Orchids make great
gifts for any occasion, whether it be for a birthday, anniversary, to say "thank you", or even to show your condolence for sympathy. There are two
popular varieties of orchids for displaying your emotion – a Dendrobium orchid
and Phalaenopsis orchid. These two are commonly sold throughout the U.S. due to
their wide availability and popular demand.
Whether you are given an orchid, or dabbling in thought of growing your own orchids and becoming an
orchid enthusiast, there are three main components to caring for your orchids
(excluding air flow around the roots due to the humidity of the orchid’s
climate).
Proper watering is
key to maintaining a healthy, lively plant. Since Nevada is a very dry state
(average of 7” of rainfall a year…), your watering schedule will be a little
more frequent. This is usually once a month at minimum, but this completely
depends on the moisture level of the soil. Orchids are customarily planted in a
very porous soil with bark and moss. This allows for water to not sit in the plant due to the fast
drainage. Over-saturation causes loss of roots which results in the plant not
being able to absorb the proper amount of nutrients. You want the orchid to completely dry out
between watering. To tell when the plant needs water, insert your finger into
the potting medium to feel if it is dry. You do want to water the orchid
plentifully, but definitely prevent it from sitting
in water.
Fertilization is another component to sustaining healthy
orchid plants. You can find fertilizers that are specifically made for orchids
that contain the right amount of constituents to help it thrive. Fertilization
is key to help the plant stay healthy and produce fit and more frequent blooms.
Lastly, the amount of light that is provided to the orchid determines
the frequency in which it will bloom – the more the light, the more frequently
it will bloom and vice versa. Light also helps regulate the strength and
abundance of the orchid blooms. With this being said, direct sunlight can
“burn” the plant, so be sure to place the orchid in a highly lighted area out
of direct, full sun.
Sparks Florist (and
others in our similar climate) use many other types of cut orchid stems in
arrangements, including, Oncidiums, Cymbidiums, Vanda, and the monster Cattleya
orchid. Discover the wide varieties of
orchids here: http://www.orchid-care-tips.com/types-of-orchids.html
Orchids are often used in a variety of
tropical style arrangements as well as Ikebana high style arrangements. See how
Sparks Florist uses orchids HERE. 