Orchid Care

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.