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Buying an orchid: how to pick a healthy one, and which to choose

By the Grove Plant Care team · Updated November 12, 2026

Pick the orchid that suits your window first, then pick the healthiest plant of that kind. At the store, look for firm, clean leaves with no pests, roots that grip the potting mix, and a flower spike with some buds still closed. For a first orchid, the moth orchid is the safe choice: it's the one in most grocery stores, and it fits an ordinary east window. On our care rating it scores Moderate, 5 of 10, and only the jewel orchid scores lower. Once it reblooms, the table below shows which orchid to try next for your light and your watering habits.

Which orchids are the most forgiving?

Our care rating adds up five scores from 0 (easiest) to 2 (hardest): how well a plant handles missed waterings, how flexible it is about light, how much humidity it needs, how often pests and disease show up, and how much it minds change, like a move or a draft. No orchid we've rated scores Easy. Orchids need different care from most houseplants, so even the forgiving ones pick up a point here and there.

Which orchids are the most forgiving?
OrchidCare ratingWhat makes it easierWhat to watch
Jewel orchid (Ludisia)Easy to moderate, 4 of 10Happy in shade, and adapts to ordinary home conditionsKeep it evenly moist. It's grown for its velvety leaves more than its flowers
Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis)Moderate, 5 of 10Bright indirect light from an east window; the plant itself is forgivingBuds drop with drafts, moves or temperature swings; rot if water sits in the crown
CattleyaModerate, 5 of 10Should dry out completely between waterings, so it forgives forgettingNeeds high light and won't bloom without it
Dancing lady (Oncidium)Moderate, 5 of 10Pseudobulbs store waterFussy about hard water and pots that are too big
ZygopetalumModerate, 5 of 10No source flags moves, drafts or repotting as a problemKeep the mix slightly moist all year
Spider orchid (Brassia)Moderate, 5 of 10Rarely gets sickPrefers a snug pot and repotting only every 2 to 3 years
Slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum)Moderate, 6 of 10Gentle light, and repotting is fineHas no pseudobulbs, so the mix should never dry out
DendrobiumModerate, 6 of 10Lets the mix almost dry between wateringsNeeds about twice a moth orchid's light
CymbidiumChallenging, 7 of 10Takes cool rooms and summers outdoorsDrops buds in a warm room; needs strong light
VandaChallenging, 8 of 10Loves a sunroomNeeds 65 to 80% humidity and water as often as daily in summer
MiltoniopsisChallenging, 8 of 10Soft, bright lightNever let it dry out; hard water and heat brown its tips
MasdevalliaChallenging, 8 of 10Grows well under lightsNeeds 60 to 90% humidity; heat and salty tap water are its usual killers

Why does the moth orchid, the orchid every source calls the easiest, land on Moderate? It scores a 1 on each of the five factors and a 0 on none. That's an honest middle: it isn't fussy about anything in particular, and it isn't carefree either. The sources' verdicts are on our orchid care guide.

Going deeper

Our method checks every computed rating against the maintenance level a trusted source publishes. For the moth orchid, NC State lists Medium on its page for the wild species Phalaenopsis schilleriana, which matches Moderate. NC State rates Cattleya and Dendrobium higher, at High maintenance, mainly because both need a lot of light. Our rating sits one step below that, which our method allows. If your brightest window is ordinary, read those two as harder than their number. The vanilla orchid also rates Moderate, 5 of 10, but its card warns that it takes years to flower and grows into a long vine, so it rarely suits a first purchase.

How do I pick a healthy orchid at the store?

