Orchids are beleived to be the second largest family of flowering plants, this shows how diverse it is and how much choice and varation you can have.

When one of my friends came to stay with me a couple of years ago she bought me a potted orchid as a present, much the same pinky colour as in the picture. It was lovely to look at, but I was a bit concerned - no matter how hard I try, I seem to kill off every plant I look at - they just wither and die! I'm not sure why as my parents can grow pretty much anything without any effort... You name it, I've done it: windswept, browning, leaves curling up, leaves going wrinkly, leaves falling off, brown skeletons, accidental freezing to death - I've done it. I could make a fortune as a foliage assassin. So I wasn't convinced this orchid would last ...  Read the complete review

I am very much a novice but so far either my three orchids are easy to look after or I have had beginners luck. Two were gifts, a Cymbidium and a Phalaenopsis, the other, an Odontoglossum, was a half price bargain after Mothers Day in B&Q, looking decidedly sad with a dead flower. I shall keep an eye open now after such festive events for similar bargains; as full price orchids tend to be silly prices at £12 plus. I have a good basic book on orchid care and the following may be useful advise for other novices like me. In summary: almost all orchids need humidity all year round; some need a reduced temperature at night; most need maximum light all year round and ...  Read the complete review

Orchids only for the rich,!!! I dont think so,several are very easy to grow. As with children they need good light protect from too much sun,cool nights are good,keep water'd in summer & stand outside during the summer & feed only during the summer.As children need feeding all year round I suppose this makes the Orchid easier to raise & certainly a lot cheaper... The easy types are Cattleya the Corsage Orchid,, the Sipper Orchid, though to me this is quite ugly its the one we all know & then there is the Coelogyne very beautiful & good for beginners. All well worth a try, I find that far from being a problem they get quite big & ...  Read the complete review