Orchids come in many varieties and in order to become more familiar with growth patterns it is advisable to become familiar with various species of the flower.
In this way you can determine which best suits your region and works well within your established environment.
This will be necessary in order to care properly for the orchid you select to grow.
The following article provides details as to the most popular or common types of the plant.
One plant that is highly revered amongst orchid growers is the beautiful Cattleya orchid.
This unique plant originates in Mexico and the West Indies.
The plant needs quite a bit of care and lots of indirect sunlight in order to grow properly.
The plant is structured where it has a longish pseudobulb which ends in two leaves (or sometimes one leaf).
The stem then emerges from the Axil area of the leaf.
Generally there are eight flowers (or even more on the stem) comprised of various combinations as to color.
There are a respectable fifty species of Cattleya and even more hybrids of the orchid.
The Dendrobium genus provides the grower with approximately one thousand species and a vast number of hybrids.
You can find Dendrobium orchids in Australia, the tropical portions of Asia and within the Orient.
It is necessary that growers knows where their chosen species originated from in order to effect successful growth.
Further the orchid presents a number of sizes with a range from extremely tiny to very large.
The Dendrobiums generally are considered, as a whole, a good choice as to an indoor plant or houseplant.
Oncidiums are another popular orchid.
This orchid provides the orchid grower with a vast array of colors and shapes.
It is comprised species-wise of approximately six hundred plants.
The Oncidium orchid originates from the tropical portion of the United States.
The pseudobulbs are elongated and provide one to two leaves at the apex portion.
The spikes are usually branched, but this depends on the species.
Another good selection is the Paphiopedilum, which is appropriately named after Paphinia, the same Grecian Goddess the Ancient Romans named Venus.
There are approximately sixty varieties of this orchid found in India, New Guinea, and Asia.
Different species provide different leaves and each plant requires its own conditions.
In example, the mottled leaf variety requires environments that are appreciably warm, whereas plainer leaf, single flowered varieties appreciate moderate to cooler conditions.
The multiple floral and plain leaf type of Paphiopedilum Orchid thrives well in an environment of bright sun and warmer temperatures.
Vanda orchids are comprised of approximately fifty species and a good many Vandas are hybrids.
The flower requires an environment that is warm with plenty of bright sunlight.
The flower responds well when grown up high in a basket made of wood.
The Vanda originates from the tropical portion of Asia and as far south as Australia.
The leaves of the Vandas are strap-like in appearance and grow from the top section of the orchid.
The flower spikes make their appearance from the Axil of the more established leaves.
Generally there are up to three spikes with flowers of varying color and dimension - naturally depending on the species of the plant.