Orchid Genera
Those keen to start cultivating your own , a guide to the genera of the Family: Orchidaceae.
For convenience, the orchids have been grouped together into
categories that will help novice growers.
These categories are:
- Terrestrial Orchids
- Cool Growing Epiphytes
- Intermediate to Hot Growing Epiphytes
- Australian Native Terrestrial Orchids
These Orchids grow naturally in the ground and are often found in forested areas where they occur in light of various intensity, raging from nearly shade to filtered or full sun for part of the day.
- Calanthe
- Ludisia
- Paphiopedilum
- Spathoglottis
Although they can withstand the occasional hot days, these Orchids generally dislike excessively high temperatures and mainly prefer cooler conditions. Brief spells lower than 5 deg. C are tolerated but long periods can cause damage.
Keep protected from Frost. Generally difficult to grow in areas with a hot tropical climate.
- Cattleya
- Cymbidium
- Oncidium
- Zygopetalum
Intermediate-growing orchids can tolerate short spellls down to 10-12 deg. C., but they grow best with a minimum temperature of 15-20 deg C. and can tolerate even highter temperatures without setback. They are the easiest orchids to grow in areas with a hot tropical climate.
- Brassia
- Bulbophyllum & Cirrhopetalum
- Epidendrum
- Dendrobium & Durabaculum
- Miltonia
- Phalaenopsis
- Vanda
Collection from the wild is illegal, but plants are available from specialist nurseries. These orchids are generally regarded as being very difficult to grow because their survival relies on an annual infection by a suitable mycorrhizal fungus.
- Diuris
- Diplodium
- Arachnorchis & Caladenia
- Thelymitra
- Calanthe
- Cirrhopetalum
- Stanhopea
- Maxillaria
- Chysis
- Coelogyne
- Dracula