The 9 Best Orchids to Give as Gifts this Year
Orchids make beautiful and thoughtful gifts, but some can be very laborious to maintain. Orchid enthusiast Melissa Strauss shares some types of orchids that make great gifts for everyone, from novice to expert.

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Plant lovers are easy to shop for—we love plants! When it comes to the best houseplant gifts, dazzling orchids stand out in a sea of pretty foliage. Their beautiful and long-lasting blooms are the main draw to these tropical wonders, but they can be a bit fussy to the inexperienced grower.
While orchids as a whole tend to carry the ‘high maintenance’ label, some are really quite easy to care for. Others may require a greenhouse environment if your loved one doesn’t live in a tropical climate. If you’re not familiar with these plants, it’s difficult to decide which one to give.
We’ve done some leg work to help you make this all-important decision. Here are nine different types of orchids that make great gifts. I’ll tell you what level of care they need and whether they are beginner-friendly.
Moth

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botanical name Phalaenopsis spp. |
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sun requirements Bright indirect light |
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height 1’-3’ |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
Moth orchids, or phalaenopsis, are the easiest type to care for inside the home and one of the best gifts for beginners. They are common to see for sale in just about any place that sells orchids and some that don’t! Their long stems and rounded blooms have become a mascot for the Orchidaceae family.
These are low-maintenance and have strong, sturdy roots that are more resistant to root rot than most others. They also thrive in less-than-optimal light conditions. Medium to bright indirect light is the best exposure for them. Your friend won’t find it complicated getting this one to repeat bloom. Often, it happens with no effort at all!
Most orchids need a significant amount of humidity in their environment. This one is happy at about 50%, but doesn’t mind if you give it a little more. In general, this is easy to achieve in the home. Their flowers are large and eye-catching, and they bloom for a long time.
Dendrobium

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botanical name Dendrobium spp. |
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sun requirements Bright indirect light |
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height 6”-4’ |
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hardiness zones 9-12 |
Dendrobiums are a little harder to find, but they are still fairly common at nurseries and other specialty retailers. You might not find this at the supermarket, but someone in town probably carries them. They are easygoing and fast growers, so there is a lot of satisfaction in cultivating them.
Give a dendrobium slightly more sun than a phalaenopsis. These will tolerate a brief period of direct sun early in the day but need protection from the harsh afternoon light. They tolerate humidity in the range of 50-70%, so they are perfect for a well-lit bathroom.
This genus has a wide range of habits; some of them are evergreen, and some are deciduous. This is an unusual trait for an orchid, so make sure you find out whether the variety you gift will lose its leaves in the winter. That can be unnerving if you’re not expecting it. Otherwise, these are good for beginners.
Dancing-Lady

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botanical name Oncidium spp. |
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sun requirements Bright indirect light |
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height 6”-10’ |
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hardiness zones 9-12 |
You’ll find most dancing ladies, or oncidiums, in bloom in late fall. Just in time for gift-giving! The most important distinction to make when purchasing this orchid as a gift is the size of its roots. Those with thicker roots will be easier to care for. Thinner, delicate roots are less forgiving and more susceptible to root rot.
Their common name comes from the shape of their labellum, which is the specialized petal designed to act as a landing pad for pollinators. Dancing ladies have a large, frilly labellum that resembles a twirling skirt. These have higher light tolerance and require a few hours of direct exposure in the morning, if possible. Indirect light is better in the afternoon.
Oncidiums are flexible about humidity and will tolerate levels down to 40%, which makes their care easier. They are happy with higher levels, but it’s not imperative. These are good for beginners and those with little experience, especially those who are ready to move up from a phalaenopsis.
Corsage

