Indoor Orchid Care is not difficult but there are many species, and selecting your favorite one from different types of orchids is very puzzling!
Orchids (Orchidaceae) are exotic, colorful, and fragrant houseplants, ideal for homes and offices. They can adapt well to low light indoor conditions, and this characteristic makes them a successful and most sought after houseplant! If you also want to add orchids in your flowering indoor plant collection, then read about the most popular types of orchids in the below article!
Don’t miss checking out our essential orchid care tips here!Â
Types of Orchids
1. Brassavola Orchids
Botanical Name: Brassavola spp.
Popular Varieties: Brassavola digbyana, Glauca
Flower Color: White
Brassavola Orchids have an earthy fragrance that they release only during the night time. They grow gorgeous, white, and green flowers with narrow petals. There are a total of 20 species that come under the brassavola genus. The plant prefers bright light indoors, and while growing outdoors, place it in a spot that gets partial sun.
2. Catasetum Orchid
Botanical Name: Catasetum spp.
Popular Varieties: Catasetum black magic, Clowesia, Mormodes, and Cycnoches
Flower Color: Burgandy, Black, Yellow, Red, and Green
Native to the Central and Northern South America, Catasetum features distinct, waxy flowers. They produce both male and female flowers that look similar to some extent. Generally grown as a houseplant, they thrive well under bright and dappled light.
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3. Encyclia Orchids
Botanical Name: Encyclia spp
Popular Varieties: Encyclia cordigera, Fragrans, Cochleata, and Osmantha
Flower Color: Purple, Green, Brown, Yellow, and Fuchsia
According to horticulturists, Encyclia orchids resemble an octopus, thanks to their drooping petals. The flowers are not fragrant but blossom consecutively for many months. It grows up to a height of 3 inches to 2 feet. It is one of the best types of orchids varieties you can grow!
4. Cattleya Orchid
Botanical Name: Cattleya spp
Popular Varieties: Cattleya pot Sakura Candy, ‘Little Mermaid,’ ‘Yucatan Magenta’
Flower Color: Orange, Purple, Yellow, and White
Cattleya orchids form large, vibrant, and fragrant flowers when exposed to bright light. If you are growing the plant outdoors, put them under a bright shade. Several Cattleya varieties are quite aromatic and popular, as a corsage orchid.
5. Cycnoches Orchid
Botanical Name: Cycnoches spp
Popular Varieties: Cycnoches chlorochilon, Haagii, Pentadactylon, and Barthiorum
Flower Color: Deep red, Green, Yellow, White, and Pink
Native to Mexico, Central, and South America, this variety belongs to cattleya orchid. The elegant male flowers look like swan’s neck hence the name. They have a dry period after flowering. Approx 25-30 fragrant flowers flourish on one stem, under bright, scattered light indoors.
6. Cymbidium Orchid
Botanical Name: Cymbidium spp
Popular Varieties: Cymbidium erytrhostylum, Canalliculatum ‘Krull-Smith’, Ensifolium ‘Iron Bone,’ and Eburneum ‘Vistamont’
Flower Color: Yellow-green with traces of deep red
Also known as boat orchids, it grows small flowers, as compared to other orchids. The cream-colored, five-petaled blossoms of this variety are what that steals the show! You can grow yellow and red ‘Showoff,’ bright pink ‘Frae,’ or lime green ‘Chica’; all three of these varieties have received American Orchid Society’s Certificate.
7. Dendrobium Orchid
Botanical Name: Dendrobium spp
Popular Varieties: Phalaenanthe, Spatulata, Callista, Dendrobium, Latouria, and Formosae
Flower Color: Purple, Lavender, White, Orange, Yellow, and Green
Dendrobium orchid produces delicate, exuberant flowers that need support due to heavy growth on top. The common varieties feature yellow, lavender, and white flowers. This variety grows up to 6 inches to 4 feet tall.
8. Epidendrum Orchids
Botanical Name: Epidendrum spp
Popular Varieties: Radicans, and Ibaguense
Flower Color: Orange, Yellow, Red, Fuchsia, and Lavender
Epidendrum is a large genus that includes more than 1000 species and hybrids! The plant requires bright light to flower. While growing them indoors, you can also opt for grow lights. It reaches up to 6 inches to 6 feet tall, depending on the species.
9. Lycaste Orchids
Botanical Name: Lycaste spp
Popular varieties: Macrophylla, Ciliata, Lasioglossa, Tricolor, and Aromatica
Flower Color: White, Purple, Red, Green, Yellow, and Orange
Lycaste orchid is a deciduous variety, native to the tropical central and south America. It produces long-lasting, medium-sized flowers in lavender, pink, white, or red colors. There are 30 species under this genus. It is one of the best types of orchids varieties you can grow!
