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Archive for July, 2010

Wedding Orchids

Posted in Wedding Flowers | July 6th, 2010 | Comments Off

Possibly the most important thing about a wedding is the wedding flowers.  They not only add visual interest to the day but they add elegance and a statement about the couple depending on the kind of flowers that are chosen for the day.  One of the most popular wedding flowers is the orchid.  They come in so many different varieties and colors that any couple can find exactly what they are looking for their special day.
Orchids can be used in a wedding in several ways.  One way is in the bouquet.  There are two things in particular that make the orchid a perfect flower for a wedding bouquet; color and scent.  A huge aspect to picking the right flower for the bouquet is the color of the flower.  Most wedding bouquets feature a white or close to white colored flower.  The other aspect of the bouquet is the scent.  Since these flowers will be held close to one’s nose, a strong scented flower might be out of the question.  Plus many people suffer from allergies creating a difficult situation when holding fresh flowers so close to one’s nose.  Many people do not know that flowers have meanings and stand for different things.  For instance, roses embody love.  Lilacs and daisies stand for innocence.  Blue hydrangeas stand for loyalty and friendship.  The flowers that are picked for a wedding send a message.  Orchids stand for beauty.  That is something that every bride and groom want their wedding to stand for.  Beauty goes beyond looks; it can further accentuate the beauty of one’s life, their relationship and the tradition and ceremonies themselves.  With so many beautiful things about a wedding, orchids are a wonderful choice for a flower.

Another way that orchids can be used in a wedding is in the centerpieces in the middle of the table.  While some of the concerns regarding allergies and strong scents should be taken into consideration when choosing the right flower for the centerpieces, there are several reasons why orchids would make the perfect flower in these arrangements.  Orchids are tough as nails.  Although they are sensitive to cold and may bruise or drop blooms with rough handling especially if you are going to have them shipped in, they are however resistant to moisture loss and heat.  For someone that is having a summer wedding that is great news.  Plus, orchids are available year round depending upon their variety.  Another thing that makes orchids great for centerpieces is their height.  Some types of orchids grow very tall making the centerpiece truly the center of attention.

Plus, orchids can be bought in bulk.  This means that you are able to cut costs and go right to the source of the growers rather then paying for all the times that the flowers have to change hands.  If you are planning on doing things yourself and incorporating orchids into not only the bouquets and the centerpieces but other aspects of the decorating, then buying orchids in bulk is definitely the way to go.

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Orchid Types

Posted in Orchids Care | July 6th, 2010 | Comments Off

Although there are many, many different species and hybrids of orchids, there are actually only two different types of orchids.  One type of orchid is the terrestrial orchids which are species that grow on the ground.  And the other type of orchid is the epiphytes orchids which grow in trees, rocks or on poles.

Terrestrial orchid species are some of the most popular orchids.  Although terrestrial orchids have roots that grow beneath the surface of the soil just like most other kinds of plants, some terrestrial orchids are semi-terrestrial.  This means that they have both underground and aerial roots.  Cymbidium orchids are a terrestrial orchid that has 40 species and thousands of hybrids.  They were one of the first species of orchids to have been cultivated.  These orchids are a great example of terrestrials that not only grow on the ground but, they can also grow on trees and rocks.  They grow extremely well in the loose humus of rotted wood or decayed leaves.  Cymbidium orchids can be found in their natural habitat with extends from Southeast Asia to Japan and they can also be found in Australia.  Cymbidium orchids are so popular because they are easy to grow and are therefore a perfect choice for beginners.  Plus, with the proper care, they will provide beautiful flowers every year.

The term epiphytes are actually not reserved to a type of orchid.  It refers to any plant that has a root system above ground.  Dendrobiums are the best known epiphytes orchid.  Although they are easy to grow, they require slightly more care than Cymbidiums and do not flower as easily on a regular basis.  There are over 1000 species of them.  They can be found in their natural tropical conditions of Northern India, South East Asia, Australia and Polynesia.  Because they are found in tropical conditions, Dendrobiums thrive in warm, humid growing conditions and should be kept moist.  Another popular epiphyte type of orchid is the Phalaenopsis.  These orchids are easy to grow and have long-lasting flowers.  They are often seen at weddings and can be found in various colors including pinks, yellows, and even stripes.