  1. Decide where it will live. Chicago Botanic Garden says to start with your light, space and schedule: a Cattleya wants bright sun, where a moth orchid may struggle. Make sure the plant has a tag, or label it yourself as soon as you get home.
  2. Check the leaves, top and underside. The American Orchid Society looks for clean, firm, medium green leaves with no blemishes and no pests. Chicago Botanic Garden adds that pits or holes often mean scale or mealybugs, whose young are hard to see, and that yellowing or spots can come from poor growing conditions or a virus. A virus can't be cured and can spread to your other orchids, so pass on a spotted plant.
  3. Look at the roots. The AOS checks that roots are growing into the potting mix and that the plant is in proportion to its pot. On a moth orchid, healthy roots look silvery when dry and green when wet, according to University of Maryland Extension. A few roots climbing out of the pot are normal, as our root guide explains.
  4. Look at the base. On orchids with pseudobulbs, the swollen stems should look plump (Chicago Botanic Garden). New leaves or green root tips are a good sign: next year's flowers grow from this year's new growth.
  5. Count the buds. The AOS says to buy a plant with some buds still closed, and never one with flowers open all the way to the tip of the spike, because you can't tell how long those flowers have already been open. Open flowers should look glossy and spot free, held above the leaves on a strong spike.
  6. Buy a plant big enough to bloom. Clemson Extension notes that seedlings can take up to five years to flower. A plant in bloom, or about to bloom, shows you the flower you're getting, which Chicago Botanic Garden recommends for beginners.
  7. Look at the seller, too. The AOS judges a seller by how clean and orderly it is, how healthy its other plants look, and whether the staff can answer basic questions.

Don't panic if your new orchid skips a bloom next year. Chicago Botanic Garden says the move from a greenhouse to a home can do that. Buying a rare species? Our rare orchids guide explains how to make sure it was grown in a nursery.

What orchids are sold at the grocery store?

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The moth orchid is the orchid sold in most grocery stores and garden centers. The Desert Botanical Garden says most store orchids are moth orchids grown in sphagnum moss, which holds more water than the plant needs. That's why the first watering at home is the riskiest one: feel the moss before you add any water. Our watering guide shows how to tell when it's dry.

Blue orchids look striking, but the color doesn't last. Iowa State Extension explains that blue isn't a natural orchid color: the plants are white moth orchids, with a food-grade dye injected into the base of the flower spike. The flowers stay blue until they fall, and the next ones open white. Colorado State Extension agrees that moth orchids come in every color except blue and true red. A dyed plant can still be a healthy one, so check it the same way. The orchid myths page has the full story.

A tag that just says "orchid" usually means a moth orchid. If you want to be sure, our orchid types guide shows how to tell from the leaves.

Which orchid should I try next?

Once your moth orchid has bloomed again, you know how you water and what your window gives. That's enough to choose the next one. These matches come from each orchid's care card:

Which orchid should I try next?
Your spot or habitTryWhy
An east windowSlipper orchid, dancing ladyGentle light suits both; the slipper orchid's card calls it a good second orchid
A north or east window, or a terrariumJewel orchidHappy in shade and humid air
Your brightest south or west windowCattleya, DendrobiumBoth need high light to flower
A cool, bright room or sunroomCymbidium, ZygopetalumBoth do well in cooler rooms, and the Cymbidium needs cool nights to flower
You water oftenSlipper orchid, ZygopetalumBoth like a mix that stays slightly moist
You forget to waterCattleyaIt should dry out completely between waterings
You water lightlyDancing ladyIt rots when watered "just in case"
A humid sunroom or greenhouseVanda, spider orchidBoth want bright, moist air

Want flowers that smell? The Zygopetalum and dancing lady cards both list fragrance among their strengths.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it better to buy an orchid in bloom?

For a first orchid, yes. Chicago Botanic Garden says a plant in bloom, or close to it, shows you the flower you're getting. The AOS adds one condition: some buds should still be closed.

Should I repot an orchid right after I buy it?

Usually not while it's flowering. The Desert Botanical Garden repots store orchids right after they finish blooming, to get them out of wet moss. Our gift orchid guide covers the first week, and our repotting guide covers the move.

Which of these orchids are safe for cats and dogs?

The ASPCA lists the moth orchid, the jewel orchid (under its old name, Haemaria discolor) and Masdevallia as non-toxic, along with a few named Cattleya species. The rest aren't rated. Our orchid care guide has the full list. If a pet eats part of a plant and seems unwell, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Where is the best place to buy an orchid?

Any seller whose plants look healthy and clean, as the AOS puts it. A garden center, an orchid nursery and a grocery store can all sell a good moth orchid. For rare species, our rare orchids guide explains which sellers to trust.

Sources

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