Cymbidiums need high light intensity, but cool temperatures to bloom. They are rather attractive plants with grassy foliage and tall, arching sprays of long-lasting waxy flowers in subdued colors. Cattleya types tolerate a wide range of conditions, preferring medium to high light intensity and intermediate temperatures. They are the most widely grown type and the one most growers start with. Numerous species and hybrids are available, with flowers in a range of sizes and colors, some of which are delightfully fragrant.
Dendrobiums vary considerably in size and how the flowers are produced.
Some types have erect or arching sprays of flowers, while others bear clusters of flowers at the nodes along the stalks. Some are deciduous, losing their leaves after the first year. The different types require slightly different conditions, but most do well under the conditions for Cattleya s. But don't feel a need to stick to these suggestions if something else has captured your fancy. My first orchid was an Oncidium splendidum that my husband gave me for Valentine's Day over ten years ago.