The Orchid Glossary
Lady Vanda Orchids
The Orchid Glossary
Every orchid grower starts somewhere, usually with a plant tag full of words nobody explained. Here they are, from your first keiki to the rules behind a registered grex. Tap any term to open it.
Beginner Basics
16 termsThe first words every new grower learns — the ones you'll hear at your first orchid show or read on your first plant tag.
Bloom spike
spike, flower spikeThe stem that carries an orchid's flowers. On a Phalaenopsis it grows from between the leaves; on a Cattleya it rises from the top of the newest pseudobulb.
Botanically, the spike is the peduncle plus the flowering portion (rachis) of the inflorescence. Stake a young spike before its buds form — once buds orient toward the light, moving the plant or the stake twists the flowers out of line.Bud
An unopened flower. Most orchid buds take several weeks to develop and are easy to lose to sudden changes in their surroundings.
Buds are especially sensitive to ethylene gas, temperature swings, and drying out. Keep conditions steady from the time buds are visible until they open.Bud blast
When buds yellow, shrivel, and drop before opening. It is the plant's reaction to stress, not a disease.
Common triggers are a sudden temperature swing, low humidity, a dry-out, moving the plant, or ethylene gas from ripening fruit, gas heaters, or car exhaust. In Florida, the jump from a humid lanai to an air-conditioned living room is a classic cause.Dormancy
rest periodA seasonal slowdown when an orchid stops growing and needs less water, less fertilizer, or cooler nights. Some orchids drop all their leaves.
Dormancy is triggered by day length, temperature, and moisture cues that mirror a dry season in the wild. Deciduous Catasetum and many Dendrobium species need a genuine dry winter rest to flower well; Florida's cooler, drier November-to-February stretch provides much of it naturally.Foot-candle
fcA unit of light brightness used to describe how much light an orchid wants. More foot-candles means brighter light.
One foot-candle equals one lumen per square foot (about 10.76 lux). Rough targets: Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum 1,000–1,500 fc; Cattleya 2,000–4,000 fc; Vanda 3,000–4,000+ fc. Foot-candles measure light as the human eye sees it; PAR measures what the plant uses.Hybrid
A plant made by crossing two different parents, such as two species, or a species and another hybrid. Most orchids sold today are hybrids.
Man-made orchid hybrids are registered by name with the Royal Horticultural Society. Hybrids can combine genera (intergeneric hybrids) and often grow more vigorously than either parent.Keiki
A baby plant that grows on the mother plant, usually from a node on a flower spike or a cane. It can be removed and potted once it has its own roots.
Keikis form when a dormant node produces a vegetative bud instead of a flower. Wait until a keiki has two or three roots at least 2 inches long before cutting it free. Keikis are genetically identical to the parent.Leaf span
The distance from leaf tip to leaf tip across the plant. Sellers use it to describe the size of orchids without pseudobulbs, such as Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum.
Leaf span is a better maturity indicator than pot size for monopodials and slipper orchids. A Phalaenopsis with an 8–10 inch leaf span is usually near blooming size.Mounted orchid
mountAn orchid attached to a piece of bark, cork, wood, or tree fern instead of growing in a pot. Its roots grip the surface just as they would on a tree.
Mounts give perfect drainage and air flow but dry out fast, so mounted plants need daily watering in dry weather. Florida's humid summers and screened lanais make mounting practical for many epiphytes that sulk in pots.New growth
lead, new leadThe young shoot a sympodial orchid produces each season. It will become the next pseudobulb or cane and usually carries the next flowers.
The lead growth indicates which direction a plant is growing; set it toward the center of the pot when repotting. Repot as new roots emerge from the lead, not while the lead is still dormant.Node
A small joint along a stem or flower spike, often marked by a thin papery sheath. Nodes can sprout new spikes, branches, or keikis.
On Phalaenopsis spikes, cutting just above the second or third node below the spent flowers can trigger a secondary spike. On Dendrobium canes, nodes produce flowers or keikis.Orchidaceae
The orchid family, one of the two largest families of flowering plants. Orchids grow on every continent except Antarctica.
Orchidaceae holds roughly 28,000 accepted species in about 750–900 genera, depending on the classification followed, divided into five subfamilies. Shared traits include a column, pollinia, tiny dust-like seeds, and dependence on fungi to germinate in nature.Rebloom
Getting an orchid to flower again after its first blooms fade. For many beginners, this is the real test of success.
Reblooming depends on enough light, a mature growth, and the right seasonal cue. Phalaenopsis spike when daytime temperatures stay below about 79°F for several weeks; Cattleyas need bright light to mature their growths; many Dendrobiums need a dry rest.Repotting
Moving an orchid into fresh potting mix and trimming dead roots. Most orchids need it every one to three years as their mix breaks down.
Repot sympodials when new roots appear on the lead growth, and choose a pot that holds only one to two years of growth. Remove all decomposed mix and dead roots; clean, firm roots are white, green, or silvery.Species
A naturally occurring kind of orchid found in the wild, as opposed to a man-made hybrid. Species names are written in italics, such as Vanda coerulea.
A species name is a binomial: the genus plus a species epithet. Species can vary widely within their range, which is why growers seek out selected clones and varieties.Spent spike
A flower spike whose blooms have all fallen. Depending on the orchid, it may be cut off or left to rebloom.
Phalaenopsis spikes can rebloom from lower nodes, though cutting at the base lets the plant rebuild strength. Cattleya sheaths and Dendrobium canes should not be cut: nobile-type canes and many older canes flower again.
Plant Anatomy & Morphology
31 termsThe parts of an orchid plant and flower. Every orchid flower follows the same basic plan: three sepals, three petals (one of them the lip), and a column at the center.
Axil
The angle where a leaf meets the stem. On many orchids, flower spikes and new roots emerge from the axils.
Vandas and Phalaenopsis produce inflorescences from leaf axils. Axils also trap water and hide mealybugs and scale, so check them first during pest inspections.Bract
A small leaf-like scale where a flower or branch joins the stem. Bracts are often papery or green.
Floral bracts subtend individual flowers; in some genera, such as Dendrochilum and Stanhopea, the bracts are conspicuous. Bract shape and size are useful characters in species identification.Callus
A raised ridge, bump, or crest on the lip that guides pollinators to the right spot. It is often brightly colored or glossy.
Callus form is a key diagnostic feature in Oncidiinae; Oncidium takes its name from the swelling on its lip. Calli can produce oils or mimic pollen to reward or deceive pollinators.Cane
A tall, slender, jointed pseudobulb that looks like a bamboo stem, typical of many Dendrobiums and Epidendrums.
Canes store water and nutrients like any pseudobulb. Leafless older canes of nobile- and phalaenopsis-type Dendrobiums often still bloom, so do not remove them just because the leaves have dropped.Column
gynostemiumThe finger-like structure at the center of an orchid flower that holds both the male and female parts. It is the feature that defines every orchid.
The column (gynostemium) forms from the fusion of stamens, style, and stigma. It carries the anther and pollinia at its tip, with the stigmatic surface just below, separated by the rostellum to prevent self-pollination.Column foot
An extension at the base of the column that the lateral sepals and lip attach to. It lets the lip hinge or rock in some orchids.
A column foot fused with the lateral sepals creates the chin-like mentum seen in Dendrobium and many Pleurothallids. In Bulbophyllum, the lip is hinged to the column foot and rocks under a visiting fly.Dorsal sepal
The top sepal of an orchid flower, standing upright above the column. On slipper orchids it is often the showiest part.
In Paphiopedilum, the dorsal sepal is a primary judging point, admired when broad, flat, and well marked. In Masdevallia, the dorsal sepal is fused with the laterals and ends in a tail.Inflorescence
The whole flowering structure: stem, branches, and all the flowers together.
