A writer narrates, “When two friends understand each other, the words are soft and strong like an orchid’s perfume.” About 25 to 30 thousand colored orchids occur in nature. They better fit your homes and gardens, with all qualities everyone desires.
Some fantastic colors are rare in the Orchidaceous family, like black and blue. Thus, horticulturists and botanists created some vibrant hybrids using the coloring technique. A the wide-colored orchid variety shows red, pink, yellow, white, blue, black, and green blooms.
1. Red Orchids
Everyone knows that red means affection, bravery, power, and desires. In that context, red orchids represent some pure sentiments. People celebrate Valentine’s with lovely red flowers worldwide. Now forget old-fashioned red roses and decorate your table with captivating red orchids.
Flowers of red orchids show lighter to darker shades from base to tips. Usually, their margins are flashier and bold than the central parts. Red orchids healthily grow in USDA zones ranging from 5 to 11.
Howeara Lava Burst
This orchid is now called “Leomesezia Lava Burst.” It propagates within the USDA of 11 in the wild tropics of Florida, Idaho, and Texas. It is an annual and epiphytic orchid that can reach a height of 12 to 30 cm in diameter. Howeara is very sensitive and likes shaded areas for growth and development.
Regular watering after intervals is mandatory for this orchid, but too much water can be fatal for plant life. Medium to deep red shaded blooms appear several times a year. Therefore, these showy, bold flowers are a good fit with outdoor and indoor dim lights.
Howeara Lava Burst
2. Cattleya Chia Lin “New City”
Cattleya orchids are gaining popularity due to their outstanding title “King of Orchids” and “Red Dragon.” Cattleya Chia lin prefers warm to cool tropical and subtropical places for its fuller growth. This captivative droopy-style plant is the resultant hybrid of Cattleya, Brassavola, Leila, and Epidendrum.
It gives rise to light green foliages on upright stems and 20 cm long deep red magnificent flowers. Red dragon shows late blooms after 2 to 3 years in spring and winter. Cattleya orchids compel the passer-by to be fascinated by their sweet and sour floral fragrances. They thrive best in greenhouses like frost-free places. Hardiness zones for Cattleya’s new city must be between 7 to 8.
Cattleya Chia Lin “New City”
3. Miltoniopsis Memoria Maurice
Due to its resemblance with pancy, the other famous name of Miltoniopsis is “Pancy Orchid.” Cool low-temperature habitats favor its growth. Nonetheless, its neighboring orchid Miltonia is a warm grower. Thus, the best USDA hardiness zones can be 7a to 9b. The Miltoniopsis is a hybridized vibrant orchid that stands out because of its spherical cascade shape.
The orchid plant body spreads horizontally 10 to 12 inches comprising two large pseudobulbs. 3 to 4 inches wide berry red blooms appear from each large pseudobulb in spring and fall. 5 large globose, silky, and scented flowers continue to emerge for about two months.
Miltoniopsis Memoria Maurice
4. Pink Orchids
Pink orchids come in rosy pink, violet-pink, and salmon. Pink signifies pleasure, womanhood, mommyhood, and care. Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis orchids are well-known and iconic pink orchids. This pink beauty can accentuate any dull corner and patio with robust, lively, showy blooms.
Phalaenopsis schilleriana (Moth Orchids)
P. schilleriana is the maternal parent of many hybrid orchids such as ‘Jiaho’s pink lady.’ These Phalaenopsis orchids thrive in 1500 feet high tropical rainforest of the Philippines and Australia. It is evergreen, epiphytic, and big broader, with dwarf trailing stems reaching 35 inches tall. None other than two-toned deep green elliptical leaves appear with a greyish-silver exterior and purplish spotted interior.
Thus, stylish leaves alone can create dramatic scenery effects even without flowers indoors. Moth orchids continue to grow the long deep root system to withstand the drought. It produces drooping bunches of 4 inches broad bright rosy fragrant 8 to 10 flowers in spring. The most suitable hardiness zones for moth orchids are 10 and 12.
Phalaenopsis schilleriana
5. Dendrobium nobile (Noble Rock Orchid)
Dendrobium orchids propagate freely in the deciduous forests of the Himalayas of China, Indochina, and Hawaii. It is gaining fame as a terrific indoor ornamental and shows an estimated height of 12 inches. Dendrobium nobile consists of 50.5 cm long pseudobulbs and 3 inches light green ovoid and wedge-shaped leaves.
