Hundreds of variations, thousands of colors and hues and nothing short of magical when we nurture them to full bloom – orchids inspire us and renew our faith. Need proof? Keep reading!
1- Lycaste Michelli
The spectacular Lycaste Michelli – This Greek flower is pale, even in its lovely mustard and sage colors, dainty and many insist the definitive feminine flower. The flowers, when in bloom, tend to last a bit longer than traditional orchids. Aside from the unique yellow and green hues, this beautiful bloom can also be found in off-white. Sturdy and resistant to the occasional night frost, these beauties need high light and moist conditions. Most often found in Mexico, they’re now being grown in the U.S.
2- Laelia
The simple, yet elegant Laelia – With over fifty species, the Laelia is one of the most recognized orchids to be found anywhere. A favorite because of its narrow petals, we’re particularly fond of the shades of reds and purples. With many hybrids and a myriad of colors, this sweet bloom can be found in the US, Mexico, Cuba and Brazil.
3- Bamboo Orchid (Arundina Graminifolia)
The classic Bamboo Orchid – A late summer – early fall bloomer, these bloom in bunches or clusters in colors ranging from purple to red to yellow to white. Most commonly found in Panama and Costa Rica, they’re migrating across the globe. Considered endangered in Singapore due to the decline of rainforests, great strides are being made to save this stunning bloom.
4- Slipper Orchids
Slipper Orchids – Their petals are most often referred to as pouches. They’re designed by Nature this way to catch insects. Still, their beautiful three pouches that provide a burst of color on each petal hide its magical purposes for the pouches. Its family is the Orchidaceae. Although found in the U.S. and in fact is the state flower for New Hampshire, it’s native to Southeast Asia.
5- Dendrobium
The fickle but pretty Dendrobium – Each diverse breed from this family of orchids has its own needs in terms of culture and nutrition, but the pay off is certainly worth it. With a bright burst of yellow petals and a splash of red smack dab in the middle, this is a lovely flower that once in bloom; one knows it was worth the wait.
6- Vanda
The magical Vanda – This small but mighty purple bloom, with petals much smaller than one might think would be found on an orchid, thrives in full sun and cooler climates. In fact, experts say the absence of light will surely doom this orchid, which would be a shame. Although it can endure the occasional and brief cold snap, they thrive in temperatures in the mid-50s and a humidity of around 80%. They’re sometimes grown in the southeast, provided the extreme heat and humidity isn’t a factor.
7- Miltonia
The inspirational Miltonia – Sometimes referred to as pansy orchids due to their similarity to the traditional pansy, these easy to grow orchids are growing in popularity. Most often found in Ecuador and Panama, the patterns in any number of color variations, are nothing short of breathtaking. One important note for those wishing to grow the Miltonia – their petals are quite fragile and direct sunlight will result in burns.
8- Odontoglossum
The fragile Odontoglossum- These tropical orchids grow well in high altitudes and the flowers are gorgeous. They require bright light and do better at altitudes of 2,000 feet and higher. The rewards offered by a successful bloom are priceless! The lovely pale and nearly translucent petal is spectacular.
9- Stanhopea
The multi-tasking Stanhopea – Ah, a sight to behold! The stunning flowers, complete with narrow walkways for insects and catching mechanisms for water, they grown downward and give off a lovely scent. They require bright light, but direct sunlight is an absolute ‘must not’ as it will burn the tender petals. Temperatures should range between 50 and 80 degrees and they bloom mostly during the summer months.
10- Gogeurt
Our final selection is the easy to grow Gogeurt. It’s one of the most recognizable flowers and has the trademark long and narrowing petals. They’re ideally grown in warmer climates, but are sturdy plants nonetheless and can bloom in temperatures as low as 55 degrees. These are ideal for those looking to choose a first orchid to nurture into full bloom and once you see the deep red blooms, you’ll be hooked.
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