Orchid inflorescences are usually racemes or panicles and may be terminal (from the top of a growth, as in Cattleya) or lateral (from the base or an axil, as in Phalaenopsis and Vanda).Labellum
lipThe lip — the modified third petal that is usually larger and more colorful than the others. It serves as a landing platform and signpost for pollinators.
The labellum is often lobed, ridged, or pouched, and carries calli or spurs. In slipper orchids it forms the pouch; in Catasetum it can be a helmet. Resupination places it at the bottom in most orchids.Lateral sepals
The two lower sepals on either side of the lip. Together with the dorsal sepal, they form the outer ring of the flower.
In slipper orchids, the lateral sepals are fused into a single synsepal behind the pouch. In Masdevallia and Dracula, all three sepals are fused into a cup with long tails.Mentum
A chin-like bulge at the back of the flower, formed where the lateral sepals attach to the column foot.
The mentum is characteristic of Dendrobium, Maxillaria relatives, and many Pleurothallidinae. It may enclose nectar or form a short spur.Nectary spur
spurA hollow tube, usually from the lip, that holds nectar at its base. Only a pollinator with a long enough tongue can reach it.
Angraecum sesquipedale has a spur up to about 12 inches long. Darwin predicted in 1862 that a moth with an equally long proboscis must pollinate it; the moth was described in 1903 and first filmed at the flower in the 1990s.Ovary
The part behind the flower, usually looking like part of the stem, that swells into a seed pod after pollination.
Orchid ovaries are inferior (below the other flower parts) and fused with the pedicel into a single stalk. The twisting of this pedicel-ovary produces resupination.Panicle
A branched flower spike, with flowers on side branches rather than on a single stem.
Branched Phalaenopsis spikes, many Oncidiums, and Renantheras produce panicles. A plant that branches heavily can carry dozens to hundreds of flowers.Pedicel
The short stalk that attaches each individual flower to the spike.
In orchids the pedicel and ovary are continuous and usually treated together as the pedicellate ovary.Peloric
peloriaA flower in which the petals have taken on the shape or color of the lip, making the flower look more symmetrical.
Peloria can be genetic or arise as somaclonal variation in tissue culture; it is common in mericloned Phalaenopsis. Some peloric forms are prized (for example, certain Cattleya "splash" types); others are unstable from year to year.Petals
The two side petals of an orchid flower, between the sepals, plus the lip. In everyday use, "petals" means the two lateral petals.
Orchid petals are the inner whorl of the perianth. Their shape varies from broad and round in Phalaenopsis to long, twisted ribbons in Phragmipedium caudatum.Pollinia
pollinium, pollinariumCompact masses of pollen rather than loose powder, carried away whole by a pollinator. One flower may have two, four, six, or eight.
A pollinarium is the complete unit: pollinia plus the stipe and viscidium that attach it to the pollinator. Pollinia count is a key taxonomic character: Cattleya has four, Phalaenopsis and Oncidium two.Pseudobulb
The thickened, bulb-like stem on many sympodial orchids that stores water and food. Healthy pseudobulbs are firm and plump.
Pseudobulbs are stem tissue, not true bulbs. Shriveling means water stress, from underwatering or root loss. Back bulbs keep feeding new growths for years.Raceme
An unbranched flower spike with individually stalked flowers along a single stem.
Racemes are the most common inflorescence type in orchids; Vanda, Aerides, and Rhynchostylis produce long, dense racemes.Resupination
The twist most orchid flowers make as they open, turning upside down so the lip ends up at the bottom as a landing pad.
The pedicel-ovary rotates about 180° during development. Non-resupinate orchids, such as Prosthechea cochleata and many Encyclia relatives, carry the lip on top. Moving a plant while buds form can make flowers open at odd angles.Rhizome
The creeping horizontal stem that connects the pseudobulbs of a sympodial orchid. Divisions are made by cutting the rhizome.
Rhizome length determines how fast a plant walks out of its pot. Long-rhizome Bulbophyllums are best grown on mounts or in baskets. Fusarium wilt often shows as a purple ring in a cut rhizome.Sepal
One of the three outer flower parts. In orchids, sepals are usually colored and look similar to petals.
The three sepals form the outer perianth whorl: one dorsal and two lateral. Fused sepals define Masdevallia, Dracula, and the synsepal of slipper orchids.Sheath
A thin, papery leaf-like cover that protects a developing flower spike, most noticeable on Cattleyas.
Cattleya buds develop inside a sheath at the top of the pseudobulb, sometimes for months. Some sheaths yellow and dry naturally; never cut a sheath off, but slit it carefully if condensation or rot appears inside.Staminode
A sterile, non-pollen-producing stamen. In slipper orchids it forms a shield over the center of the flower.
Slipper orchids (Cypripedioideae) have two fertile anthers and one staminode, unlike most orchids with a single anther. Staminode shape is an important identification feature in Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium.Stigma
The sticky female surface on the underside of the column where pollen must land for seeds to form.
The stigmatic cavity is a shallow depression beneath the rostellum. In hand pollination, the pollinia are pressed into this sticky cavity.Synsepal
A single sepal formed from two fused lateral sepals, found behind the pouch in slipper orchids.
The synsepal is usually smaller and less conspicuous than the dorsal sepal in Paphiopedilum. Its presence helps separate slipper orchids from other orchids at a glance.Velamen
The silvery, spongy outer layer on orchid roots that soaks up water quickly. Dry roots look silver-white; wet roots turn green.
Velamen is a multilayered epidermis of dead cells that absorbs water and nutrients, protects the root, and reduces water loss. The green seen when wet is the chlorophyll-bearing cortex showing through. Thick velamen is why epiphytic roots rot when kept soggy.
Growth Habits
13 termsHow an orchid grows in nature — up a tree, on a rock, or in the ground — tells you how to pot, water, and light it at home.
Aerial root
A root that grows out into the air instead of into the potting mix. Aerial roots are normal and healthy on epiphytic orchids.
Aerial roots absorb moisture and nutrients through their velamen and photosynthesize when green. Do not cut or force them into the pot; Vandas grown bare-root in Florida are nearly all aerial root.Back bulb
An older pseudobulb behind the newest growth, often without leaves. It still stores food and water for the plant.
Back bulbs support new leads and can sprout if separated from the plant, especially in Cymbidium. Keep at least three pseudobulbs per division so the new growth has reserves.CAM photosynthesis
crassulacean acid metabolismA water-saving way of making food. The plant opens its leaf pores at night to take in carbon dioxide, then uses it during the day.
Many thick-leaved epiphytic orchids, including Phalaenopsis and Cattleya, use CAM. Night-time CO₂ uptake is one reason good air movement and nights below daytime temperatures matter.Deciduous
Dropping all leaves at the end of the growing season. The bare pseudobulbs rest until new growth starts.
Catasetum, Cycnoches, Clowesia, and some Dendrobium, Lycaste, and Habenaria species are deciduous. Stop watering as leaves yellow and resume only when new roots on the new growth reach 3–4 inches.Epiphyte
A plant that grows on another plant, usually on tree branches, without taking anything from its host. About 70% of orchids are epiphytes.
Epiphytic orchids take water and nutrients from rain, mist, and debris. Their roots need rapid drying and air, which is why they are grown in chunky bark, baskets, or on mounts rather than soil.Leafless orchid
An orchid that has no leaves and does its photosynthesis in flattened green roots. Florida's famous ghost orchid is one.
Leafless orchids, such as Dendrophylax and Microcoelia, consist of a tiny stem and radiating roots. In cultivation they are grown mounted with constant humidity.Lithophyte
A plant that grows on rocks or cliffs. Many lithophytic orchids tolerate strong light and quick dry-downs.