Noble rock gives shiny, leathery flowers with light sweet fragrances from December to March. 7 cm wide purplish-pink flowers with crimson base and creamy outlines. Dendrobium orchids continue to produce about 100 flowers for seven weeks within USDA zones of 11b.
Dendrobium nobile
6. Yellow Orchids
Yellow orchids are the most common and easy to get plants in the orchid family. Yellow means a new fresh beginning, cheerfulness, and hopefulness. Thus, it is wise to send yellow orchids are an excellent way to build a new relationship with someone.
Dancing orchids are popularly known as Oncidium in South Central United States and Florida. This Cymbidium species is a warm to cool sympodial epiphyte that grows up to 36 cm in diameter. Oncidium sweet sugar appears dancing due to its fanciful flowers consisting of ballet skirts like labellum and mahogany corsets.
Oncidesa sweet sugar (Dancing Orchids)
Dancing orchids have two close 9 cm long and 3 cm wide pseudobulbs. Two delicate flowering stems with two small, dark green leaves and three basal leaves arise from pseudobulbs. Upper leaves are 36 cm long and 3 cm wide, while stalks form numerous 3 cm small yellowish blooms in winter. Gorgeous bright yellow flowers scatter light aroma in the gardens throughout the day.
Oncidium sweet sugar
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7. Cymbidium iridioides
C. iridioides loves to grow on rocks and trees in the thick forests of Himalayan regions, including India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Burma. This sizeable cold grower forms elliptical sunken pseudobulbs in the lap of permanent vertically arranged leaf bases. 3 to 6 medium green, spear-shaped, 5 to 11 cm long leaves arise from the side of pseudobulbs.
These Cymbidium orchids show 1 to 3 feet long and 8 to 10 wide flowers from September to December. Flowers of Cymbidium iridioides are yellowish-green, disc-shaped, and aromatic.
Cymbidium iridioides
8. Purple Orchids
Purple color expresses respect, appreciation, and regality; thus goes the same with purple orchids. Lavander-purplish orchids remind us of Victorians’ fondness and a special love for them. Royal members always keep purple flowers representing their class, power, and riches. As the name implies, Dendrobium Queen Victoria’s is one of the most sought-after orchids in the royal plant’s collection.
Dendrobium Queen Victoria’s
Don’t you want to make some connection with royal things? D. Queen Victoria’s is the most demanding ravishing orchid that thrives on mossy trees in the Philippines highlands. This a small to medium-sized perennial plant grows up to 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide. It consists of clumps of large arching bulbs or tubers that later give rise to deciduous leaves and flowers.
12 cm long arrow like leaves are of two types: small sharp acute leaves and long accumulate leaves. Queen victoria induces a crown of lavender purple 2 to 3 cm long tapering flowers from January to April. Suitable hardiness for dendrobium orchids must be between 10a to 11b.
Dendrobium Queen Victoria’s
9. Vanda Robert Delight
Tropical forests of South Asia are rich in epiphytic Vanda Robert delight. This fragile perennial orchids can hardly withstand temperate climates. These striking purple spherical to fan-shaped and 2 feet tall plants have no pseudobulbs.
Vandas can knock out any corner with their 2 to 3 inches long and 9 cm wide purplish-magenta flowers. The flowering period ends at eight weeks, and severe direct sunlight can burn these sensitive orchids. So, it will be best to keep them inside in summer. Suitable USDA hardiness zones are 11.
Vanda Robert Delight
10. White Orchids
Nature shows the rarity of true white as these wildflowers appear with different contrasting colors. These orchids symbolize faithfulness, decency, purity, safety, and innocence. White orchids are must-have decorative flowers used in Christian weddings and holy places. P. amabilis, D. albosanguineum and C. schroederae are world-recognized white orchids.
Phalaenopsis amabilis (Moon Orchids)
P. amabilis is formerly called the lovely orchid of the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, and New Briski. This average-sized warm grower is a national orchid of Indonesia, but it is becoming endangered in Australia. These Phalaenopsis orchids thrive either on the tree trunks or inside the crevices of rocks near rivers and oceans.
Moon orchids have tiny, rigid 11 inches long arching stems comprising thick deep green ovaliform leaves and gray roots. Leaves are 30 to 50 cm long and 10 cm long and oppositely arranged on stems. While the greenish-gray 1 to 2 inches broad roots emerge from the sides of vertical stems.
