I feared orchids for years, assuming they earned their “hothouse flower” nickname honestly. But actually? Growing orchids is easy if you follow a few simple rules: give them indirect light, don’t water them too much, and keep them away from vents that blow dry air.
And after they drop their flowers, you can make most orchids bloom again: with a month of temperature fluctuations (10 degrees between day and night is ideal), regular fertilizer, and patience. For full instructions, see How to Make an Orchid Bloom Again.
With tens of thousands of species to choose among, orchids come in an astonishing array of colors and sizes, many with haunting fragrances. Read on for six of our favorite easy-to-grow orchids:
Photography by Mimi Giboin.
Lady’s Slipper Orchid
Care and Feeding: Low light, humid air, and bark to grow in will keep a Lady’s Slipper happy. Water once a week (or when the top inch of growing medium feels dry to the touch) and allow the roots to drain fully. If it’s happy, a Lady’s Slipper will bloom every year in late winter.
Design Tip: With dozens of species and hybrids, Lady’s Slipper orchids come in many striking color combinations. Compact enough to sit on the edge of a bathroom sink, a Lady’s Slipper looks lovely in a front of a mirror to reflect the colors on the back of its petals.
Oncidium Orchid
Care and Feeding: Preferring cooler temperatures at night, Oncidium orchids are happy on a windowsill away from the heating vents (if the sun is too bright, shield the plant with a gauzy fabric shade). Monitor its happiness by the state of its stalks; if they stop looking plump and firm at the base, give an Oncidium more water.
Design Tip: Graceful, arching stalks of flowers can be supported with rigid whip grass, which blends in nearly invisibly with the flowering stems.
Pansy Orchid
Care and Feeding: This orchid enjoys being misted daily; its flat-faced flowers earned it the nickname Pansy Orchid. Another nickname it deserves is Goldilocks; don’t let it get either too dry or too wet or it will go into decline.
Design Tip: Velvety, vividly colored petals make this a showstopper. A quiet backdrop will play up its colorful beauty.
Moth Orchid
Care and Feeding: Give a moth orchid bright, indirect light (a north-facing window might not be sunny enough), but to avoid burning it cover a western or southern exposure with a gauzy curtain to filter hot rays. Expect a flowering Phalaenopsis to stay in bloom for two or more months.
Design Tip: While a single potted Phalaenopsis is lovely, white Moth Orchids look dramatic en masse; group three in a single container for an eye-catching floral arrangements.
Sharry Baby Orchid
Care and Feeding: Keep it in filtered light (harsh sunlight can burn its leaves) in moderate humidity. Fertilize ‘Sharry Baby’ lightly and consistently to encourage growth.
Design Tip: With flowering stalks that can reach dramatic lengths of up to 4 feet, ‘Sharry Baby’ has the same visual impact as a large-leafed houseplant.
Spirit Orchid
Care and Feeding: This orchid prefers high humidity, making it a good choice to live in a bathroom (but be sure to give it good air circulation). Fertilize it every second time you water it with a half-strength dilute.
Design Tip: Choose a plant with a strongly arched flower stalk for a graceful display.
For more of our favorite houseplants, see our curated guide to Houseplants 101 and: