Cattleyas are easy to grow

Hawaiian orchid plants are not for amateurs. They need more attention than your average house plants, but they are not difficult to care for if you want to enjoy their incomparable beauty. You may not know that, in spite of their reputation as delicate, most orchids are very tough and easy to keep healthy. The major reason most orchids die in homes is overwatering. Orchids need only about one-half cup of purified water a week.

Cattleyas are just about the easiest orchids to grow, so they're good ones to start with. If you live in Hawaii or Florida, you can grow Cattleyas outdoors. If you don't happen to live in a tropical paradise, you can still grow Cattleyas in your home as long as you pay attention to the levels of light and humidity. Sunny windows are good. If your Cattleyas are getting enough light, their leaves will be olive rather than bright green. If you wonder how you could control the humidity in your home, try putting a small tray of water under the plants, but don't let the tray touch the orchid's pot. If you love orchids, get yourself a Cattleya and give growing a try!