The best place to buy an orchid is from well recommended orchid growers.

Assuming, of course, that they are experienced, growers can give you the proper guidance and advice, as well as sell you the healthiest plants from the greatest variety of orchid species. Although today you can easily find orchids on sale at grocery stores, general garden centers, discount outlets and any number of other retailers; you will generally not be able to get much help from the staff at such places.

Sam’s Club, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. are good examples as they typically sell Phalaenopsis or a few other varieties. Often, the plants look good and the price is reasonable and so that may be where you purchased your first orchid plant. But still, if you do not buy from an orchid grower, you must be careful, very careful.

Over the last few years the Phalaenopsis has overtaken the African Violet as the most popular flowering houseplant and the one which is most readily available from countless sources. The good news is that the Phalaenopsis is, in fact, the best orchid plant with which to start your orchid collection.

Now let us take a quick look at a few of the most popular varieties of orchid plants:

  • Phalaenopsis Hybrid.

    The Phalaenopsis Hybris is often also called the Moth Orchid. It is the easiest orchid plant to grow successfully and it produces spectacular blooms that last from 2 to 3 months and sometimes even longer.

  • Doritaeonopsis.

    The Doritaenopsis is essentially a cross between the Doritis and the Phalaenopsis called Doritaeonopsis and it is equally easy for beginners.

  • Oncidium.

    The Oncidium is also known as the Dancing Lady and it is part of a very large group with one of the most dramatic blooms in the world of orchids. The colors of its flowers come in bright yellow, white with pink, bronze and a variety of deep reds.

  • Dendrobiun Phalaenopsis.

    The Dendrobium Phalaenopsis is not a Phalaenopsis and must not be confused as such. Although the flowers of the Dendrobiun Phalaenopsis look just like those of the Phalaenopsis, the plant itself does not at all.

  • Papheopedlium Hybrid.

    The Papheopedlium Hybrid is also known as the Slipper Orchid and the one with mottled leaves is best.

  • Cymbidium.

    The Cymbidium orchid is much more tolerant to cold temperatures than many of the other species and it blooms beautifully in the frigid winter.

As I’ve mentioned above, it is best to start with a Phalaenopsis and preferably with a Hybrid. That is because they like the same temperatures as you and I do — mid 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and lowered, cooler temperatures during the night.

The label stuck in the pot or somewhere on the pot will tell you whether or not the Phalaenopsis you are looking at is a Hybrid. You will also note that the same label has other important information about the orchid plant and so you should never discard it.

Here’s what the label tells you:

- The first word is the genus or type of orchid, and it always starts with a capital letter.

- The next word (or words) is the grex or name of the particular orchid. If it is a Species rather than a Hybrid, the word (or words) will be all lower case. If it is a Hybrid, the word or words start with initial caps.

For example, the label of a Phalaenopsis species looks like this:
Phal. schilleriana. That’s a species.

When species are crossed, you get a hybrid. Labels for hybrids always use initial caps for the second word (or words).

For example, the label for a hybrid Phalaenopsis looks like this: Phal. Desert Rose. Notice that Desert Rose has initial caps which designates it as a hybrid.

In conclusion, if you find Phals in a grocery store, Costco, Sam’s or some other such retailer, most likely they will all be hybrids. To get a species, you should go to an orchid grower where you will find the Phalaenopsis Hybrid, Doritaeonopsis, Oncidium, Dendrobiun Phalaenopsis, Papheopedlium Hybrid and Cymbidium I’ve spoken above earlier but also very many others.

The following video is a gem.  Take a few moments to view it.

I can tell that you love orchids and so give yourself as much time as possible to look around this Orchid Care.org site and learn as much as you can.  And please do not ever hesitate about coming back again and again.

Filed under: Orchid Species

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