Learn about easy-to-grow Orchid Varieties that Thrive Indoors and brighten your home without much care or effort.
There are over 28,000 types of orchids in the Orchidaceae family growing all around the world. But only about 24 types are easy to grow indoors as houseplants. These orchids come in a variety of colors, including white, orange, and purple.
Once you learn how to care for orchids at home, you might love them so much that you’ll want to grow even more—maybe even in a greenhouse! If you’re just starting out, consider growing beginner-friendly orchids like Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Dendrobium, and Cymbidium.
Keep reading to learn about different types of orchids you can grow as houseplants.
Orchid Varieties that Thrive Indoors
1. Ascocenda Orchids
Ascocenda orchids are a mix of Vanda and Ascocentrum orchids. This small plant has bright, jewel-like flowers and grows upward on one main stem. It’s easy to grow indoors.
2. Aerangis Orchids
Like most tropical orchids, Aerangis orchids need the right care to grow well. They like fresh air, plenty of sunlight, and lots of moisture in the air. Regular feeding helps them produce better blooms.
3. Brassavola Orchids
Brassavola orchids have white or light green flowers with thin petals. They smell very sweet, especially at night when their fragrance fills the air. Moths help pollinate these flowers.
There are at least 20 types of Brassavola orchids. One of the easiest to grow is B. nodosa, also known as the ‘Lady of the Night.’ It’s great for beginners.
4. Catasetum Orchid
Catasetum orchids are known for their unique, waxy flowers. The plant can grow either male or female flowers, and they look very different from each other. The male flowers have a special trigger that shoots pollen onto bees when they visit. This orchid naturally loses its leaves in winter when it rests.
5. Brassia Orchids
Brassia orchids are often called spider orchids because their long, thin sepals look like spider legs. They grow best in warm places with very high humidity. Their flowers can be spotted, bright orange, red, or other bold colors.
6. Encyclia Orchids
Encyclia orchids, also known as cockleshell orchids, grow best when attached to an orchid mount, just like they do in nature. Some people say this orchid looks like an octopus because of its hanging petals and sepals. It has no scent, but it can bloom for several months in a row.
7. Cymbidium Orchids
Cymbidium orchids, also called boat orchids, grow many flower spikes, giving you lots of beautiful blooms. Some good options for beginners are the lime green ‘Chica’, the yellow and red ‘Showoff’, and the bright pink ‘Frae’. All of these have won awards from the American Orchid Society.
8. Cattleya Orchids
Cattleya orchids have been mixed and bred in many ways, creating lots of colors and shapes. Some have pretty freckles, streaks, or two-color patterns. Many Cattleyas have a lovely scent, and they are the most popular orchids used in corsages.
9. Dendrobium Orchids
Dendrobium orchids often grow heavy flowers that need support with a stake. There are over 2,000 types of Dendrobium orchids, so they come in many forms. The most common ones have white, yellow, or purple flowers.
10. Laelia Orchids
Laelia orchids are very popular and are often mixed with other orchid types. They usually bloom in autumn or winter, after their growing season ends. The two most common kinds, L. rubescens and L. anceps, grow flower spikes that are 1 to 3 feet tall. Their flowers are usually white or light lavender.