Lithophytes root into moss, leaf litter, and cracks on rock faces. Many Paphiopedilum species grow on limestone, and some growers add crushed oyster shell or limestone chips to their mix.Monopodial
Growing from a single main stem that keeps growing upward from its tip, adding new leaves each year. Vanda and Phalaenopsis grow this way.
Monopodial orchids have no pseudobulbs; they store water in thick leaves and roots. Flowers come from leaf axils. Tall, leggy Vandas can be top-cut once the top section has several healthy roots.Mycorrhizal association
mycorrhizaThe partnership between orchids and certain soil fungi. In nature, orchid seed cannot sprout without the right fungus.
Orchid seeds lack food reserves (endosperm), so germinating seedlings digest fungal partners, mostly in Tulasnella, Ceratobasidium, and Serendipita, until they can photosynthesize. Commercial growers bypass this with asymbiotic sugar media.Semi-terrestrial
Growing in loose, rich leaf litter or moss at ground level rather than true soil or on trees.
Many Paphiopedilum, Phaius, and Cymbidium species occupy this niche. They want a moisture-retentive but airy mix, often fine bark with sphagnum or perlite.Sympodial
Growing sideways along a creeping stem, sending up a new growth each season. Cattleya, Oncidium, and Dendrobium grow this way.
Each sympodial growth matures, flowers, and stops; the next season's lead continues from its base along the rhizome. Plants eventually walk out of their pots and need division or a larger container.Terrestrial
Growing in the ground, rooted in soil or leaf litter. Most temperate orchids, including North American lady's slippers, are terrestrial.
Terrestrial orchids often have tubers, corms, or fleshy roots and need a water-retentive mix. Spathoglottis and Phaius make good terrestrial landscape orchids in Central Florida.Twig epiphyte
A tiny orchid that lives on the thinnest outer twigs of trees, where it gets bright light and dries almost instantly after rain.
Twig epiphytes (for example, many Tolumnia and Psygmorchis) have short life cycles and hate stale moisture. Grow them on small mounts or in tiny clay pots with excellent air movement.
Culture & Care
24 termsThe working vocabulary of growing: light, water, feeding, media, and the conditions that turn a surviving plant into a blooming one.
Air circulation
Steady, gentle air movement around your plants. It dries leaves after watering and keeps rot and fungus from settling in.
Stagnant, humid air favors Botrytis, bacterial rots, and fungal leaf spots. Ceiling fans on a lanai or a small oscillating fan indoors are enough; aim for leaves that gently flutter.Bark mix
The most common orchid potting medium, made mainly of chunks of fir or pine bark, sometimes mixed with perlite or charcoal.
Coarse bark (½–1 inch) suits Cattleyas and Vanda-types in pots; fine bark suits seedlings, Paphiopedilum, and Oncidiinae. Bark decomposes in one to three years, becoming acidic and airless.Basket culture
Growing orchids in open wooden or plastic slat baskets, often with little or no potting mix, so roots get maximum air.
Teak and cedar baskets are the Florida standard for Vandas grown bare-root. Stanhopea and Gongora must be grown in baskets because their spikes grow downward through the mix.DLI
daily light integralThe total amount of usable light an orchid receives over an entire day. It captures both brightness and day length.
DLI is expressed in moles of light per square meter per day (mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹) and is calculated from PAR over the photoperiod. It is the most useful single number for comparing grow lights and seasonal changes.EC
electrical conductivityA measure of how much fertilizer salt is dissolved in your water. Growers use a simple meter to keep feeding strength in a safe range.
EC is usually read in microsiemens per centimeter (µS/cm); TDS meters convert this to parts per million. Many orchid growers keep feeding solutions around 400–800 µS/cm; readings well above that raise the risk of root and leaf-tip burn.Flushing
Running a large amount of plain water through the pot to wash out built-up fertilizer salts.
Flush monthly, or at every watering if your water is hard or you feed heavily. Florida's summer rains flush outdoor plants naturally; indoor and winter plants need it more.Humidity tray
A shallow tray filled with pebbles and water that sits under your pots to raise the humidity around the plants.
Keep the pot above the waterline so roots do not wick water. The effect is local and modest, which is most useful indoors under air conditioning or heating.LECA
clay pebbles, expanded clayRound, fired clay pebbles used as an inorganic potting medium, often for semi-hydroponic growing.
LECA does not decompose, so repotting is rarely forced by media breakdown. It wicks water from a reservoir and needs regular flushing to avoid salt buildup. Rinse and soak new LECA before use.Media breakdown
When organic potting mix such as bark or moss decays, turning mushy and holding too much water. It is the most common reason orchids need repotting.
Broken-down media collapses air spaces, drops pH, and starves roots of oxygen. Signs: a sour smell, mix that stays wet for days, and soft brown roots.Night temperature drop
day-night differentialThe difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Many orchids need cooler nights to grow well and set flowers.
A 10–15°F nighttime drop improves growth and spiking in many genera. Research at Michigan State showed Phalaenopsis spiking is mainly triggered when days stay below about 79°F (26°C), which is why Florida plants spike reliably as fall arrives.Overpotting
Putting an orchid in a pot that is too large. The extra mix stays wet, and roots rot.
Choose the smallest pot that fits the roots plus one to two years of growth. Most orchids bloom better slightly pot-bound.PAR
photosynthetically active radiation, PPFDThe part of light plants actually use to grow, measured with a special quantum meter.
PAR covers wavelengths of 400–700 nm and is measured as PPFD in micromoles per square meter per second (µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹). Unlike foot-candles, it counts red and blue light fairly, which makes it the right metric for grow lights.pH
A 0–14 scale for how acidic or alkaline water is. Below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and above 7 is alkaline. Most orchids do best with slightly acidic water.
Aim for about 5.5–6.5 in irrigation water and fertilizer solution; outside that range, nutrients such as iron and manganese become harder for roots to absorb. The scale is logarithmic, so pH 8 is ten times more alkaline than pH 7. Much of Florida's water comes from the limestone Floridan aquifer and runs alkaline and high in bicarbonates, which slowly pushes potting mix pH up. Decomposing bark pulls it down.PPM
parts per millionA way of measuring how much of something is dissolved in water. Growers use it for two things: how strong a fertilizer solution is, and how much mineral content is in their water.
One ppm equals one milligram per liter. Fertilizer recipes usually give ppm of nitrogen; many orchid growers feed at roughly 50–150 ppm N, depending on genus and how often they water. A ppm reading from a TDS meter is a different number: it estimates all dissolved salts, not nitrogen alone, so the two cannot be compared directly.Reverse osmosis water
RO waterVery pure water with most dissolved minerals filtered out. Growers use it when tap or well water is hard or salty.
RO water is typically below 50 ppm TDS. Because it lacks calcium and magnesium, add a fertilizer formulated for pure water or a Cal-Mag supplement. Rainwater gives similar results.Screened lanai
lanai, shadehouseA covered, screen-enclosed patio. In Florida, it is the classic place to grow orchids outdoors for most of the year.
Screening typically cuts 30–50% of sunlight and keeps out some pests. Lanai-grown plants still need protection from cold snaps below about 50°F and from summer afternoon sun on the west side.Semi-hydroponics
S/H, semi-hydroShade cloth
Woven or knitted fabric used to reduce sunlight over plants. It is rated by the percentage of light it blocks.
Common orchid ratings: 30% for Vandas in Florida, 50% for Cattleyas and Dendrobiums, 70–80% for Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum. Aluminized cloth also reflects heat.Sphagnum moss
Dried moss from bogs that holds a lot of water. It is used alone or mixed with bark, especially for seedlings and moisture-loving orchids.