Epiphytic orchids grow upon structures like trees.  Although they grow upon the tree, they do not receive its nourishment from the tree. They establish themselves by their fleshy roots on branches or bark of trees. The organic matter that accumulates between the roots and branches is used as nutrients for the plant.  The roots of epiphytic orchids can also sustain the plant through wet and dry periods.  The tough, stringy core of the root is surrounded by a spongy off-white covering that can absorb water easily.  When it rains, this cover soaks up water.  When it is completely saturated, it turns light green.  The orchid’s roots retain the moisture and will release it gradually to the plant tissues.  There are also some species of epiphytic orchids that cling to rocks.  As they are suspended from trees or rocks, the epiphytes thrive in filtered light and always in open, airy situations.

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How to Water Orchids

Posted in Orchids Growing | July 6th, 2010 | Comments Off

Orchids have quickly become a favorite among houseplants due to their gorgeous blooms and their variety in species, colors and sizes.  Like any other plant, orchids require the correct growing conditions in order to thrive.  Part of offering your orchid the right growing conditions is giving your orchid the right amount of water.  Since the amount of water required for your orchid can vary between different species of orchids, it is important to research your particular plant.  But, it is helpful to understand orchids in general and where they come from.

Orchid plants are typically found in tropical areas of the globe.  The areas where many orchid plants are found receive a tremendous amount of rain.  It can also be very humid in their native habitats.  In fact, the ideal humidity level for most orchid plants is 80%.  Considering that a room that is kept at 80% humidity would be extremely uncomfortable for most human beings, you need to find other strategies in order to keep your orchids happy and healthy.  An easy way to humidify your orchids is to provide them with a constant supply of water.  Orchid owners can purchase a deep saucer and some pebbles.  You should pour the pebbles into the saucer.  Set your orchid pot on top of the pebbles within the saucer and then water the pebbles.  You should make sure that the water never touches the actual orchid pot.  By doing this you are able to set up an artificial high-humidity climate around your orchids.

One of the biggest mistakes the people make when caring for their orchids is over watering their orchids.  Generally it is assumed by some owners that when the potting soil looks dry, the plant needs to be watered. This is not true especially when it comes to orchids.  Although the potting bark may appear dry, the bark itself holds moisture.  The rule of thumb is to water your orchid plant once a week or once every other week, sparingly.  When growing an orchid plant in your home, you should let the potting bark dry out completely before watering them.  Some species of orchids grow on the trunks and branches of trees.  In their native habitats it is normal for their roots to dry out before being given water again.  Orchid plants also need to be fertilized but sparingly as well. You can buy orchid fertilizer at most garden shops within your area.  Creating a good routine for watering and fertilizing your orchid is an excellent way to guarantee that you will be able to enjoy these exotic plants for a long time.

Orchids will thrive in your home environment if they are given the proper care including the right amount of potting bark, the right amount of water, the proper amount of sunlight and if they are fertilized occasionally.  Although they are quite beautiful, they can also be temperamental.  But, by understanding how to care for them properly, orchids are not that complicated and you can grow these exotic and beautiful plants.

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Growing an Orchid Under Artificial Lights

Posted in Orchids Growing | July 6th, 2010 | Comments Off

Orchids, like many other kinds of house plants, have very specific needs including light, water and nutrition.  One of the most important elements to the health of your orchid plant is the kind of light that it receives.  The amount of light the orchid plant needs can vary due to the species that your orchid is.  But, since orchids naturally are found within the tropical areas of the globe, they generally need a good deal of diffused light.  The tropical areas they come from normally have distinct patterns of sun and shade.  In order to give them the cooler morning light and prevent them from burning in strong afternoon sunlight, sit your orchid in an eastern facing window.  You should give your orchid about twelve hours of light a day, but this is sometimes not possible because of a very strong afternoon sun.

