Orchids make an exotic Valentine’s Day gift
Houseplants are overlooked as a Valentine’s Day gift because they lack the allure and special significance associated with bouquets of red roses and cut flowers.
Looking for something different? Something that adds an element off the exotic? Consider an orchid plant or cut stems of orchid blooms.
Throughout the world, many cultures from the Greeks to the Aztecs have considered orchids as symbols of power, love, beauty and refinement. They are exotic and showy and their elegant stems of multiple blooms last for weeks.
Orchids are members of the Orchidaceae family containing more than 25,000 species and are found throughout the world particularly in moist, tropical habitats. Even in the woodlands, forests and bogs of Pennsylvania, 50 species of hardy, native orchids can be found.
In the past, orchid propagation was very difficult, and potted orchids were challenging to find and grow in the home.
With advances in propagation techniques, orchids are available for sale on a larger scale. Nurseries, home improvement stores, floral shops and online venues sell orchids in all price ranges.
Some of the more common orchids you may find are: Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.), Slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum spp.), Dendrobium orchids (Dendrobium spp.) and corsage orchids (Cattleya spp.)
Probably the most common orchid available for purchase is the moth orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.). According to the American Orchid Society, there are 63 species, nine natural hybrids and numerous varieties of this orchid.
These orchids are monopodial, meaning the plant grows vertical with leaves that grow on alternating sides. As an epiphyte, a moth orchid has roots that grow in the potting medium and outside of the medium (air roots).
Orchid flowers are borne on slender stems, and these stems can produce additional shoots and blooms.
Selecting a Phalaenopsis can be a challenge. In non-floral, retail outlets, orchids are usually encased in plastic protectors and are stacked close together. The orchid should be in a plastic pot with drainage holes, which is set inside a decorative ceramic or denser plastic pot.
Carefully, choose an orchid and hold it to gauge its weight; a watered, cared-for orchid should have a heaviness to it. Conduct a thorough inspection of the orchid. The succulent leaves should be full, dark green and free from brown spots; leaves that are shriveled indicate a lack of water, humidity and care.
Check the leaves for mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), appearing as small, white, fluffy-appearing spots found on the growing medium, the underside of the leaves, or the nodes (where the leaves connect to the stalk).
Look for flowers that are a pleasing color. Many orchid plants come with two stems of flowers, and both stems will have the same color of flowers. The blooms should be open and full, and there should be a few unopened buds at the distal end of the stem. Avoid orchid plants whose flowers are shriveled or whose flowers and buds are attached and drooping or are dropping from the stem.
The retailer is not aware of the length of time the orchid plants have been in bloom, meaning the orchid flowers on the plant you are considering could last for a few weeks or a few months.
Once the perfect orchid has been selected and gifted, the care you provide will keep the orchid healthy and vigorous. The priority is to remove the plastic protector from the plant. Set the plant in a saucer and place it in bright light (not direct sunlight), away from drafts, and within a room temperature range of 55 to 75 degrees. The orchid’s air roots may be visible, with the remaining roots surrounded by a bark mix or moss.
Ongoing care of your new orchid plant is relatively straightforward. Because orchids are epiphytic, taking moisture and nutrients from the air, water your orchid once a week. Water when the growing medium is almost dry.
Remove the plastic pot from its decorative container; run room temperature water through the bark, letting the excess water drain out of the holes. Orchids may be fertilized once or twice a month with a half-strength 20-20-20 fertilizer.
Replace the orchid into the decorative pot. You can also mist the leaves and air roots to increase humidity in between waterings. Avoid placing an ice cube on the orchid’s roots and growing medium, as the water temperature from the melting ice is too cold for the orchid.
Orchids are beautiful plants that can last for many years with care. The American Orchid Society offers detailed information on how to care for Phalaenopsis and other orchids. Penn State Extension at extension.psu.edu/orchids-as-houseplants offers suggestions on how to care for Phalaenopsis and slipper (Paphiopedilum) orchids.
Penn State Extension and the American Orchid Society offered a six-webinar series on orchids and their care. The cost for each webinar is $5. Visit Penn State Extension at extension.psu.edu/houseplant-master-class-understanding-orchids-and-how-to-grow-them-at-home) to learn more.
If you have questions about caring for orchids and flowering houseplants, contact the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County’s Garden Hotline at 724-287 4761, ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.
Lisa Marie Bernardo and Mary Alice Koeneke are Penn State Extension Butler County Master Gardeners.