Long-fiber New Zealand and Chilean sphagnum are preferred. Pack it loosely; tightly packed moss stays soggy. It breaks down within about a year and becomes acidic.TDS
total dissolved solidsThe total amount of minerals and salts dissolved in water, usually shown in ppm on an inexpensive handheld meter. It tells you how "hard" your water is and how strong your fertilizer mix is.
TDS meters actually measure EC and convert it to ppm with a factor: 0.5 on the 500 (NaCl) scale or 0.7 on the 700 scale, so 1,000 µS/cm reads as 500 or 700 ppm depending on the meter. Note which scale your meter uses before comparing readings. RO water and rainwater typically read below 50 ppm; hard well water can read several hundred. Test your source water first, then your fertilizer solution.Temperature grouping
cool grower, intermediate grower, warm growerOrchids are sorted into cool, intermediate, and warm growers by the night temperatures they prefer.
Standard minimum nights: cool 50–55°F (Masdevallia, Dracula, many Odontoglossum types); intermediate 55–60°F (Cattleya, Miltoniopsis, Oncidium); warm 60–65°F+ (Vanda, Phalaenopsis). Florida's summer nights favor warm growers.Tree fern
Fibrous material from the trunks of tree ferns, used as mounts, slabs, or chunks in potting mix. It resists decay.
Tree fern lasts much longer than bark. Wild harvesting of some species is restricted, so sustainable substitutes such as cork and coconut husk are increasingly common.Weakly weekly
A feeding approach: use fertilizer at quarter- to half-strength every week instead of full strength once a month.
Frequent dilute feeding matches how epiphytes receive nutrients in nature, from rain dripping through the canopy, and reduces salt spikes. Pair it with monthly flushing.Winter rest
A cooler, drier period in winter that some orchids need in order to flower.
Nobile-type Dendrobiums, deciduous Catasetinae, and many Mexican Laelias bloom best after several weeks of reduced water and cooler nights. Rest does not mean bone dry; mist or water lightly if pseudobulbs shrivel badly.
Pests, Diseases & Disorders
21 termsWhat goes wrong, and how to recognize it early. Many problems start with the environment, so learn the conditions behind each one.
Accordion pleating
New leaves that come out folded and crinkled like an accordion because they could not unfurl properly.
Common in Miltoniopsis and other Oncidiinae when a growth goes short of water or humidity, or is too hot, while its leaves are forming. Existing pleats are permanent; fix the conditions for the next growth.Anthracnose
A fungal leaf disease that causes sunken tan to black patches, often starting at leaf tips or sunburned spots.
Caused mainly by Colletotrichum species. It often invades tissue already stressed by sunburn or cold. Remove affected tissue with sterile tools and improve air movement; fungicides help in severe cases.Bacterial brown spot
A bacterial disease that causes water-soaked spots that turn brown or black and spread quickly, especially on Phalaenopsis.
Caused by Acidovorax (formerly Pseudomonas) species. It spreads by splashing water in warm, humid weather. Cut out infected tissue well into healthy leaf, keep leaves dry at night, and isolate the plant.Black rot
A fast-spreading rot that turns leaves, pseudobulbs, or new growths black and soft. Common after heavy rains.
Caused by water molds (Pythium and Phytophthora), which are oomycetes rather than true fungi. It thrives in Florida's wet summers. Remove affected tissue, keep water off new growths, and treat with a fungicide labeled for oomycetes.Botrytis
petal blightTiny brown or pinkish freckles on flower petals caused by a fungus. It is common in cool, damp, still air.
Botrytis cinerea spores land on flowers and spot them within days, especially on Phalaenopsis in winter. Improve air flow, avoid misting flowers, and remove spotted flowers promptly.Cold damage
chilling injurySunken, pitted, or water-soaked patches on leaves after the plant is exposed to temperatures colder than it tolerates.
Warm growers such as Phalaenopsis and Vanda can be injured below about 50°F (10°C), even without frost. Damage may not appear for several days. Bring sensitive plants in whenever Florida forecasts drop into the 40s.Crown rot
Rot in the center of a monopodial orchid where new leaves emerge, usually caused by water sitting in the crown.
Most common in Phalaenopsis. The center leaf yellows and pulls out easily. Water early in the day, tilt plants so the crown drains, and blot standing water. If the crown is lost, the plant may still produce a basal keiki.Edema
oedemaSmall blisters or raised, water-soaked bumps on leaves. They form when roots take up water faster than leaves can lose it.
Edema appears in cool, overcast, humid weather after heavy watering. It is a physiological disorder, not an infection. Water in the morning and improve air movement.Fungus gnats
Tiny black flying insects that hover around moist potting mix. Their larvae feed on decaying media and sometimes tender roots.
They signal media that stays too wet or is breaking down. Let pots dry more between waterings, repot into fresh mix, and use yellow sticky traps or Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) drenches.Fusarium wilt
A fungal disease that blocks the plant's water-carrying tissue, causing leaves to yellow and shrivel.
Look for a purple or pink ring in a cross-section of the rhizome or pseudobulb. It spreads through cutting tools and wounds. Sterilize tools between plants; infected divisions are rarely worth saving.Leaf-tip burn
salt burn, tip diebackBrown or black leaf tips, usually caused by fertilizer salt buildup or water with high mineral content.
Tip burn with a sharp line between dead and living tissue usually indicates salts. Check EC, flush pots, and reduce feeding strength.Mealybugs
White, cottony insects that hide in leaf axils, under sheaths, and on roots, sucking sap.
Mealybugs are persistent: their waxy coating repels sprays, and hidden colonies reinfest plants. Dab with isopropyl alcohol, follow with horticultural oil or a systemic, and repeat every 7–10 days for several weeks.Root rot
Roots that have turned brown, mushy, and hollow, usually from staying wet too long in old or dense mix.
Healthy roots are firm with white, silver, or green velamen; rotted roots slide off their inner core when pinched. Rot is usually cultural first and fungal second (Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium). Trim dead roots, repot into fresh coarse media, and water less often while new roots form.Scale insects
Boisduval scaleSmall, immobile insects under hard or soft shells that cling to leaves and pseudobulbs. Heavy infestations yellow and weaken plants.
Boisduval scale (Diaspis boisduvalii) is the classic Cattleya pest; males form white fuzzy colonies. Scrub off with a soft brush and alcohol; horticultural oil smothers crawlers. Check under sheaths and rhizome covers.Snails & slugs
Soft-bodied mollusks that chew holes in flowers, buds, root tips, and new growths, usually at night.
They hide under pots and benches by day. Use iron-phosphate baits and check at night with a flashlight during Florida's rainy season.Soft rot
bacterial soft rot, ErwiniaA bacterial rot that turns tissue soft, watery, and foul-smelling within a day or two.
Caused by Pectobacterium and Dickeya (both formerly Erwinia). The smell is diagnostic. Cut away all affected tissue immediately, well into healthy tissue, and keep the plant dry.Spider mites
Tiny arachnids on leaf undersides that cause silvery stippling. Fine webbing appears in heavy infestations.
Includes two-spotted spider mite and flat (false spider) mites (Tenuipalpus). They thrive in hot, dry conditions, indoors especially. Raise humidity, rinse leaf undersides, and use a miticide; ordinary insecticides do not work.Sunburn
leaf scorchPale, bleached, or black patches on leaves caused by too much direct sun or heat, often after moving a plant to a brighter spot.
The injured area first turns white or yellow, then dies to a dry tan or black patch. Acclimate plants gradually over two to three weeks, and watch the west side of Florida lanais in summer afternoons.Thrips
Slender, tiny insects that rasp flowers and buds, leaving silvery streaks and deformed blooms.