Three-lobed rounded about 10 cm wide white flowers are long-lasting and fragrant. It displays a long bloom show for several weeks, from spring to summer. Princess of Wales conservatory is famous for Phalaenopsis amabilis.
Phalaenopsis amabilis
11. Cattleya schroederae (Easter Orchids)
These warm to cool average-sized Cattleya orchids thrive wildly in the savanna forests of Columbia. It grows on trees and rocks and comprises yellowish-green furrowed pseudobulbs. It has similar to “Cattleya trianaei,” with some differences due to pseudobulb and flower shape and size.
The leaf is single, apical, and ellipsoidal to spherical. C. schroederae produces 23 cm long flowers with pinkish-yellow lips and claw-like white margins. Easter orchids look angelic with their sweet fragrant white flowers in spring.
Cattleya schroederae
12. Blue Orchids
True blue orchids are rare in nature, and the blue orchids you see are human-created hybrids. There are a few natural orchids with different blue shades, from sky blue to deep blue. Only Phalaenopsis Aphrodite royal blue is the rarest natural blue orchid worldwide. Blue orchids are extremely soul-striking and create cooling effects wherever they plant.
Vanda coerulea (Blue Vanda)
Vanda coerulea is a naturally occurring orchid of China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bhutan. This perfect blue epiphyte shows 10 to 60 inches of medium to significant growth with a thick dark green stem. Leaves are velvety glossy and evergreen, about 4 to 10 inches long in diameter. Blue Vanda presents elegance and can dominate the gardens with its large 2cm long and 12 cm wide royal-blue blooms. It loves partial shade within USDA zones of 12 to 13.
Vanda coerulea
13. Phalaenopsis Aphrodite Royal Blue
Phalaenopsis aphrodite blue orchid comes from tropical rainforests of South Asia. It prefers warm to moderate climates for its epiphytic growth and reaches the height of 25 inches. It appears like a normal-sized arty-farty bright orchid that gives rise to five bottle-green luminous leaves with violet undersides.
Leaves of blue Phalaenopsis orchids are ovate, 15 inches long and 4 inches wide, that grow in a crisscross pattern. Roots are green, fleshy, threadlike, and surrounded by white protective covers. A large clump of fan-shaped blue orchid flowers is the chief interest of orchid enthusiasts.
Phalaenopsis aphrodite Royal Blue
14. Orange Orchids
Many orchid species like Brassada orange delight, Epidendrum orchids, and Cattleya Young-Min Orange Golden are orchid cultivars’ favorites. Large leathery orange orchids can be cheering partners when attached to any expedition. They indicate pleasure, success, brightness, bravery, productivity, and gratification.
Brassada Orange Delight (Spider Orchids)
Spider orchids are warm to cool growers of subtropical regions of Southeast-Central America. Two genera, Brassia and Ada, are responsible for creating Brassada orange delight. It is a small to large erect epiphytic plant that shows about 1-foot height in diameter.
Ellipsoidal to globular pseudobulbs give rise to 1 to 3 hanger-shaped green leaves. They induce bizarre spider like 9 cm broad showy, fragrant orange flowers with brown patches in winter.
Brassada Orange Delight
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15. Epidendrum Orchids
Epidendrum is a low-nutrient requiring orchid of warm climatic regions like Mexico. It likes to grow up to 1 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide separately at a distance from trees. These are large-sized perfect outdoor orchids for beginners; thus, it would not be wise to grow inside.
Some species of Epidendrum produce pseudobulbs that give rise to leathery, deep green oval leaves. Epidendrum orchids show clumps of large, showy orange flowers from spring to summer. These ultra-caring plants are hard to look after at home. Thus, the greenhouses within the USDA zones of 11 best fit them.
Epidendrum Orchid FlowerGirl
16. Black Orchids
Like blue orchids, nature shows the rarity of black orchids—the Dark shades of flowers like purple, magenta, and maroon look black from a distance. Black means great power, elegance, secrecy, and unpleasant emotions. Many superstitions attach black flowers to malicious activities like black magic.
Maxillaria schunkeana
Maxillaria schunkeana is a short-sized, hot to cool thriving epiphyte of the humid coastal forest of Brazil. Careful observation reveals the dark purplish-red color of the flowers. Yet, botanists place M. schunkeana in black orchids due to their black appearance from distances.
