It's easier than you think to care for these enchanting beauties, if you know a few simple tricks!
If you've ever received an orchid as a gift from a flower delivery service or picked one up on impulse at the grocery store, chances are it was a Phalaenopsis- a.k.a., a Moth Orchid.
Moth Orchids are the type most commonly grown as houseplants, so we'll be focusing on them in this issue.
Your orchid should come in a clear plastic liner that fits inside of its decorative pot. There's a reason for this- the care of moth orchids depends on their root color!
Thirsty Moth Orchid roots are pictured on the left. They look white or silvery, but they should be firm to the touch. If they become dry and papery, they've died of dehydration.
Well-watered Moth Orchid roots (pictured center) are green.
If a Moth Orchid is over-watered, the roots will develop rot, turning brown and mushy. (Pictured right.)
To prevent over-watering, wait until 75% of your orchid's roots have changed from green to white, then dunk the clear liner that holds the orchid's root ball in a container full of room temperature water to re-hydrate them. (Water that is too cold can shock the orchid.) The dunking approach to watering avoids crown rot, and allows the roots to take up water evenly. Don't leave the orchid in water for more than a few hours at most.
Orchids primarily take up nutrients through their leaves rather than their roots, so use a quality foliar fertilizer for orchids and mist them lightly with it according to the directions. Don't let liquid accumulate around the crown.
Speaking of misting, the orchid's aerial roots will appreciate a good misting periodically. You should also keep your orchid on a pebble tray topped up with water, to create a humid micro-climate around the plant.
Our indoor garden center manager, Kim Gravert, has amassed a small collection of thriving orchids. (Pictured at the top of this article.) When asked whether she had any additional orchid care tips, she said that aerial roots are a sign of a healthy orchid, and should be left alone. "People think their air roots look weird, and they want to cut them off," she said. "They need those."
She added that you shouldn't assume that your orchid is finished blooming once the flowers begin to die back. Cut the bare tip flower stem back to the first node below where the flowers were, and you might just stimulate another flush of blooms!
Once winter comes around again, make sure that your orchid is in a cooler environment than it was during spring and summer. It needs a period of rest in order to bloom again in spring. Constant, even temperature year round is one of the top reasons that orchids don't bloom year after year for their owners.
Want to give orchid ownership a try? Our Moth Orchids start at just $23.99, decorative pot included. Stop in and pick up an orchid of your own!
African Violets
One of the other standout blooming houseplants is the African Violet. We have a gorgeous shipment of these little beauties in stock right now in three colors!
If you've never kept an African Violet before (or you tried one, and were disappointed with the results,) here are a few tips-
Placement: African Violets like bright, indirect light and a good amount of humidity. You can supply the later by putting your plant on a tray of pebbles with water in it. The pot with the African violet in it should sit just above the surface of the water on top of the pebbles. Top up the water in the tray as needed.
Watering: Wait until the top 1/3 of the soil has dried out before watering again, but never let it dry out all the way. African Violets hate to get their leaves wet, so fill a dish with water and allow the pot to sit in it until the African Violet feels heavy when you pick it up.
Temperature: If your house is colder over winter than it is in the summer time, at least your African Violet will be happy about that! Like orchids, African Violets need a cooler period over the winter in order to bloom in spring.
Fertilizer: To fertilize your African Violet, mix a water soluble houseplant or orchid fertilizer in with the plant's water at the rate recommended on the label. Do this every two weeks during spring and summer, and once a month for the rest of the year.
Take good care of your African Violet, and you'll be rewarded every year with a lovely display of indoor blooms!
Looking ahead at houseplants:
We're expecting mini succulents, cacti and air plants in time for this weekend, so come by and pick up some cuties for your windowsill or terrarium.
Our spring shipment of houseplants and tropicals is scheduled to arrive late March-early April, so if it's an indoor foliage plant you're looking for, stay tuned!
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