Western flower thrips and chilli thrips are both Florida problems. Blue or yellow sticky cards help monitor; spinosad-based sprays and removing infested flowers help control.Viruses
CymMV, ORSV, Cymbidium mosaic virus, Odontoglossum ringspot virusIncurable infections that cause streaked, mottled, or ringed leaves and color breaks in flowers. The two most common orchid viruses are CymMV and ORSV.
Cymbidium mosaic virus (a potexvirus) and Odontoglossum ringspot virus (a tobamovirus) spread mainly on cutting tools and sap. Flame or chemically sterilize tools between plants, and use test strips before breeding or dividing valuable plants. Infected plants should be discarded.
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
28 termsHow orchids are named, classified, and written. These rules are how growers around the world know they are talking about the same plant.
Accepted name
The currently recognized correct scientific name for a species or genus, as opposed to its outdated synonyms.
Accepted names in orchids are generally taken from Kew's Plants of the World Online (the successor to the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families). What is "accepted" changes as DNA studies revise classification.Alliance
An informal grouping of related genera and their hybrids, such as the Cattleya alliance or Oncidium alliance. It is a grower's term, not an official rank.
Alliances roughly track subtribes: the Cattleya alliance with Laeliinae, the Oncidium alliance with Oncidiinae, the Vanda alliance with Aeridinae. Show schedules and judging classes are often organized by alliance.Basionym
The original name a species was first published under, before it was moved to another genus.
The species epithet of the basionym travels with the plant to its new genus. For example, Neofinetia falcata became Vanda falcata.Binomial
The two-part scientific name of every species: genus first (capitalized), then species epithet (lowercase), both in italics, as in Cattleya labiata.
Linnaeus established binomial nomenclature in 1753. After first use, the genus may be abbreviated: C. labiata.Clone name
cultivar epithetA name in single quotation marks given to one individual plant and all its divisions and mericlones, written after the grex, as in Vanda Pachara Delight 'Clone Name'.
Under the ICNCP, the clone name is a cultivar epithet. Every plant grown from seed is genetically unique; only vegetative propagation (division or mericloning) carries a clone name. AOS awards attach to clones, never to a grex.Coerulea
Cultivar
A plant selected and maintained by growers for distinct traits. In orchids, a cultivar is a single named clone.
Cultivar names are governed by the ICNCP and written in single quotes, not italics. They are never Latin in form for names coined after 1959.Forma
f.The lowest botanical rank, used for minor but consistent differences within a species such as flower color. Abbreviated f.
Color variants like alba and coerulea are usually treated as formae: Cattleya intermedia f. coerulea. Horticulturally, they are often written as var., which is technically a different rank.Genus
generaA group of closely related species that share key features. The genus is the first part of a scientific name, capitalized and italicized, as in Vanda.
Orchid genera are defined increasingly by DNA-based studies. The plural is genera (JEN-er-uh). Genus names in hybrids are not italicized: Vanda Pachara Delight.Genus abbreviation
The official short form of a genus name used on labels and in registrations, such as Phal. for Phalaenopsis or Rlc. for Rhyncholaeliocattleya.
Abbreviations are standardized by the RHS; hybrid genera have their own (Blc., Rlc., Onc.). Use them on tags only after the full name is clear.Grex
The group name for all seedlings from a cross between the same two named parents, such as Vanda Pachara Delight. Every plant from that cross shares the grex name.
Grex names are registered with the Royal Horticultural Society, the International Registration Authority for orchid hybrids since 1961. Reciprocal crosses (A × B and B × A) share one grex. Grex names are not italicized or quoted.ICN
International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plantsThe international rulebook for naming wild plants. It governs species names, genus names, and author citations.
The ICN is revised after each International Botanical Congress, roughly every six years. It covers species, natural hybrids, and nothogenera.ICNCP
International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated PlantsIntergeneric hybrid
A hybrid made by crossing plants from two or more different genera, such as Cattleya × Rhyncholaelia.
Orchids hybridize across genera more freely than almost any other plant family. Each combination of genera receives a nothogenus name, such as Rhyncholaeliocattleya (Rlc.).Lumping and splitting
Growers' shorthand for the two directions taxonomists move: combining genera into one (lumping) or dividing one into several (splitting).
DNA studies drove major orchid lumps: Ascocentrum and Neofinetia into Vanda, Odontoglossum into Oncidium, and Brazilian Laelia and Sophronitis into Cattleya. Splits include Guarianthe from Cattleya and Prosthechea from Encyclia. Trade names often lag behind.Natural hybrid
nothospeciesA hybrid that formed in the wild between two species growing near each other, without human help.
Natural hybrids are written with a multiplication sign: Cattleya × guatemalensis (Guarianthe aurantiaca × G. skinneri, now Guarianthe × guatemalensis). Hybrids remade artificially may be registered as grexes.Nothogenus
The name for a hybrid genus created by crossing two or more genera, such as Brassolaeliocattleya.
Bigeneric names usually combine parent names (Rhyncholaeliocattleya); hybrids of many genera traditionally took a commemorative name ending in -ara, such as Potinara. Taxonomic lumping has renamed many nothogenera; for example, most Potinaras are now Rhyncholaeliocattleya.Section
A formal subdivision of a large genus that groups closely related species.
Section names help make sense of giant genera. In Dendrobium, section Dendrobium holds the nobile types and section Spatulata the "antelope" types; in Paphiopedilum, section Barbata holds most mottled-leaf species.Species epithet
Subfamily
A major division of the orchid family. There are five orchid subfamilies.
The five are Apostasioideae, Vanilloideae, Cypripedioideae (slipper orchids), Orchidoideae (mostly terrestrial), and Epidendroideae (the largest, including most cultivated epiphytes). Names ending in -oideae indicate subfamily rank.Subtribe
Synonym
An outdated or alternative scientific name for a plant that now has a different accepted name.
Synonyms matter when buying and searching: Ascocentrum miniatum is now Vanda miniata. Registration databases often list both names.Type specimen
The original preserved plant, usually a pressed herbarium sheet, that a species name is permanently attached to.
The holotype is the single specimen designated by the author. When a name is disputed, the type decides what it refers to. Many orchid types are held at Kew and other major herbaria.Variety
var.A botanical rank below species for naturally occurring populations with distinct traits. Abbreviated var. and written in italics.
A true variety is a naturally occurring population or form, not a man-made selection. Growers often use var. loosely for color forms that are technically formae.
Hybridizing & Propagation
19 termsHow orchids are made and multiplied — from a single pod holding a million seeds to a laboratory clone.
Asymbiotic germination
Sprouting orchid seed on a sterile sugar-and-nutrient gel in a flask, instead of relying on a fungus.
Lewis Knudson demonstrated this in 1922 at Cornell, making mass orchid production possible. Knudson C is still a standard medium.Backcross
Crossing a hybrid back to one of its own parents to strengthen that parent's traits.
Backcrosses are used to fix a desired feature, such as color, size, or shape, from one parent while keeping some of the other.Deflasking
Removing young seedlings from their sterile flask and planting them out into a community pot or tray.
Wash all agar off the roots to prevent fungal growth, and acclimate seedlings in high humidity and low light for several weeks.Division
Cutting a sympodial orchid into pieces, each with several pseudobulbs and roots, to make new plants.
Keep at least three to four pseudobulbs per division, including a lead, and divide as new roots emerge. Sterilize blades between plants to avoid spreading viruses.Flask
A sterile glass or plastic container holding young orchid seedlings growing on nutrient gel.
A replate flask holds 20–50 or more seedlings transferred from the original sowing flask. Flasks are the most economical way to buy many plants of a cross.Green pod culture
Harvesting a seed pod before it ripens and sowing the immature seeds, which speeds up the process.