It consists of oblong to globular pseudobulbs wrapped by temporary protective covers that bear two green apical bilateral leaves. Around I.5 cm wide glossy black-looking flowers arise from pseudobulbs from summer to fall. The flowering period lasts after4 to 5 weeks.
Maxillaria schunkeana
17. Cymbidium canaliculatum (Tiger Boat-Lip Orchid)
Tiger boat-lip is a widespread black orchid particularly thriving in the Queensland and New South Wales of Western Australia. Cymbidium canaliculatum is hot to cool grower that reaches large-sized dense clumps.
Pseudobulbs are 10 to 12 cm long, upright, and grey-green elliptic surrounded by many transparent deciduous sheaths. Leaves of boat orchids are robust, channeled, and yellowish-green, about 50 cm long and 4 cm wide. Star-shaped blackish many flowers are 20 to 50 cm long and 40 cm wide. These Cymbidium orchids display aromatic pendulous blooms in spring.
Cymbidium canaliculatum
18. Green Orchids
It’s not easy to distinguish green orchids as they make people fool with their leafy green appearance. They are light lemon-shaded flowering plants growing up around you freely. Sending green flowers to your family and friends means wishing them good luck.
Other meanings of green color are health, vitality, blessings, and originality. Japanese consider green orchids to be the cause of good fortune and thus frequently use them in their homes and offices.
Lycaste aromatica
This lime-green orchid is familiar with its other name, “Sweet Scented Lycaste.” It appears to dominate the tropical semi-deciduous forests of Latin America. It grows up to 1 foot high with the oval, swollen, and sunken pseudobulbs as an epiphytic. Many spear-shaped green leaves arise from the pseudobulbs that fall away soon. Lycaste aromatica continues to produce Three inches of broad green cinnamon-scented flowers from spring to summer.
Lycaste aromatica
19. Cypripedium calceolus (Lady’s Slipper)
It is famous for its primitive name, “Cypripedium parviflorum.” and is a European plant.
Lady’s slipper loves to propagate on limestone rocks in coniferous and deciduous forests. These annual flowering plants show rhizomatic growth and reach a height of 50 to 60 cm in diameter.
2 to 4 bottle green crimped leaves are oblong alternating about 16 cm long and 9 cm wide in diameter. Lady’s slipper displays three-petalled green showy and 3 inches long flowers from March to June.
Cypripedium calceolus
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make colored orchids?
The flowers lack some beautiful bold colors like blue and black, so cultivars paint flowers in colors that are rare in nature. The coloring procedures can be fatal to orchids if the proper care is not taken in this regard. Two methods are prevalent for creating orchid hybrids, and for that, cultivars prefer to use white flowers.
First is a DIY homegrown method that involves dipping the white flowers in colored water to change their color. When flowers get the desired color, immediately take them out of colored water. Now spread these dyed flowers on a muslin cloth for 72 hours to dry them completely.
Second is the injection method in which a liquid paint or dye is injected into flowers through the holes on the stems.
The colors of paints to dye the orchids can be natural or synthetic. Horticulturists always recommend the use of natural floral paints to create colored orchids. Floral paints are healthy for plant growth and protect them from damage.
How do you take care of colored orchids?
Biologists suggest that conservatories like greenhouses provide all-natural ideal conditions for colored orchids. Colored orchid flowers need utmost care because they cannot survive if the climatic conditions are not ideal.
- Colored orchids are sensitive and prefer particular temperatures for their healthy growth. Thus, the temperatures from 22 to 25 C in the daytime and 15 C at night are perfect
- Wet and dry, constant watering and humus-rich all-purpose soils are best for colored orchids. They show excellent results in soils that dry out very quickly
- Extrafloral paints sometimes cause over-moistening that leads to pest and fungal infections. Therefore, to avoid such a situation, humidity must be between 65 to 80 %
Which colored orchids are a sign of good luck?
People relate mystic and variously colored orchids to different symbols and stories. Some cultures have strong beliefs about these plants, but this is unrealistic and stereotyped. Nevertheless, it is a world trend that colorful flowers are a source of expressing one’s feelings and thoughts to loved ones.
Similarly, the green orchid is one of the stunning and eye-catching ornaments which symbolizes good luck, goodwill, good health, and nature. These meanings are due to the green color, as every color represents unique meanings. Japanese love to grow green orchids in their homes, offices, and universities because of their excellent symbols.
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