There are over 300,000 different kinds of orchids, and many of them originated in tropical locales. But a few of them originated in high and cold areas.  Orchids are exotic outdoor plants that can be grown as houseplants if you know how to take care of them properly. They need lots of light, humidity and temperature changes that most homes do not normally have.

  Many of these orchids are air plants. Their roots need air and moisture to breathe, grow and live longer. But they cannot handle too much water. They can die if they are in water too long. Therefore, you should use a pot that provides water draining. The plant should look and feel dry before you water it again. When you place an orchid in a pot, use bark, coconut chips or stones because they provide air circulation to the roots. To make sure your orchid is healthy, always check it, looking for limp leaves. If you find any, take the orchid out of its pot and check its roots. Cut the rotting roots before placing the orchid into a new, clean and fresh pot. Try to keep the orchid moist but do not give it too much water or let it get soggy.

  A healthy orchid has yellow-green leaves. If the leaves are too yellow, the orchid is receiving too much sunlight and should be removed to a place that has less sunlight. If the leaves are a deep green color, the orchid needs more light and should be placed in an area with a lot of sunlight. But remember to make light changes gradually, or the orchid can get sun damage if it gets too much light right away. Furthermore, a foliage with a red tone means the orchid has received the most amount of light to give it this nice color tone.

  Fertilizer is important for the health of the orchid, on top of the usual amount of water, air and sunlight it needs. The fertilizer should have the needed trace minerals. To find the right fertilizer, look for a balanced formula, such as a 16-16-16 formula. It is recommended to use a low concentration formula on a regular basis, and use one half to one fourth of the required strength. Feed orchids once a week, but remember to water it before give the orchid its formula in order to make sure it is not dry. It is not good to feed a dry orchid.

  Constantly check your plants for pests. Make sure your orchids are healthy because pests go to the dying or messed up plants first. If you notice any pests, just pick it off and throw it away from your plant. If there are many pests on your orchids, consider using a 70% rubbing alcohol and soap water mixture. This pest control mixture is natural and nontoxic; and, therefore, it can be used inside the home that has pets and young children.

  Whatever needed changes you make to your plant, make sure you also provide a balance with the other necessities for the plant. If the temperature or sunlight changes, the air circulation, water and fertilizer should be changed accordingly, as well. For example, during the evening when it is dark and cool, the water and fertilizer should be decreased, as well, to accommodate the orchid’s needs from daytime to nighttime weather changes.

  The following are some orchids to consider:

• Cymbidium need direct sunlight. But, if they are grown inland, they need to be in a shaded area because it can get very hot during the summertime. They can live in 100 degrees, but as long as they are in a shaded area with more humidity and air circulation. They can also live temporarily in 28 degrees during the wintertime. The drop in nighttime temperature during the autumn season is good for this type of orchid. But they need lots of water during springtime and summertime so they don’t become dry. Water drainage is very important for the cymbidium.
• Masdevallia, Odonotoglossum, and Lycaste originated from tropical areas that are in high and cool altitudes with lots of humidity. They grow best in coastal areas or inland areas that have cool temperature. They cannot handle 80-degrees weather for a long period of time, but they can handle 30 degrees during the nighttime. They need more moisture and air during the summertime.
• Vanda originated from tropical areas. They need a lot of light, humidity and fertilizer. They grow better in warm weather temperatures; but, if the temperature is below 45 degrees, black spots will appear on their leaves. Although these black spots are harmless, they are not attractive. So, it is better to keep this type of orchid indoors, in a warm area, when the weather outside is very cold.
• Cattleya group includes Cattleya, Laelia, Sophronitis and Brassavola. Laelias originated from the mountains as well as the northern part of Mexico. They need a lot of light, some moisture, and a temperature variation from 30 degrees to 90 degrees. It tends to grow better outside. The Sophronitis grows well in the cold weather. They can grow indoors and outdoors, and they need a lot of light. But, still, some of this type of orchid needs to grow in warm areas.
• Oncidium, Epidendrum and Dendrobium need a lot of light, but they don’t need much work. Make sure the plant is dry before you water it again. Therefore, it doesn’t need to be watered on a daily basis. They grow better in a mild temperature between 60 to 80 degrees, but different varieties of this type of orchid can tolerate different weather temperatures. For example, Nobile, a type of Dendrobium, tolerates weather temperature in the 30s, but this plant must be kept dry during such cold temperature. On the other hand, Phalaenopsis, another type of Dendrobium, cannot tolerate weather temperatures lower than 60 degrees.
• Paphiopedilums come in a variety and each have different needs. If the leaves have a solid green color, this type grows better in cool and shaded areas with a little bit of fertilizer. If the leaves are a light green color, this type grows better in warm climates and needs a lot of light. But, both of these types need a lot of moisture.

  If you need more information about a certain orchid, check for the plant label on that particular orchid. Then, Internet surf or browse in book stores in order to seek more information about that particular orchid. It is recommended to learn more about the origins of the orchid in order to make sure it will have a healthy and long life. Orchids are tolerant plants, and can easily adjust to different environments if you take the necessary precautions to accommodate them as needed. It is also helpful to ask the experts at the store how they were taking care of the plant and where they had these plants. Some orchids are grown outdoors while others are grown in greenhouses. Furthermore, join a local orchid society meeting or orchid garden show to learn more how to better take care of your orchids. Skim a newspaper or Internet surf to check out such websites as http://fascinationoforchids.com/clubs.html and http://orchidcentral.net in order to look for orchid groups in your area.