Gift Plants
Blooming orchids make wonderful holiday gifts, and smart shoppers start by checking out these buying tips. Even after you’ve picked the right orchid, however, you may have a problem. Some people are terrified of orchids. I’ve seen an orchid gift provoke such fear in a friend’s eyes that it made me wonder if he would have preferred a poisonous snake instead. I told him to relax; orchids aren’t so scary. Most orchids sold today are tough, modern hybrids, and you just need to know a few basics:
- When you water, water thoroughly, and then let the water drain completely from the pot. Never allow the pot to sit in water for an extended time, or the roots will rot, and the plant will die.
- Always provide high humidity for your orchid.
- Light, watering frequency, temperatures, fertilizer, and dormancy depend on what kind of orchid it is. (Here’s where your giftee hopes you bought a plant with a name tag, or at least know its orchid family.)
- After the flowers are gone, if you want to keep the plant and try to make it bloom again, it’ll need bright light and good basic care. Phals and Paphs are great for low light conditions common in homes and offices. Other varieties, like Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, Oncidiums, and Vandas, will need some direct sun to bloom again.
- Check out AboutOrchids for lots of helpful info, FAQ, and great photos.
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December 17th, 2010 at 11:05 am
great post, thanks for sharing
December 17th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
That’s So COOL…who knew ?
They are not so tough to grow and they make excellent gifts.
I can never have enough orchids an d my friends know that I will not be afraid!
December 18th, 2010 at 5:10 am
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!
February 3rd, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Awesome informative post. Thanks for helpful article.