In order to figure out how much shade and sun your specific orchid species will need, you will need to find out as much information about your particular orchid as you can.  There are several ways to find the right information on your orchid plant.  A great way to get information on your particular orchid is to talk to the people from whom you purchase your plant from.  You should also look up information about your orchid online while you are doing your research on which species of orchid would be best for you before you purchase it.   Some orchids thrive on receiving a lot of sun.  While other species of orchid plants will wilt if they don’t get mostly shade.  Among orchid growers there are two different way to distinguish which orchids like what kind of light.  Soft growing orchids mean they thrive in shady conditions.  Hard growing orchids thrive in sunny conditions.  Typically an orchid that requires soft or shady growing conditions will offer their owners the enjoyment of a healthy and thriving plant, but the blooms will be small and infrequent.  On the other hand, orchids that are grown in hard or sunny conditions will produce many blooms, but not much plant.  The leaves on such a plant may also be yellow and stunted.

One way of ensuring that your orchid will get the right amount of light is to use a glow-light.  You can purchase a grow-light and a timer will give your orchids the correct amounts of both light and darkness.  It is also possible to use florescent light to offer your orchids a light source that is not too strong for them.  For years it was thought that orchids could only be successfully grown by experienced horticulturists.  But, with these simple ways of giving your orchids the right kind of light necessary, orchids can now be grown by even the most inexperienced growers.  Along with natural sunlight, a grow-light or florescent lights plus, a full understanding of the kind of species your orchid is, you can have a gorgeous orchid plant that will give you gorgeous, full blooms throughout it’s blooming season.

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Caring for Orchids

Posted in Orchids Care | July 6th, 2010 | Comments Off

It has been the belief of many for sometime that caring for orchids was difficult or reserved only for the rich.  But, with more the 25,000 species and more then 100,000 hybrids, it is possible for anyone to find an orchid that will fit into their lifestyle, budget and level of skill as a horticulturist.


Most types of orchids do not require anymore work than any other house or garden plants.  But, some orchids do have special requirements.  Your first step in orchid care should always be to find out the particular requirements that your flower needs.  There are very few plants that produce such a delicate and beautiful bloom as an orchid can.  It is one of the things that make them such a popular house plant.  If you give your orchid extremely well care, you can keep them blooming just as healthy as they were in the store.  The popular orchid you probably have received as a gift or bought from the store is a phaleanopsis.  This is the popular white or purple orchids that are available due to the fact that they are easier to care for than some of the less common varieties of orchid plants.

Orchids will bloom for at least three months if they are taken care of correctly.  You should place your orchid near the window so that it can receive sunlight throughout the day.  But you should avoid the midday sun which can be too harsh for these plants and aim to give your orchid morning and evening sunlight.  For this reason, the eastern side of your home is an excellent place to place your orchid.  You can substitute natural sunlight with fluorescent lights that are about a foot above the orchid’s flowers but, you still want to limit exposure to normal daylight hours.

Orchids thrive in temperatures that are above 55 degrees Fahrenheit but no higher than 8o degrees.  Orchids that are in weather that passes 90 degrees will start to loose their buds or will stop blooming at all.  It is important to make sure that the flower stays moist, but do not over water the roots because it can kill the blooms.  In stead, water the plant once every ten weeks, or keep the orchid in a water tray constantly.  Make sure that the roots do not touch the water tray or it will then constantly be soaking up too much water.

A great tip to keeping the orchid in bloom for the most amount of time as possible is to fertilize the plant before it blooms.  Once it ahs bloomed, you don’t need to fertilize it any longer.  Plus, another tip to keeping your orchid in bloom for the greatest amount of time you can is to carefully prune the orchid while it is blooming.  You will then be able to see a second set of flowers develop.  With the right amount of care and attention, you will be able to own a gorgeous orchid plant that will display a full and rich bloom throughout the blooming season.

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