Years ago, most people associated orchids with corsages. Maybe they thought that all orchids grew in only tropical rain forests. Certainly, it was not considered a house plant but better yet the kind of thing you would only find in greenhouses or some far-away country.

Not anymore.

Orchids have exploded to the mainstream market in the past few years. The most commonly seen orchid, the Phalaenopsis, can be viewed in commercials, movies, catalogs, and even on the shelf of your local Wal-Mart or Target store.

There is good reason why the Phalaenopsis (pictured left) was chosen as the ambassador of the orchid genus. It’s largely considered the easiest to grow in less-than-optimal conditions, the blooms can last for weeks to months and for a blooming orchid, it’s definitely the least expensive.

I should rephrase that. It should be the least expensive. But with the onslaught of the popularity of these beauties, orchid sellers are taking people for a ride. I’ve seen a flower nursery selling a medium sized Phalaenopsis with one spike of flowers priced between $45.00 to $65.00. I’ve also seen the exact same orchid being sold less than a mile away at a health food store for $12.00.

Just like anything else, the potential orchid grower will benefit greatly from a little education on what types of orchids there are, what kind of care they are going to need, and where you can buy them without sticker shock. And because I’ve done just that, I wanted to share what I’ve learned with you. The following is considered a “FAQ”. That is, Frequently Asked Questions.

This FAQ is intended as basic information to help the new orchid hobbyist. I understand that to an experienced orchid grower, this information will seem very generalized. I have gathered this information from books I have purchased and websites I’ve visited. If you have any suggestions or corrections, please feel free to email me.

But first, a word about orchid pests.

If you have more than one orchid, you WILL get some kind of pest sooner or later.  It’s just a fact of life.  Some of these pests include spider mites, mealy bugs, and scale insects – all of which I have dealt with over the years.

Here is my message to you:  STEP AWAY FROM THE CHEMICAL PESTICIDES

It is irresponsible and lazy to reach for chemicals, every time you see something that needs eradicating.  There are alternatives!  And guess what…  They work just as well, and are less dangerous to your orchids and to you.

I learned my lesson years ago when I found mealy bugs on my coleus plant.  I bought Malathion (eek!) and it killed the mealy bugs alright.  But it also killed my coleus plant.  I have treated my patients on the ambulance who were poisoned by exposure to pesticides like this one.  It’s not pretty.  And the effects can be long-lasting.  Just a glance at the warnings on the back label (that is a mile long) should be enough to dissuade you. 

My natural, no chemical alternatives:  Dawn dish soap, ground cinnamon, listerine, and neem oil.

Dawn dish soap is an amazing thing and I have a great respect for this product and the company that makes it.  Ever see those commercials of them cleaning oil off of penguins and birds?  It’s the real deal, and it can be used at home for not just orchids, but numerous plants.

I start with a spray bottle and fill it 3/4 of the way with water.  I have a big 2 gallon jug that always has water in it.  I let sit for at least 24 hours before using it to let the chlorine in the tap water burn off.  Rainwater is best but I don’t know anyone who collects rainwater.

So I take my spray bottle with water and put in two squeezes of Dawn soap.  Probably about 2 tablespoons.  Dawn soap contains fatty acids that kills the bugs, so it is an insecticide.  I say Dawn and not other soaps because Dawn is biodegradable, and they’re really taking a hand in protecting the environment and wildlife so I like to commend them.  Plus, chances are, you can find them in every store that sells soap.

Then I add a capful or two of Neem oil.  Neem oil comes from the Neem tree, again a natural product that can actually be ingested safely.  It is effective in that it helps coat the leaves and suffocates pests by depriving them of oxygen.  Dawn soap actually increases the effectiveness of the Neem oil also, so they work well together.  But with most oils – be careful not to expose the plant to too much light or sun afterwards because you can wind up with burnt leaves.  It kind of smells like garlic but the smell dissipates and is only overpowering in it’s undiluted form.  Mixing it with Dawn helps a lot too.

So that is my typical concoction that I have used on everything from my indoor orchids to my outside potted plants like coleus, ornamental grass, daisies, lilies, even my lilac bush.  There are some plants that don’t respond well to this mix, so do an internet search for Dawn + Neem + the name of your plant before using it.  You could also test a small area with it first, leave it for a day, and then check it the next day.

These two also do the job without harming beneficial insects like honey bees and ladybugs (which eat aphid bugs!).  I have lots of praying mantis and dragonflies in the summer, and wanted to make sure I didn’t hurt them in the process.

Listerine contains denatured alcohol which can be used to rub on orchid leaves when trying to get rid of mealy bugs or scale.  Since these bugs (at least the adults) have shells around them, you need to actually get them off first.  I use my fingernail but you can use a toothbrush (very lightly) or a Q-tip even.

Cinnamon is a natural fungicide.  When you need to cut a leaf, or a pseudobulb off your orchid, sprinkle some cinnamon on the cut to help ensure it won’t get attacked by a fungus.

