Orchids are arguably the most eccentric plants on the planet — a family of roughly 28,000 species spanning every continent except Antarctica, with flowers shaped like bees, swans, ballerinas and, in one case, a monkey's face. They cling to tree trunks in cloud forests, root themselves in rocky crevices, and somehow also thrive on a Sandton windowsill if you treat them right.
This guide covers the three things South Africans actually ask about orchids: how to keep one alive once it's through the front door, which variety to choose, and whether they make a sensible gift. If you're here to send an orchid rather than grow one, the three picks further down are all delivered nationwide via our wider flowers and plants range.
Why Orchids Are So Eccentric
Most of the world's roughly 28,000 orchid species are epiphytes — they grow clinging to tree bark, rocks or moss-covered branches rather than in soil. Their aerial roots are coated in a spongy tissue called velamen that pulls moisture straight out of humid air. The rest are terrestrial (rooted in the ground) or, in a few odd cases, lithophytic (rooted in stone).
The flowers themselves follow a strict three-three pattern: three sepals on the outside, three petals on the inside, with one petal modified into a landing-pad called the labellum. The labellum is what makes orchids look so theatrical — it mimics female bees, lures in moths with rotting-meat smells, or simply forms a vivid runway that pollinators can't resist. Colours run white, pink, red, yellow, green, purple and the famously fake-looking blue.
The Main Orchid Varieties You'll See in South Africa
Three genera dominate the SA nursery and florist trade. If you're buying one as a gift or for the lounge windowsill, it'll almost certainly be one of these.
Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid)
The most popular orchid in the country, and the variety almost every florist sells. Phalaenopsis are the long-lasting, low-maintenance option — a single flower spike will hold its blooms for two to three months, sometimes longer if the room is cool. They prefer warm temperatures (18–25°C), filtered light and a watering rhythm of roughly once a week. The blue phalaenopsis you sometimes see is artificially dyed; the colour fades to white at the next flowering, which catches first-time buyers out.
Cymbidium (Boat Orchid)
Larger plants with strappy leaves and tall spikes carrying anywhere from a dozen to thirty flowers. Cymbidiums are the cool-climate orchid — they actively need a cold winter night to trigger flowering, which makes them well-suited to Johannesburg and the Western Cape highveld but harder work in coastal KZN. They flower in winter and early spring, which is exactly when most other indoor plants are sulking.
Vanda
The flashy one — Vandas often hang from baskets with bare roots dangling in the air, and Vanda coerulea is the true blue orchid (not dyed). They need bright light, high humidity and warm temperatures, which makes them a Durban and Lowveld favourite rather than a Highveld one. Less forgiving than a phalaenopsis, but the colours are worth the extra work.
How to Care for an Orchid as a Gift Recipient
If you've just been given an orchid (or you're sending one and want to slip a care card in with it), the rules are blissfully short. Most orchid deaths come down to overwatering, not neglect.
Light: bright, indirect — a north or east-facing window behind a sheer curtain is ideal. Direct midday sun will scorch the leaves; a dark corner will stop the next flower spike forming.
Water: once a week is the rough rule, but feel the pot first. If it's still heavy, wait. The classic method is to lift the plant out, sit it in a basin with 2–3 cm of water for 15 minutes, then drain it fully and put it back. Never leave it standing in water — root rot kills more orchids than anything else.
Humidity: 50–60% is the sweet spot. In dry Highveld winters, mist the leaves every other day or sit the pot on a tray of pebbles and water (the pot stays above the waterline, the evaporation does the rest).
Feed: a balanced orchid fertiliser at quarter strength every second watering during the growing season (spring and summer). Skip feeding in winter.
After flowering: don't throw it away. Once the last bloom drops, cut the spike back to the second visible node from the base — many phalaenopsis will push a second spike from there within a few months.
Are Orchids a Good Gift?
For the right recipient, yes — and for a few specific reasons. An orchid lasts months rather than the week a bouquet manages, which puts it ahead of cut flowers for any occasion where longevity matters (sympathy, recovery, a thank-you to someone who has done a lot of work for you). They photograph beautifully, they take up almost no space, and the recipient gets a small ongoing project rather than a thing to throw out.
The flip side: an orchid is a slightly more demanding gift than a hamper or a bouquet. If the recipient is famously bad with plants or about to travel for three weeks, send chocolates and a card instead. For everyone else — particularly anyone who already has one orchid on a windowsill — they land harder than almost any other plant gift.
Three Orchid Gifts We'd Send
1. Midi Phalaenopsis Orchid in a Ceramic Cup
A compact phalaenopsis in a glazed ceramic cup — the gift to send when you want something that looks considered but doesn't need a thirty-minute conversation about plant care. The cup doubles as a planter long after the flowers are done, which is half the appeal.
2. Double Mini Orchids in a Moss Basket
Two mini phalaenopsis plants nested into a moss-lined basket — the kind of arrangement that reads as a real thoughtful gesture rather than a quick florist pickup. Works particularly well as a sympathy or recovery gift where flowers feel too brief.
3. Phalaenopsis Orchid Duo
Two full-size phalaenopsis spikes in a single planter — the statement orchid gift, suited to an anniversary, a milestone birthday or a thank-you that needs a bit of presence. Holds its blooms for two to three months in a cool room.
Orchid FAQs
How do you care for an orchid?
Bright indirect light, a weekly soak (only when the pot feels light), 50–60% humidity and an orchid fertiliser at quarter strength every second watering in spring and summer. The single biggest killer is overwatering — when in doubt, wait another two days. Drain the plant fully after every water, and never leave it sitting in a saucer of water.
Which orchid varieties last the longest?
Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) hold their blooms the longest of the common varieties — two to three months per spike, occasionally longer in a cool room. Cymbidium spikes last roughly six to eight weeks but carry many more flowers per spike. Vandas are the most demanding and the showiest, but their individual flowers last about a month.
Are orchids a good gift?
Yes — for most adult recipients, an orchid lands harder than a bouquet because it lasts two to three months rather than a week. They suit anniversaries, thank-yous, sympathy and recovery gifts particularly well. Skip them only if the recipient is famously bad with plants or about to travel for an extended period.
Why did my orchid stop flowering?
Almost always one of three reasons: not enough light (move it to a brighter window with filtered sun), no temperature drop overnight (orchids need a 5–8°C dip between day and night to trigger a new spike), or the old spike was cut wrong. Cut a spent spike back to the second visible node from the base — a new spike often pushes from there within a few months.
Can I send an orchid for delivery in South Africa?
Yes — NetFlorist delivers orchids nationally with same-day delivery available in most cities when ordered before the morning cut-off. Plants travel well because they're already in a pot, so they arrive in better shape than a bouquet would after the same journey. Add a care card so the recipient knows the once-a-week watering rule.
Final Thoughts
Orchids are eccentric, long-lasting and — once you've learned the once-a-week-soak rhythm — far easier to keep than their reputation suggests. As a gift they punch well above their weight, lasting months rather than days and giving the recipient a small ongoing project. Browse the full plants range for more options, or pair an orchid with a card from our personalised gifts section for an extra touch.
