20 Most Beautiful Orchids You Can Grow at Home

Orchids are the largest family of plants in the world. With more than 25,000 species, different types of orchids range in size from a few inches to a few feet tall and they come in almost every color except for black. Many orchids grow in the tropics and don’t adapt easily to life in our homes, where they need a very specific growing setup to thrive. But don’t give up on growing orchids just yet!

"Orchids look exotic so they’ve earned a reputation for being difficult," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist with Costa Farms. "But some types are sturdy and easy to grow and work well as houseplants or landscape plants." Another plus? The flowers can last for weeks!

Some types of orchids are epiphytes, growing on tree limbs or trunks and gathering moisture from the air, while other varieties grow in soil. Many orchids do best as houseplants, though a few types will grow as landscape plants. Nearly all of these stunning plants need bright light—and lots of it, though some types will tolerate medium light. When growing indoors, south and east-facing windows are best; west often are too hot, especially in the south, and orchids don’t like direct sunlight. North-facing windows are too dark. In general, many types of orchids like to dry out between waterings.

While not every orchid is considered easy to grow, there are many less fussy types that will thrive with the right conditions. Here are the most beautiful orchids you can try growing at home, indoors or out.