20 Types Of Orchids To Use As Houseplants

While there are many native orchids in all regions of the work, those commonly grown by home gardeners tend to be tropical orchids kept as houseplants. Many species of orchids are epiphytic plants—they grow on the surface of other plants and absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. Potted orchids are often moved outdoors during the appropriate months, and many will thrive in bright shade until its time to bring them back indoors. There are two dozen or so genera of orchids commonly used as houseplants, and many dozens of species and hundreds of cultivars within those groups. Here are 20 types of orchids you might want to try as houseplants. borchee / Getty Images 

Native Area: India, China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Australia USDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 1 to 3 feet, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Indirect indoor lighting or shady outdoor location

Native Area: Central and South America, West IndiesUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: Depends on speciesSun Exposure: Bright indoor lighting or bright outdoor shade

Native Area: Central America and northern South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: Depends on speciesSun Exposure: Bright diffused indoor lighting or part-shade outdoor location

Native Area: Central and South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 3 inches to 2 feet, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Bright indoor lighting, or bright but shady outdoor location

Native Area: Mexico, Central and South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: Depends on speciesSun Exposure: Bright diffused indoor lighting, or bright shady outdoor location

Native Area: Tropical and subtropical Asia and AustraliaUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 1 to 4 feetSun Exposure: Bright diffused indoor lighting or bright shade outdoors

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Native Area: Asia, Australia, Pacific islandsUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 6 inches to 4 feet (depending on species)Sun Exposure: Bright diffused indoor lighting or part shade outdoor location

Native Area: Florida, Mexico, CaribbeanUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 3 inches to 2 feet, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Bright diffused indoor lighting or bright shade outdoor location

Native Area: Tropical and subtropical North and South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 6 inches to 6 feet, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Bright diffused indoor lighting or part shade outdoor location

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Native Area: Southern and Southeast AsiaUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 3 to 18 inchesSun Exposure: Bright diffused indoor lighting or bright shade outdoor location

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Native Area: Tropical Central and South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: Up to 18 inches, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Strong filtered indoor light or bright shade outdoor location

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Native Area: Mountainous regions from Mexico to southern BrazilUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 1 to 12 inches, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Bright filtered indoor light or part shade outdoor location

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Native Area: BrazilUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: Depends on speciesSun Exposure: Bright diffused indoor light or part shade outdoor location

Native Area: Mexico, Central and South America, West Indies USDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 6 inches to 10 feet, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Bright indoor light or a shady but bright outdoor location

Native Area: Southern China, Southeast Asia, New GuineaUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 3 to 24 inches, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Diffused indoor light or shady outdoor location

Native Area: Tropical Africa, Asia, Australia, and Pacific islandsUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 1 to 4 feet, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Bright indoor light or part shade outdoor location

Native Area: Southwest Mexico, tropical Central and South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: Up to 3 feet, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Bright indoor light or bright outdoor shade

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Native Area: Central and South America, TrinidadUSDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: Depends on speciesSun Exposure: Diffused indoor light or shady outdoor location

Native Area: East and Southeast Asia, New Guinea,USDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: 3 inches to 3 feet, depending on speciesSun Exposure: Varies depending on species

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Native Area: South America (mostly Brazil)USDA Growing Zones: NA; normally grown as a house plantHeight: Up to 2 feetSun Exposure: Bright diffused indoor light, or bright outdoor shade