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botanical name Cattleya spp. |
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sun requirements Bright indirect light |
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height Up to 3’+ |
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hardiness zones 10-12 |
Corsage orchids get their common name from their common use, which is floristry. Their large, sturdy, and often fragrant flowers make a stunning corsage. Cattleyas are sturdy and tolerant of heat and light. Some direct exposure is good for this one if you’re trying to get it to re-bloom.
These prefer moderate humidity. They will tolerate 45% as long as they are getting enough moisture to their roots, but they will be happier closer to 60%. I keep mine outdoors during the warm months and bring them indoors in the winter.
Cattleyas don’t like stagnant air, so if you’re keeping the humidity high, make sure the air circulation matches. In the fall, they like a temperature dip at night into the 50s and 60s (~10-16°C) for a couple of weeks. This causes them to set buds.
Jewel

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botanical name Ludisia discolor |
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sun requirements Bright indirect light |
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height 4”-2’ |
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hardiness zones 11-12 |
Jewel, or ludisia, orchids are a bit more complicated. They have gorgeous foliage, which is what most folks grow them for. Their flowers are attractive but not flashy. I would rate these as moderately high maintenance, but for the experienced collector, this is a rarer type that is more difficult to find.
The most important factor in caring for a jewel is moisture. They need a lot of it. They grow best in peat moss and like higher humidity. They make wonderful terrarium plants and also prefer warm temperatures.
These are similar to phalaenopsis when it comes to light. They are happiest in medium indirect light but are more tolerant of low light than most. Offer some filtered sun if you want to induce flowering. They will thrive in lower light but are unlikely to bloom.
Reed

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botanical name Epidendrum spp. |
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sun requirements Bright indirect light |
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height 3-5′ |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
Reed orchids, or epidendrums, are low-maintenance orchids that are great gifts for beginners. They tolerate some direct exposure, and they are also more tolerant of overwatering. Let the soil dry in between, and you won’t end up with root rot. Make sure to avoid direct sunlight in the afternoon.
Epidendrums are less common, but many specialty stores will carry them. Due to the flexibility of their stems, they ship well, so don’t hesitate to mail-order this one. They need at least 40% humidity, but they prefer to be in the range of 50-80%. This can be difficult to achieve in arid climates, and orchids, in general, don’t grow well in these climates.
Lady of the Night

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botanical name Brassavola nodosa |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 1’-2’ |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
If you have an orchid lover that you’d like to splurge on but aren’t sure of their expertise, a lady of the night, or brassavola, is perfect. If they can care for a phalaenopsis, this one will fall right in line.
These are harder to find and more costly, but they’re kind of an anomaly. They are easy to tend to and plentiful in their native range. Their exotic flowers come in shades of white, green, and pale yellow. There is not a huge range of varieties, but they are one of the more fragrant orchids overall.
Brassavolas are happy in a wide range of lighting conditions. They are happiest with full sun or bright, filtered light all day. They are more drought tolerant than most orchids, so you can let them dry between waterings.
Boat

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botanical name Cymbidium spp. |
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sun requirements Bright indirect light |
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height 1’-4’ |
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hardiness zones 10-12 |
Boat orchids, or cymbidiums, are great cut flowers with their waxy, substantial blooms. They are popular in floristry for their long vase life. Depending on the species, they are epiphytic (grow on trees), lithophytic (grow from rocks), or terrestrial (grow from soil). Make sure you identify which type you are purchasing, as this will influence care.
You may find one at the local nursery. Cymbidiums are easy to care for and make great houseplants. I highly recommend a cymbidium for the beginner, as they are flexible and sturdy.
Boat orchids prefer humidity between 40% and 60%, which is easy to achieve in the home. They are water lovers, so they’re more resistant to root rot. In cool areas, they will even tolerate full exposure, but some shade is preferable.
Zygopetalum

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botanical name Zygopetalum spp. |
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sun requirements Bright indirect light |
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height 4”-2’ |
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hardiness zones 9-10 |
A zygopetalum is a wonderful gift for the intermediate orchid cultivator. Once considered difficult to find, they have become more popular and prevalent in recent years. This is due, in part, to their easy-going nature and exotic appearance.
Zygopetalum prefers bright, filtered light with little to no direct exposure. They are perfectly content with room temperature and tolerate humidity in the range of 40-60%. Depending on where you live, these could be available locally. If not, they aren’t hard to find at online retailers.