How to Grow Species and Botanical Orchids

Species are those orchids found in nature which are unique unto themselves. “Botanicals” is a general term referring to species and hybrids not widely used commercially for cut flowers. The following is a general culture chart indicating the ideal growing conditions of many botanicals, however, many will adapt to conditions somewhat outside the ideal.

Light Requirements
B: Bright light requirements (4000-5000 foot candles); indoors in a Southern or Western exposure.
M: Moderate light requirements (1500-4000 foot candles); indoors in a Southern, Western, or Eastern exposure.
S: Semi-shady light (500-1500 foot candles); indoor exposure by varying the distance between the plant and window.

Temperature Preference
W: Indicates a preference for “warm” temperatures: Day temperatures 80-85 F, night temperatures 65-70F.
I: Indicates a preference for “intermediate” temperatures: Day temperatures 70-80F, night temperatures 55-65F.
C: Indicates a preference for “cool” temperatures: Day temperatures 65-70F, night temperatures 50-55F.

Watering
1. Keep continually moist below the surface of the media
2. Allow to dry out below the surface between waterings.

Light Temp. Water Light Temp. Water
Adaglossum S C 1 Gomesa (Gom.) M I 2
Aeranthes (Aerth.) B W 1 Goodalcara (Gdlra.) M I 2
Aliccara (Alera.) M I-C 2 Grammangis M W 2
Angraeccum (Angem.) M W 1 Haemaria S W 1
Angulocaste (Angest.) M I-C 1 Helcia S I 2
Ansellia (Asilla.) B W 2 Kagawara (Kgw.) B I-W 1
Ascocenda (Aseda.) B I-W 1 Kingiella (King.) S I 1
Ascocentrum (Asetm.) B I-W 1 Laelia B I 2
Ascofinetia (Asef.) B I-W 1 Lagerara (Lgra.) M I-C 1
Aspasia (Asp.) M I 2 Leprotes (Lpt.) B I 2
Aspasium (Aspsm.) M I 2 Lycaste (Lyc.) S I-C 1
Aspoglossum (Aspgm.) M I-C 1 Maclellanara (Melna.) M I-C 2
Batemannia (Btmna.) M I 2 Masdevallia (Masd.) S C 1
Beallara (Bllra.) M I 1 Maxillaria (Max.) M I-C 1
Bifrenaria (Bif.) M I 2 Milpasta (Mpsa.) M I 1
Brapasia (Brap.) M I 2 Miltonioda (Mtda) S C 1
Brassavola (B.) B I 2 Nakamotoara (Nak.) B I-W 1
Brassia (Brs.) M I 2 Nanodes M I 1
Brassoepidendrum (Bepi.) B I 2 Neofineria (Neof.) B I 1
Brassolaelia (Bl.) B I 2 Odontobrassia (Odbrs.) S I 2
Broughtonia (Bro.) B I 2 Onciderria (Oncrra.) M I 2
Carasetum (Ctsm.) M I 1 Pescoranthes (Psnth.) S C 1
Cattleytonia (Ctna.) B I 2 Renantanda (Rntda.) B I-W 1
Christieara (Chtra.) B I-W 1 Renanthopsis (Rnthps.) M I 1
Chysis M I 2 Rhynchostylis (Rhy.) B I-W 1
Coelogyne (Coel.) M W 2 Rhynchovanda (Rhv.) B I 1
Degarmoara (Dgmra.) M I-C 1 Rodriglossum (Rdgm.) M I 1
Dendrobium (Den.) B I-W 2 Rodriquezia (Rdza.) M I 2
Dendrochilum S I 1 Rossioglossum g M I-C 1
Devercuxara (Dvra.) M I-W 1 Schombocattleya (Smbc.) B I 2
Dialaelia (Dial.) M I 2 Sophronitis (Soph.) S C 1
Dorthera (Dtha.) M I-W 1 Trichocidium (Trcdm.) M I 2
Eastonara (Eas.) B I-W 1 Trichopilea (Trpla.) M I 1
Epicattleya Epc.) B I 2 Vanda (V.) B 1 1
Epidendrum (Ept.) B I 2 Vandaenopsis (Vdnps.) M I-W 1
Epilaelia (Epl.) B I 2 Vanilla B I 1
Forgetara (Fgtra.) M I 2 Zygopetalum (Z.) M I-C 1