Easy way to identify orchids?

[Evangeline Bourne]

Is there an easy way to tell appart the different types of orchids? Like Phals have big rounded leaves etc?

[kmarch]

Evangeline,

Once you learn the characteristics of the different families of orchids you can usually tell which family an orchid belongs to even if it isn't in flower. It's almost impossible to tell though specifically what species or hybrid a plant is when not in flower. There are exceptions naturally, for example Phal schilleriana has a Phal plant habit but has mottled leaves distinguishing it from other phals.

There's a thread on this forum which shows the pseudobulbs or several different genera. Take a look at it and see of you find it to be the sort fo info you're looking for. Of course there are all sorts of orchids that do not have pseudobulbs so it won't help you with those.

[Tobi]

A friend of mine has a book titled "Orchids to Know and Grow" by Thomas J. Sheehan,
Robert J. Black and Marion R. Sheehan that she like because it gives good information
on identifying, classifying, and cultivating orchids. It gives descriptions and pics of the
more commonly grown orchid genera.

[made4engineering]

Only after you have spent enough months obsessing over them.

[nita cabangis]

I have several orchids too and have no knowledge what kind and names they are. It would make me feel a lot better to know them.

[kmarch]

nita, you can post pics of your plants and we can at least tell you what families they are in, possibly the genus. In many cases, especially with untagged hybriuds, a more specific ID is impossible. Nonetheless, we'll do what we can.