One thing that I try not to forget…  If you have bugs on one plant, get it away from the others.  Put the plant in quarantine, but you have to quarantine yourself too.  If you touch the bugs with a watering can, or your hands, or cutting shears or a spray bottle and then you go using those things with other orchids, you could effectively transfer those pests to the rest of them!

Last update: March 12th, 2007

Where do Orchids come from?

In short, every continent except Antarctica.

Records of orchids can be traced back as far as 500B.C. in China and to Greek and Roman times. They were prized for their perfume, flowers, foliage and in at least one case, their seeds. Natural vanilla comes from the Vanilla Plantifolia orchid and was mixed with the seeds of the cacao plant to create something akin to our modern day chocolate.Later, during the 18th century, world explorers braved the unchartered seas to discover new worlds. They also set out to discover new civilzations, animals and plant species. Among these, they collected orchid samples to bring back to their home country, reveling in the different shapes, sizes and colors of their finds.Yet the prized orchids of today were not cultivated by the masses. With the exception of the wealthy who could afford lavish greenhouses, sometimes orchids that were not blooming were overlooked. In fact, there are accounts that the travelers used the semi-rigid leaves of orchids like the Cattleya as packing material to protect the other plants they were collecting.

These days, orchids grow naturally in all corners of the world. They are surprisingly resilient in their native habitat. Most orchids are epiphytes; meaning that they cling to their host for support but do not feed off of it as a parasite would. Their roots are aerial, preferring open air exchange instead of being buried in soil. Their white roots gather moisture and nutrients through the the rain and the air.

There are also terrestrial orchids that do grow in soil. These are much less popular in terms of collecting but no less important or interesting in their history or cultivation.

What types of orchids are there?

Due to the scores of people who cross different types of orchids, there are tens of thousands of different orchids out there. But there are a few main types which have captured the widespread popular attention of the world, and these are the ones that I’m focusing on.

Phalaenopsis

pronunciation: fal-en-OP-sis

Click here to learn how to care for a Phalaenopsis orchid.

This is the most popular orchid in terms of media exposure and sales to the mainstream market.

Phals are monopodial, meaning that their leaf growth comes from one central point. As new leaves grow from the top, the leaves closest to the bottom die off. They keep a fairly low profile and their vertical growth is fairly slow so they are convenient in that they can fit in areas other orchids cannot. They do not have a built-in system for water retention like other orchids do so they benefit from water-retaining media like sphagnum moss.

Flower buds grow from spikes that sprout from the axils of the leaves. The spikes can reach lengths of one to two feet and arch as they grow. The flower buds march along at the end of the spike and give it the signature “u” shaped look. In good conditions, these flowers can last for months.

Cattleya

pronunciation: CATT-lee-ah

Click here to learn how to care for a Cattleya orchid.

Cattleyas are perhaps best known as a “corsage” orchid. They are not monopodial like the Phalaenopsis but instead are sympodial and continually grow pseudobulbs along their rhizome. The pseudobulb’s (or pbulb) main purpose is for water storage. This helps the plant survive in periods of drought. Old pbulbs that have flowered and no longer have leaves are called back bulbs.

Flower spikes grow inside a sheath which appears at the top of a pseudobulb. The spike will remain protected in the sheath until it is long enough to break through and continue it’s journey upward. Depending on the type of Cattleya, there can be as few as one flower or as many as 25 on one spike.

Cymbidium

Pronunciation: sim-BID-dee-um

Click here to learn how to care for a Cymbidium orchid.

Like the cattleya, cymbidiums are sympodial but their pseudobulbs are shorter and squatter than the cattleyas. Cymbidiums can get quite large and have some temperature requirements that don’t normally translate into it being a good windowsill plant. Their leaves are long and strap-like which make it more appealing when it is out of flower than a Phalaenopsis.

Flower spikes grow from the base of the pbulbs and can grow up to three feet tall. The flowers are waxier and more substantial in substance than other orchids.

Dendrobium

pronunciation: den-DROH-bee-um

Click here to learn how to care for a Dendrobium orchid.

The most commonly seen dendrobiums have sympodial pseudobulbs that are often called “canes”. These canes may require staking to prevent them from drooping or toppling the plant over. In the tallest canes, leaves will die off as it grows and thus, half of the cane’s length could be leafless. When out of flower, they are not the most attractive orchids. But I have seen their delicate flowers in many bouquets and even as a garnish in drinks and food.

Depending on the type of dendrobium, the flower spike could appear from the top of the cane or the flowers can grow from the sides of the cane itself.

Oncidium

pronunciation: on-SID-ee-um

Click here to learn how to care for an Oncidium orchid.

The most typical oncidium seen has great sprays of yellow flowers on long spikes with a base of thick leaves attached to unassuming pseudobulbs. Like the cymbidium, these plants can get quite large. But the plant’s requirements are extremely varied so it’s worth a try to match a specific type to your growing conditions.

Flower spikes appear from the base of a pbulb and can grow to three feet tall. Unless it’s in a heavy terracotta pot, they typically need staking. There aren’t a great many colors to choose from and you will typically only find yellow or red flowers.

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