The inside of an unopened pod is sterile, so only the outer surface needs sterilizing. Timing varies widely by genus.Line breeding
Crossing selected plants from the same breeding line over several generations to intensify desirable traits.
Line breeding builds uniformity and quality but can reduce vigor if the gene pool is too narrow; outcrosses restore vigor.Mericlone
meristem, mcA plant grown in a lab from a tiny piece of growing tissue, making it an exact genetic copy of the original.
Georges Morel's 1960 Cymbidium meristem work launched commercial orchid cloning. Mericlones can show somaclonal variation, such as peloric or color changes. A mericlone carries the parent's clone name and any awards.Outcross
Crossing to an unrelated or genetically different plant to bring in new traits and vigor.
Outcrosses counter the loss of vigor from line breeding and are also used in species conservation to maintain genetic diversity.Pollination
Moving pollen onto a flower's stigma so seeds can form. Orchid flowers are engineered around specific pollinators.
Orchids use rewards, deception, sexual mimicry, and traps. For hand pollination, lift the pollinia with a toothpick and press them into the stigmatic cavity of the chosen seed parent. Pollinated flowers usually collapse within a day or two.Polyploidy
diploid, triploid, tetraploidHaving more than the usual two sets of chromosomes. Many prized orchids are tetraploids (four sets), with heavier, rounder flowers.
Diploids (2n) have two sets; tetraploids (4n) often have better substance and shape but slower growth; triploids (3n) are vigorous and floriferous but usually sterile. Breeders double chromosomes with colchicine or oryzalin in tissue culture.Primary hybrid
A cross between two species. It is the first step in most breeding lines.
Primary hybrids often show hybrid vigor while keeping a species-like look, and they are popular with collectors who prefer natural forms.Protocorm
The tiny green, pearl-like body that a germinating orchid seed forms before it develops its first leaf and root.
In nature, protocorms depend on fungal partners for food. In tissue culture, growers multiply protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) to produce mericlones.Remake
Repeating a registered cross, often with different or better parent plants, under the same grex name.
Because the grex covers all seedlings from the same two parent names, a remake using superior clones can produce much better seedlings than the original cross.Seed parent
pod parent, pollen parentThe plant that receives pollen and carries the seed pod. The plant that supplies pollen is the pollen parent.
By convention the seed parent is written first: Seed Parent × Pollen Parent. RHS registration records parents in this order.Seed pod
capsuleThe fruit that forms after pollination. One orchid pod can hold thousands to millions of dust-like seeds.
Capsules ripen in roughly 3 to 18 months, depending on genus. Seeds lack endosperm, which is why they need fungi or a nutrient medium to germinate.Selfing
self, selfedPollinating a flower with its own pollen or pollen from the same clone.
Selfing concentrates the parent's traits but can also reveal weak recessive traits and reduce vigor. Registered as Grex × self.Sibling cross
sib, sib crossCrossing two different plants of the same species or grex, such as two different clones of Cattleya labiata.
Sibling crosses maintain species purity while improving form. They are widely used to raise better species from seed and ease collection pressure on wild plants.Tissue culture
Growing plants from cells or tissue in sterile lab conditions. It is how mericlones and many flasks are produced.
Techniques include meristem culture, protocorm-like body proliferation, and flower-stalk node culture (common in Phalaenopsis). Lab sterility is critical; one contaminant can ruin an entire batch.
Judging & Awards
17 termsThe language of the show bench: how orchids are scored, what the letters after a name mean, and what judges look for.
AOS
American Orchid SocietyThe American Orchid Society, founded in 1921, the main US organization for orchid education, conservation, and judging.
AOS judges score plants at regional judging centers and shows, and publish awards in the AOS awards records. Award letters are written after the clone name with the suffix /AOS.Award of Distinction
ADAn AOS award given to a cross that represents a new direction in breeding.
The AD recognizes a breakthrough, not just one excellent flower. It is given once to the cross, based on the exhibited plants.Award of Merit
AMAn AOS flower-quality award for flowers scoring 80 to 89 points. It is the most frequently awarded top-tier award.
Written after the clone name, in the form Grex 'Clone Name' AM/AOS. The award belongs to that clone and passes to its divisions and mericlones.Award of Quality
AQAn AOS award to a cross when a group of its seedlings shows overall improvement over its parents.
The AQ judges a group of plants from the same grex exhibited together, and the award goes to the cross rather than to a single clone.Certificate of Botanical Recognition
CBRAn AOS award for a rare or newly introduced species shown in good condition.
The CBR recognizes botanical interest rather than beauty and is usually given to the first flowering of a species in AOS judging.Certificate of Cultural Excellence
CCEThe AOS's highest culture award, for a plant grown exceptionally well and scoring 90 to 100 points.
CCE and CCM awards go to the grower for that specific plant, not to the clone, so they do not carry to divisions.Certificate of Cultural Merit
CCMAn AOS award to the grower of a superbly grown and flowered plant scoring 80 to 89 points for culture.
Judges evaluate plant health, flower count, and presentation. Mounted plants and specimen-size plants are common CCM candidates.Certificate of Horticultural Merit
CHMAn AOS award for a well-grown, well-flowered species or natural hybrid with outstanding horticultural or educational value.
The CHM celebrates species with qualities that make them worthwhile for cultivation. It attaches to the clone.First Class Certificate
FCCThe AOS's highest flower-quality award, for flowers scoring 90 to 100 points. Rare and highly prized.
An FCC clone often becomes a cornerstone of breeding programs, and its divisions and mericlones sell at a premium.Floriferousness
How many flowers a plant produces relative to its size. A floriferous plant is heavily loaded with blooms.
Floriferousness counts toward flower-quality scoring in many genera and weighs heavily in culture awards.Highly Commended Certificate
HCCAn AOS flower-quality award for flowers scoring 75 to 79 points.
The HCC is the entry-level AOS flower award. It still identifies an above-average clone worth growing and breeding.Judges' Commendation
JCAn AOS recognition for a plant or flower with a distinctive feature judges want to note, without a point score.
A JC may highlight an unusual color, pattern, or form that falls outside standard scoring.Judging center
A regular AOS judging location where members bring plants for evaluation outside shows.
Judging centers meet monthly across the US; Florida has several active centers, as well as numerous AOS-sanctioned shows.Natural spread
NS, NSH, NSVThe width or height of a flower measured in its natural position without flattening it.
Recorded as NS (horizontal) and NSV (vertical), usually in centimeters, on AOS awards. Measurements let growers compare an awarded clone with others.Point scale
scoringThe scoring system AOS judges use to evaluate a flower, with points divided among form, color, size, substance, texture, and other traits.
Each genus or type has a point scale weighted for its features (for example, the dorsal sepal in Paphiopedilum). Scores are averaged across judges to determine an award.Substance
The thickness and firmness of flower tissue. Heavy substance means waxy, long-lasting flowers.
Substance correlates with polyploidy and flower longevity. Judges assess it by look and feel; flowers with poor substance droop and wilt quickly.Texture
The surface quality of the flower, such as glossy, velvety, or crystalline.
Crystalline or sparkling texture, seen in many Cattleyas and tetraploid Phalaenopsis, is a judging virtue.
Trade & Buying Terms
11 termsThe abbreviations and shorthand on plant tags, price lists, and vendor tables — decoded before you buy.
Bare-root
A plant shipped without pot or potting mix, with its roots exposed. Most international orchids and many Vandas travel this way.
Bare-root plants should be soaked, checked for damage, and potted or basketed promptly. Imports must arrive free of soil to meet USDA requirements.Blooming size
BS, flowering size, FSA plant mature enough to flower in its next normal blooming season.
