Orchid Types - Which One is Right For You?

Orchids form arguably the largest family of flowering plants. There are in excess of 30,000 species and many thousands of hybrids.

There are 3 groups of orchid characterised by the environment in which they choose to grow, namely Terrestrial, Epiphyte and Lithophyte.

Terrestrial

Terrestrials are ground loving and the various species have adapted remarkably well and grow in locations from damp forest floors to sandy dunes. The roots of terrestrials commonly form tubers that lie below the surface of the ground and act as a nutrient and moisture store during dry spells. Many terrestrial Orchids are deciduous and lose their leaves and flowers and remain dormant during the cooler winter period.

Cymbidiums are one of the most popular of the terrestrial orchid and also one of the easiest types to grow in cooler climates. Cymbidiums typically enjoy daytime temperatures of around 60F (16C) and night temperatures down to 50F (10C)

Epiphyte

Epiphytes form the vast majority of orchid species. These mostly grow in topical and sub tropical regions of the world. Epiphytes typically cling to the trunk and branches of host trees absorbing nutrients and moisture through their aerial roots. These plants can be found in positions low down on the trunks of trees to the far reaching heights of branches in the forest canopy in accordance with the amount of light and shade they prefer.

Probably the best known and most widely available of the Epiphytes orchids is the Phaleanopsis or moth orchid. These plants can produce flowers at any time of the year and grow best in direct sunlight. They enjoy daytime temperatures above 68F (20C) with nights no cooler than 60F (16c).

These orchids are far more suitable to our modern centrally heated homes than perhaps the Cymbidiums though we will need to take care of their requirements for high humidity and place these orchids on a pebble tray with frequent morning misting.

Lithophytes

Lithophytes are generally found in tropical regions and grow on rocks and in crevices and get their nourishment from moss, left over plant matter and rainwater. These orchids frequently have fleshy leaves and moisture laden pseudo bulbs that help them endure prolonged dry spells.

Dendrobrium orchids are generally epiphytic but many of the dendrobrium will grow quite happily on tree branches or on rocks and stones such as the Dendrobrium kingianum or Pink Rock Orchid.