Even beginners can successfully grow orchids if they take the time to learn about the differences between the major families of these wonderful plants, as well as their different needs.
Orchids originate within a tremendous variety of environments which differ from one another in many respects. As a result, you will find that some species produce their flowers early in spring, others in summer and yet others during the dull days of winter. Their respective times of beginning their seasonal growth also vary, but for convenience you may rest all of your orchids in the winter. Most of them will start pushing up shoots as soon as the days begin to lengthen and the earth begins warming.
When your orchids are in their growing periods, you should treat them differently with respect to heat, according to their native origins. The East Indian orchids need a good amount of heat. Inside, maintain the air temperature around them at 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 70 degrees at day. Outdoors they will thrive at up to 75 degrees in the early spring, and temperatures as high as 85 or even 90 are acceptable during the high summer months. Just be sure to shade the plants from the direct rays of the sun at these times.
East Indian-type orchids therefore must be well supplied with moisture from the air that surrounds them. Make sure they are misted frequently! You can also splash water over the paths and tables in your greenhouse or other growing area. A nice, moist, rising heat will be produced this way. Be sure and do it every day.
Brazilian orchids come from a cooler climate one that is not so highly saturated with moisture. These, natrually, need both less heat and less moisture, but they do require warmth during the peak growing time. Mexican orchids are similar. They should be artificially heated to about 60 degrees by night and from 65 to 70 by day early in the season. As the days lengthen, temps may be allowed to increase. During approximately May through August the night heat may range between 65 and 70 and
by day from 70 to 85.
There are also the cool orchids, so called. These should be kept in a separate area from other orchids, if you can. These plants come from places such as Ecuador and Peru, where they grow high on mountainsides. These must be grown at somewhat cooler temps. You might experiment with, say, 45 to 55 degrees in winter and from 50 to 65 in summer. However you grow them, you must ensure that they are shaded from the sun most of the time. The cool orchids not only will not thrive in too much heat, they will often die!
There are many other groupings and subgroupings of these plants, too many to cover them in this short post. If you want to learn more, the best and most thorough guide to modern orchid growing, hands down, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded on the web. There are many books on the subject of orchids, but Mr. Howard's guide is a complete education in itself, suitable for beginners as well as the more experienced. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of postings on many aspects of orchids.