individuals who love plants that are easy to grow and have attractive foliage.
Moth Orchids
Botanical Name: Phalaenopsis
Origin: China, Taiwan, India, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia
Size: Up to 6 to 36 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Water when the soil is completely dry or about twice or thrice a month
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Phalaenopsis, commonly known as the moth orchid, is a popular genus of orchids that comprises more than 70 species in the Orchidaceae family.
They have arching stems and long-lasting flowers that have the shape of a moth and can last a whole year if grown in appropriate conditions.
The flowers have large, round petals with smaller and narrow sepals. Their lips are typically flat and broad, which allows pollinators to easily land on them.
Best for: Moth orchids are best given to individuals who are new to gardening since these plants are easy to care for.
Epidendrum Orchid
Origin: America
Size: Up to 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Once a week or when the soil is almost dry
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
The Epidendrum genus is one of the largest genus of orchids with over 1,500 species. They have small to medium-sized brightly colored flowers that grow in clusters.
They are commonly known as crucifix orchids because of their three-lobed blooms that look like little crosses. Epidendrum orchids come in different colors, such as white, pink, orange, red, yellow, and purple.
These plants are easy to grow, and they bloom typically in spring and summer.
Best for: Epidendrum orchids are perfect gifts for housewarming parties since they have vibrant colors that can become a conversation starter inside the house.
Zygopetalum Orchids
Origin: Central and South America
Size: Up to 12 to 24 inches tall and 6 to 24 inches wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Once a week or when the soil is almost dry
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Zygopetalum is a genus with 14 recognized species of orchids. They have exotic-looking flowers that showcase unique shapes with broad, rounded petals and sepals.
They come in a variety of colors and specked or striped patterns with a sweet, floral scent hinted with spice and cinnamon.
Zygopetalum orchids are fairly easy to grow with a preference for bright, indirect light. They have a tolerance for direct morning light but not the intense afternoon sunlight.
Best for: Zygopetalum orchids are ideal gifts for individuals who love fragrant plants.
Catasetum Orchid
Origin: Central and South America and the West Indies
Size: Up to 10 to 14 inches tall and 6 to 10 inches wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Once or twice a week in its growing season and once a month in winter
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
The Catasetum genus has 166 species of epiphytic orchids. These flowers are unisex, which means they can be either male or female.
The male flowers come in vibrant, striking colors with a prominent structure called the “galea.” The colors of the female flowers are not as bright as the males, and they have a more open structure.
Catasetum orchids are easy to grow with a preference for bright, filtered sunlight. They usually bloom 2 to 4 times from the spring until early fall.
Best for: Catasetum orchids are ideal gifts for individuals who love unique plants since they come in male and female varieties.
Monkey Orchids
Botanical Name: Dracula simia
Origin: South America
Size: Can grow up to 7 to 20 feet
Light: Indirect sunlight
Water: Water once a week
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Monkey orchids are some of the most adorable flowers you will ever see. They are named as such because the lips, petals, and columns of the flowers are arranged in a way that looks like a monkey.
The scent that comes from these flowers is reminiscent of oranges. They prefer some shade and bloom all throughout the year.
Best use: Monkey orchids are ideal gifts for individuals with some experience in looking after orchids since they are moderately difficult to grow.
Vanilla Orchids
Origin: Mexico
Size: Up to 8 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide
Light: Medium, indirect light
Water: Once a week
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Vanilla is a genus that comprises 110 species of orchids that have creamy-white blossoms.
They are mostly derived from seed pods, which are elongated and cylindrical. Inside of them are tiny black seeds that are surrounded by a sticky substance.
Vanilla orchids have long vining stems and thick, succulent-like leaves that are usually oblong in shape. They are easy to grow and thrive in bright, indirect light.
They are also frequently used in vanilla flavoring, fragrance, and aromatherapy.
Best for: Vanilla orchids are ideal gifts for individuals who have big indoor spaces or gardens because of their size.
Marsh Orchids
Botanical Name: Dactylorhiza
Origin: North Africa, Alaska, Eurasia, and some Pacific islands
Size: Up to 6 to 15.5 inches tall
Light: Bright, filtered light to partial shade
Water: Once a week
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Dactylorhiza is a genus with about 30 species of terrestrial orchids. They come in white, pink, and purple flowers with stunning markings and color combinations.
Marsh orchids are easy to grow with a preference for bright, filtered sunlight to partial shade and they bloom in spring and summer.
Best use: Marsh orchids are perfect gifts for individuals with other orchids in their collection since they can hybridize easily.