BS usually means the plant has bloomed or is fully mature, but it is not a guarantee of flowers on arrival. Compare leaf span or pseudobulb count between vendors.CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered SpeciesThe international treaty that regulates the global trade in wild animals and plants. All orchids are covered.
Most orchids are in Appendix II, which requires export permits. Some, including all Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium species, are in Appendix I, the most restricted. Seedlings in sterile flasks are generally exempt, as are many artificially propagated hybrids.Community pot
compotA pot of many small seedlings planted together right out of the flask.
Compots are an economical way to grow a cross and let young seedlings share humidity. Separate them into individual pots once they are crowded or have two to three leaves.Import permit
USDA APHISThe US federal permit required to bring live plants, including orchids, into the country.
Plants must enter through approved ports with a phytosanitary certificate and pass USDA APHIS inspection. Rules restrict soil and certain media.In spike
IS, in bud, IBA plant with a flower spike or buds already developing when sold.
A plant in spike lets you verify the plant flowers, but buds may blast during shipping. Keep newly arrived buds in stable, bright conditions.Near blooming size
NBS, NFSA plant expected to bloom within about a year, but not yet mature.
NBS plants are a value buy and let you enjoy the first bloom yourself. Growth time to bloom varies by genus and grower.Nursery-grown
Propagated in cultivation from seed, division, or tissue culture rather than collected from the wild.
Buying nursery-grown plants supports conservation and generally gives you a healthier, better-adapted plant. Sib crosses of species are good alternatives to wild plants.Phytosanitary certificate
An official health document from the exporting country confirming plants are free of pests and disease.
Required for international plant shipments and often for movements between some US states. Missing paperwork can mean seized or destroyed plants.Seedling
A young plant grown from seed, not yet mature. Each seedling from a cross is genetically unique.
Seedlings are sold by size, from flasks and compots to near blooming size. Unbloomed seedlings can surprise you, for better or worse.Specimen plant
A large, mature plant with many growths that produces an impressive display of flowers.
Specimen plants are often grown for shows and culture awards. Avoid dividing them if you want a show plant; they take years to build.
Cultivated Genera
53 termsThe genera you'll meet on show benches and vendor tables. Genera marked Lady Vanda are the eight we grow and sell.
Aerides
Fragrant Asian orchids with long, dense, drooping sprays of waxy flowers, often called foxtail orchids.
Monopodial, subtribe Aeridinae, closely related to Vanda and Rhynchostylis. Grow bright, warm, and humid, in baskets or mounted; they thrive under Florida summer conditions.Angraecum
White, star-shaped, night-fragrant orchids from Madagascar and Africa, many with long nectar spurs.
Angraecum sesquipedale, the Star of Bethlehem orchid, inspired Darwin's famous prediction of its long-tongued moth pollinator. Monopodial; grow warm, bright, and evenly moist.Anguloa
The tulip or cradle orchids from the Andes, with fragrant, cupped flowers whose hinged lip rocks back and forth.
Subtribe Maxillariinae; closely related to Lycaste (the hybrid is Angulocaste). Deciduous or semi-deciduous with broad pleated leaves; prefers cool to intermediate conditions.Ascocentrum
Small, brilliantly colored Asian orchids, now classified in Vanda. The name survives in the trade and in older hybrid names such as Ascocenda.
DNA work published in 2012 moved Ascocentrum into Vanda; Ascocentrum miniatum is now Vanda miniata. Ascocenda hybrids are now registered as Vanda.Bletilla
Hardy Chinese ground orchids with pleated leaves and small Cattleya-like flowers. A good first garden orchid in cooler climates.
Bletilla striata is terrestrial and deciduous and is hardy into USDA zone 5. In Central Florida winters, it may not get enough chill to bloom reliably.Brassavola
Night-fragrant orchids with slender, pencil-like leaves and white spidery flowers. Brassavola nodosa is the Lady of the Night.
Subtribe Laeliinae; widely used in Cattleya-alliance hybrids for fragrance and flower count. Grows bright and dries quickly; mounts work well.Brassia
Bulbophyllum
Lady VandaOne of the largest plant genera on Earth, with tiny to bizarre flowers. Many are fly-pollinated and some smell of carrion.
About 2,000+ species, mostly tropical Asian and African with some in the Americas. Many have hinged lips that rock under an insect's weight. Most prefer warm, humid conditions with steady moisture; long-rhizome types grow best mounted or in baskets.Catasetum
Lady VandaDeciduous Neotropical orchids with separate male and female flowers. Male flowers forcibly shoot their pollen onto visiting bees.
Subtribe Catasetinae; about 180 species. Female flowers tend to form under brighter light. Grow warm and wet in summer, then dry completely after leaves drop. Pollinated by male euglossine bees collecting fragrance.Cattleya
Lady VandaThe Queen of Orchids: the classic corsage orchid, with large ruffled flowers, bold lips, and strong fragrance.
Subtribe Laeliinae. Expanded in 2008 to include Sophronitis and the Brazilian Laelias. Sympodial, grows in bright light (2,000–4,000 fc), and needs to dry between waterings. Its alliance is among the most hybridized in horticulture.Coelogyne
Asian orchids often with white, gold-lipped flowers in drooping chains. Some bloom spectacularly as large specimen plants.
Coelogyne cristata needs a cool, dry winter to bloom. Warm-growing species suit Florida better.Cymbidium
Popular Asian and Australian orchids with tall spikes of long-lasting flowers and grassy leaves. Standard types need cool nights to bloom.
Standard Cymbidiums need a pronounced fall night drop (into the 50s °F) to set spikes, which Central Florida rarely provides reliably. Warmth-tolerant hybrids with C. ensifolium or C. sinense heritage bloom better here. Cymbidium was the first orchid meristemmed commercially.Cypripedium
The hardy lady's slipper orchids of North America, Europe, and Asia, with pouch-shaped lips.
Subfamily Cypripedioideae. Terrestrial and cold-dormant; notoriously difficult to transplant from the wild and strongly protected. Most need winter chilling unsuitable for Central Florida.Dendrobium
Lady VandaA huge, varied genus from Asia to the Pacific, from cane-type florist orchids to tiny cool-growing species.
1,500+ species divided into sections with very different needs: phalaenopsis-types and antelope types (section Spatulata) grow warm year-round and are well suited to Florida; nobile-types need a cool, dry winter rest. Canes and keikis are characteristic.Dendrochilum
The chain orchids, with hundreds of tiny, often fragrant flowers on graceful, drooping chains.
Mostly from the Philippines and Borneo. Grows intermediate with even moisture, and makes spectacular specimen plants.Dendrophylax
Leafless orchids that include the legendary ghost orchid, Dendrophylax lindenii, native to South Florida swamps and Cuba.
The plant is only roots and a tiny stem; the white flowers appear to float in the air. Found in places like the Fakahatchee Strand and Corkscrew Swamp; protected by Florida state law. Wild plants must never be collected.Disa
South African terrestrial orchids growing along streams. Disa uniflora, Pride of Table Mountain, has brilliant red flowers.
Needs cool, constantly moist conditions and very low-mineral water. It is a challenge in Florida's heat.Dracula
Cloud-forest orchids with hanging, often monkey-faced flowers that bloom downward through the bottom of their baskets.
Subtribe Pleurothallidinae; related to Masdevallia. Needs cool, humid, shaded conditions year-round, which makes it one of the hardest genera to grow in Florida.Encyclia
New World orchids with round pseudobulbs and sprays of often fragrant flowers. Florida's native butterfly orchid, Encyclia tampensis, is one.