10. Ludisia Orchids
Botanical Name: Ludisia discolor
Popular Varieties: Alba, and Nigrescens
Flower Color: White and Yellow
Ludisia orchid produces multi-stems of tiny white flowers with velvety, dark green leaves, making it one of the best types of orchids that you can grow! This genus is quite easy to grow and reaches up to a height of 5-20 inches. It is one of the best types of orchids varieties you can grow!
11. Masdevallia Orchids
Botanical Name: Masdevalia spp
Popular Varieties: Racemosa, Uniflora, Rosea, and Floribunda
Flower Color: White, Purple, and Red
The unique pattern of this summer-flowering orchid makes it stand out from all other orchids from the genera. Masdevallia produces triangular, elongated, thin, and compact flowers, under temperate and humid conditions. The genus includes 500 species, but only some of them are grown as houseplants.
12. Pansy Orchids
Botanical Name: Miltonia spp
Popular Varieties: Miltonia candida lindl, Clowesii, Cuneata, and Flavescens
Flower Color: White, Pink, Red, Yellow, and Purple
Native to Brazil, the Miltonia orchid flowers from late spring to summer. It features open, flat-face blossoms in red, yellow, white, and pink colors with marking in different shades. You can grow this charming flower throughout the year!
13. Oncidium Orchids
Botanical Name: Oncidium spp
Popular Varieties: Leucochilum, Tigrinum, Sarcodes, and Varicosum
Flower Color: Yellow, Brown, Pink, Red, Green, and Purple
Oncidium orchid comprises 300 species. The flowers of this genus looks-like a dancing girl. This low maintenance orchid variety includes ‘Sharry Baby’ that releases a sweet, cocoa-like scent. If you want healthy foliage and flowers, then keep the plant in a consistently moist and humid atmosphere.
14. Paphiopedlium Orchids
Botanical Name: Paphiopedum spp
Popular Varieties: Paphiopedlium insigne, Bellatulum, Rothschidian, and Armeniacum
Flower Color: Purple, Orange, and White
Paphiopedlium is also known as the lady’s slipper orchid. This easy to grow houseplant produces flowers in burgundy, brown, pink, white, black, and yellow shades. Also, some varieties have mottled foliage. It is one of the best types of orchids varieties you can grow!
15. Phaius Orchids
Botanical Name: Phaius spp
Popular Varieties: Australis, Baconii, Callosus, and Tancarvilleae
Flower Color: Orange-purple, and White-green
Commonly known as nun’s cap orchid, phaius orchid forms light pink, purple, white, or yellow droopy flowers. The plant grows up to 1-4 feet tall, in bright indoor light. Forty-five species come under this genus; the popular one is Phaius tancarvilleae.
16. Phalaenopsis Orchids
Botanical Name: Phalaenopsis spp
Popular Varieties: Golden peacock moth orchid, Jupiter, Dragon’s gold, Schilleriana, Stuartiana, Sedona’s maki dream, and Sago David
Flower Color: Blue, Green, Red, White, Pink, and Red
Phalaenopsis is also known as the moth orchid. It features yellow flowers with pink veins, on and off during the entire year. These easy to grow orchids thrive well in indirect indoor light, and grow up to 1-3 feet tall.
17. Phragmipedium Orchids
Botanical Name: Phragmipedium spp
Popular Varieties: Boissierianum, Caudatum, and Longifolium
Flower Color: Green, Mahogany-pink, and Fluorescent-orange
Phragmipedium orchid flourishes naturally in boggy conditions in South America. They need humid conditions and bright light. The heaviest flowering season arrives in spring, but some species can bloom year-round. It features mahogany-pink to green and fluorescent orange flowers. Most cultivars reach a height of 3-4 feet.
18. Psychopsis Orchids
Botanical Name: Psychopsis spp
Popular Varieties: Papilio, and Kalihi
Flower Color: Yellow, and Orange
Also known as butterfly orchids, Psychopsis are easy to grow orchids, producing attractive flowers with showy green and mottled, burgundy foliage. This genus includes only five species that can survive well in different temperatures. During the summer season, grow these orchids in moderate light and avoid heat.
19. Vanda Orchids
Botanical Name: Vanda spp
Popular Varieties: Coerulescens, Roebelingiana, Dearei, and Merrillii
Flower Color: Blue and Pink
Native to tropical Asia, the heat-loving Vanda genus has 80 species that produce long-lasting, fragrant flowers. These plants survive well in highly humid and bright conditions. The plant can be from 3 inches to 3 feet tall, depending on the species.
20. Zygopetalum Orchids
Botanical Name: Zygopetalum spp
Popular varieties: Mackayi, Intermedium, and Crinitum
Flower Color: White, Blue, Red, and Purple
Zygopetalum features fragrant flowers consistently from fall to spring. The stunning flowers have veins with spots of purple, chartreuse, and maroon color. The plant grows up to 2-3 feet in height and needs bright diffused light. It is one of the best types of orchids varieties you can grow!
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