Can Orchids Live in the Desert?

Temperatures

• Desert orchids grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, from Nevada to Texas, with lower extremes from zero to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. In the desert regions of this area, the climate averages high temperatures over 86 degrees Fahrenheit between 121 and 210 days per year.

Hardy Varieties

• With the extreme temperature ranges common to the southwestern deserts, any orchid that makes its home there needs to efficiently seek out and store a reliable water source. Varieties such as stream orchid (Epipactis gigantea), sparse-flowered bog orchid (Plantanthera sparsiflora), Sierra bog orchid (Platanthera dilatata), summer coral root (Corallorhiza maculata), Ute lady’s tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis), Ash meadows lady's tresses (Spiranthes infernalis) and hooded lady's tresses (Spiranthes romanzoff) grow in the deserts of southern Nevada. Eulophia petersii, cowhorn orchid (Cytopodium punctatum) and rattail orchid (Oncidium cebolleta) grow in other southwestern desert areas as succulent outdoor plants.

Growing Conditions

• In the parched desert regions, orchids will pop up near any natural water source such as streams, creeks or springs, or in rock crevices and faces where moisture collects. Some varieties will grow in the desert soil, but some do better grown as a succulent in a well-draining cactus mix and light shade. So if you are looking to grow orchids at home in a desert region, check the requirements of your particular variety. Hardy desert orchid varieties prosper for months without water during the winter -- in fact, watering the plants before they flower and put forth new growth can inhibit flowering. However, if they are grown in a pot where natural water sources are not available, you will need to water it whenever the planting medium dries out, about once every two weeks during the growing season. Your orchid plants should be brought indoors during the winter for protection from nighttime temperatures lower than 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Growth Habit

• Flowering and new growth starts during the dry spring. Depending on the variety you may see leaf development during the rainy season that will quickly fall off when the weather dries up, such as the cowhorn orchid, which also tends to flower only every other year in home gardening settings, does. Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society recommend dividing and repotting bulbs in late spring "after flowering and when new growths are several inches tall." They further advise that three-bulb divisions generally flower the following year. Some varieties, such as Eulophia petersii attract birds that see the showy blooms as food, so you may need to protect your orchids during the flowering season.