Subtribe Laeliinae. Many species formerly in Encyclia have moved to Prosthechea. Grow bright, dry between waterings, and give a drier winter.Gongora
Orchids with hanging chains of bizarre, acrobatic-looking flowers that seem to fly upside down.
Pollinated by male euglossine bees attracted to fragrance. Grow in baskets or mounted; warm and humid.Guarianthe
Central American orchids formerly in Cattleya. Guarianthe skinneri is Costa Rica's national flower.
Split from Cattleya in 2003. Bifoliate with clusters of medium-size flowers. Grow like Cattleya.Habenaria
Terrestrial orchids worldwide, many with fringed or brightly colored lips. Several are Florida natives.
Grows from tubers that go dormant after flowering; keep dry during dormancy. Habenaria rhodocheila is a popular cultivated species.Laelia
Mexican and Central American orchids related to Cattleya, many with tall spikes and lavender flowers.
The genus was narrowed after the Brazilian species moved to Cattleya in 2008. Laelia anceps and L. gouldiana are cool-tolerant and bloom after a dry, bright winter rest.Ludisia
The jewel orchid, Ludisia discolor, grown mainly for its velvety maroon leaves with gold veins.
A terrestrial from Southeast Asia that tolerates low light and home conditions. Easy to root from stem cuttings.Lycaste
Central and South American orchids with triangular, waxy flowers and broad pleated leaves.
Many are deciduous. Lycaste skinneri (now L. virginalis), whose white form is the Monja Blanca, is Guatemala's national flower. Cool to intermediate, shaded; water heavily in growth, less in rest.Masdevallia
Cool-growing cloud-forest orchids with flowers made mostly of fused sepals ending in tails.
Subtribe Pleurothallidinae; Andean. Needs cool nights, constant humidity, and moist roots. Heat-tolerant hybrids have made a few more practical in warm climates.Maxillaria
A large and varied New World genus. Maxillaria tenuifolia is famous for smelling like coconut.
Taxonomically revised and partly split in recent years. Many are easy intermediate growers that bloom singly from the base of pseudobulbs.Miltonia
Brazilian pansy orchids with flat, often patterned flowers. Warmer-growing than their Andean cousins in Miltoniopsis.
Subtribe Oncidiinae. Intermediate to warm and frequently used in hybrids with Oncidium. Keep evenly moist.Miltoniopsis
Lady VandaThe Andean pansy orchids, with large, flat, fragrant flowers often marked with a waterfall pattern.
Subtribe Oncidiinae. Intermediate to cool; needs consistent moisture and humidity, or new leaves come out pleated. In Florida, keep it shaded and as cool as possible in summer, and water often in fine, moisture-retaining mix.Neofinetia
Odontoglossum
Cool-growing Andean orchids with ruffled, heavily spotted flowers. Now classified under Oncidium, though the name endures in the trade.
Merged into Oncidium following DNA studies around 2008. Needs cool, humid conditions; hybrids with warmer Oncidiinae are more heat tolerant.Oncidium
The dancing lady orchids, with sprays of many small, often yellow-and-brown flowers. Oncidium Sharry Baby is famous for its chocolate scent.
Subtribe Oncidiinae; greatly expanded to include Odontoglossum and others. Most grow intermediate, like even moisture, and have fine roots suited to fine bark.Paphiopedilum
Lady VandaThe Asian slipper orchids, with a pouch-shaped lip and no pseudobulbs. Flowers last for weeks to months.
Subfamily Cypripedioideae. All species are on CITES Appendix I. As a rule of thumb, mottled-leaf types grow warmer and green-leaf types cooler. Grow shaded (1,000–1,500 fc) and evenly moist; many species grow on limestone.Phaius
Large terrestrial orchids with tall spikes of big flowers. Phaius tankervilleae is the nun's orchid.
Grows in rich, moisture-holding mix. A good landscape and patio orchid in Central Florida with some winter protection.Phalaenopsis
The moth orchid, the world's most popular potted orchid, with flat, long-lasting flowers on arching spikes.
Monopodial, subtribe Aeridinae. Expanded to include Doritis and Kingidium. Grows in low light (1,000–1,500 fc) and warm conditions. Spikes are triggered by days staying below about 79°F.Phragmipedium
Lady VandaThe South and Central American slipper orchids, many with long, twisting petals. They love water.
Subfamily Cypripedioideae; all species on CITES Appendix I. P. besseae (red, described 1981) and P. kovachii (large and purple, described 2002) transformed breeding. Many grow with pots standing in water; use very pure water.Pleurothallis
A large genus of mostly miniature orchids, often with tiny flowers sitting on the leaf. It gives its name to the huge subtribe Pleurothallidinae.
Heavily split in recent decades. Most like cool to intermediate, humid, shaded conditions and are never allowed to dry out.Prosthechea
New World orchids including the cockleshell orchid, Prosthechea cochleata, which holds its shell-shaped lip on top. A Florida native.
Separated from Encyclia based on DNA and structural features. Many have non-resupinate flowers. Easy intermediate to warm growers.Renanthera
The fire orchids: large, sun-loving climbers with sprays of red or orange flowers.
Monopodial, subtribe Aeridinae. Needs full sun to bloom and is often grown outdoors in South Florida. Crossed with Vanda to create Renantanda.Rhyncholaelia
Central American orchids including Rhyncholaelia digbyana, famous for its large, frilly fringed lip and night fragrance.
Formerly placed in Brassavola. R. digbyana gave its fringed lip to countless Cattleya hybrids, now registered as Rhyncholaeliocattleya (Rlc.). Grow bright and dry between waterings.Sarcochilus
Small Australian orchids with sprays of round white or pink flowers.
Monopodial lithophytes and epiphytes that prefer cool to intermediate conditions and even moisture. Summer heat is the main challenge in Florida.Sobralia
Tall, reed-like orchids with large, Cattleya-like flowers that last only a day or two each.
Terrestrial or semi-terrestrial, with no pseudobulbs; they form clumps of cane-like stems. Many species flower in successive flushes.Spathoglottis
Ground orchids with pleated leaves and near-constant purple, pink, white, or yellow flowers. Popular in Florida landscapes.
Terrestrial, from Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Grows in bright light with even moisture, in pots or garden beds with organic-rich soil.Stanhopea
Orchids whose large, strongly fragrant flowers push out through the bottom of the basket. Each flower lasts about three days.
Must be grown in open baskets. Pollinated by male euglossine bees attracted to fragrance. Warm to intermediate and humid.Tolumnia
The equitant oncidiums: miniature Caribbean twig epiphytes with fans of stiff leaves and bright, colorful flowers.
Needs fast drying, bright light, and strong air movement. Grow mounted or in tiny clay pots. Tolumnia bahamensis is a rare Florida native.Vanda
Lady VandaLady Vanda's namesake: sun-loving Asian orchids with big, flat, vividly colored flowers, including rare blues. A Thai-registered hybrid, Vanda Serena Roman, honors Lady Vanda's founder.
Monopodial, subtribe Aeridinae. Expanded to include Ascocentrum, Neofinetia, and Euanthe (Vanda sanderiana). Grows bright (3,000–4,000+ fc), warm, and humid. In Florida, grow bare-root in wooden baskets and water daily in summer.Vanilla
Climbing orchids with vine-like stems. Vanilla planifolia pods are the source of natural vanilla.
Subfamily Vanilloideae. Commercial pods are hand-pollinated, a technique developed by Edmond Albius on Réunion in 1841. Several Vanilla species are native to South Florida. Grow warm and humid with support to climb.Zygopetalum
South American orchids with fragrant, green-and-brown flowers and bold violet lips.
Mostly Brazilian. Intermediate, even moisture; strong fragrance fills a room. Leaves spot easily if water sits on them in cool weather.