Many different types of orchids can be grown to perfection indoors

It is not rocket science, it is not difficult, but it is different from typical houseplant culture. While most houseplants do come from tropical regions, just like orchids, they are for the most part terrestrial. Orchids, by in large, are epiphytic, requiring a more precise duplication of their natural environment for success. The average conditions inside your home are NOT particularly similar to those natural environments save for the absence of freezing weather. Therefore, a certain amount of effort must be expended in coming up with creative solutions to improving the conditions around your indoor orchid plants if they are to prosper for you. This doesn’t necessarily mean a big investment in materials and equipment – there are many low tech options that will suit your orchids just fine, and we will explore some of these in this discussion.

What orchids are suited for indoor culture?

There ARE limitations as to which kinds of orchids will do well with any growing situation, be it indoors, a greenhouse or outdoors. Tropical orchids come from many different climate niches, some are easy to duplicate within the confines of your home, while others are nearly impossible. (For sake of this presentation/discussion we will deal with home culture in the specific climate of the Southeast USA.)

The one factor that above all else governs which orchids will do well inside the home is temperature. We control the temperature in our homes to be comfortable for US, and aren’t likely to make drastic changes for the sake of our orchids outside the range that suits people. Luckily, there are many orchids which adapt very well to the 65 to 80 degree range that most of us keep our houses. But two groups are NOT the best choices: Cool growers – come from higher altitudes in the tropics and are MUST have temps in the 50’s at night and not over the 70’s during the day to perform well over the long term. High warmth growers – that come from near sea level in the deep tropics, often need more warmth than we are comfortable with and higher light levels that we can provide in the home.