Easy Care Orchids
Some orchids are just plain easier to grow than others, and if we look at the three growing types. Cool Growing, Intermediate and Warm growing we quickly see its all about temperature and humidity, however come orchids are in fact very easy to care for.
Most orchids like a cooler temperature at night than in the daytime, so the cool growing types such as the Cymbidiums and Masdevallias might seem the best for the UK, however if you are growing them indoors and leave the heating on all night then they will most likely not get the temperature drop that they like.
The Intermediate types like a range from around 12C - 25C and can be an excellent choice for indoors, these include some Paphiopedilums and Ondotoglossums
List of Easy to Care for Orchids
Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis are one, commonly called moth orchids they are one of the most popular indoor plants of all, (see Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica var alba pictured right).
They like a bright filtered light, try an east facing room with good light, not to close to the window that the plant touches it, but close enough for the light.
They do cope with less light, protection from cold drafts, but they grow well indoors and watering once a week seems to get them through unless they are in a drying environment.
The old trick of the pebble filled saucer with water in it sitting beneath the plant to provide some humidity is useful, and a little misting first thing in the morning helps as well. Easy to grow, but not as easy as Cymbidiums.
The easiest of all orchids
Cymbidiums
Cymbidiums are probably the easiest of all orchids in terms of care, but here we are generally talking about the hybrids rather than the species.
Now cymbidiums are one tough orchid, they are a cool growing orchid especially the hybrids, bright filtered light, free draining growing medium, fertilise in spring and again in autumn and stand back.
Take it outside from spring to autumn and bring it back in before the first frosts. A little cool weather helps bring on those flower spikes. Although they appreciate a little care, these are probably the easiest of all non native orchids to grow in the UK
Paphiopedilum
Now some Paphiopedilum are intermediate and some are warm growing types, they all like to be kept moist, but never wet so wait until the surface of the growing medium begins to dry a little before watering.
Paphiopedilum Insigne ( see picture right ) is one of the more commonly grown species. Check with your supplier before purchasing as to what the requirements are
So if we were looking at species we might go for Paphiopedilum spicerianum from China rather than Paphiopedilum stonei which is a warm grower from the Phillipines (Sarawak), Paphiopedilum argus or Paph hirsutissimum var esquirolei.
Masdevallias
Masdevallias (see picture bottom right) are a mostly a cool growing and relatively easy care species, pretty much neglected in the UK, but great for indoors in room that is not over
heated. A large number of species and cultivars are available, and these are a small growing orchid, so very easy to accomadate even in smaller homes.
Others easy to care for orchids to consider are:
- Dendrobiums
- Oncidiums
- Cattleya
- Ludisia discolor
- Phaius tankervilleae
- Odontoglossum
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