Orchid mycorrhizas are mutualistic interactions between fungi and members of the Orchidaceae, the world’s largest plant family. The majority of the world’s orchids are photosynthetic, but a small number of species are myco-heterotrophic throughout their lifetime. Recent research has shown that a third orchid nutritional mode exists called mixotrophy whereby green orchids supplement their photosynthetic carbon fixation with fungal derived carbon. Molecular identification studies of orchid associated fungi worldwide have extended the range of fungal phyla that can be important orchid mycobionts, shown continuity in orchid fungal taxa between the world’s regions and indicated that orchids are often specific in their fungal interactions. Recent advances in orchid conservation have included new methods to store orchid associated fungi, new approaches to store and germinate seed and more efficient techniques for horticultural growth and transplantation of orchid species. There are two directions where the field of orchid mycorrhizal research may be heading. Further gene expression studies of orchid mycorrhizas will help us fully understand the establishment and maintenance of the interaction. They will also provide insights into other mycorrhizal associations such as AM and ECM symbioses as well as pathogenic plant interactions. More effective methods for conserving threatened species will include confirming the mycorrhizal status of molecular identified orchid mycobionts through seed germination studies and determining suitable horticultural growth and transplantation methods for difficult to grow orchid species. Continued research will shed further light onto these intriguing mycorrhizal associations.