“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Vincent Van Gogh

The beauty of an Orchid is undeniable. From their exotic shapes to the rainbow of colours that bloom in literally every shade, they often catch the eye of any passer-by. And for good reason! These ancient flowers have flourished around the world for so many years that it has been able to accumulate over 20,000 different species – making it one of the largest families of flowering plants on Earth; growing in every continent but the Antarctic. The history of Orchids is as large and vast as its amount of species available. Ancient Greeks believed that Orchids were a symbol of fertility and if eaten by a woman would
produce a male heir. Traditional Chinese medicine used the flower medicinally for lung and respiratory issues. Even Aztec warriors were known to drink a mixture of chocolate and vanilla provided by Orchids, to give them strength. Yes, you read correct, our favourite ingredient in baked goods is provided by orchids, vanilla!

From the symbolism, history, and beauty Orchids have a large number of fans but with great beauty comes great responsibility…right? Wrong! The problem with being a “complex” flower is that most people are often confused with the maintenance! We’ve all been there, but let me tell you, Orchids require little care once all their basic needs are met such as light, temperature, watering, and humidity. Once those conditions are amassed they will continue to flower for 30-45 days in intervals of 1-3 times a year.

At Karen’s Flower Shop, our Orchids are equipped with a handy dandy instructions card that will give you information of the care involved – and what’s better, we have professionals at the shop that can help you with any further Orchid questions! Such as, “do I cut the stray vines produced by my Orchid?” Or “how much do I water it?” And even, “do I need to re-pot my Orchid?” To further your blooming Orchid here is a basic list of dos and don’ts for Orchid care:

• DO keep the soil moist and water thoroughly when dry, but allow the bloom to dry out a little in between waterings. Utilize this by poking your finger into the base of the Orchid. If it’s dry give it some water if not just leave it be. Watering every 5-12 days is the rule of thumb, though this changes seasonally when the sun is hotter or cooler.
• DON’T water the leaves of the blooms themselves, this will cause rot. If you wet the leaf use something such as a tissue or cotton ball to remove the additional water. The best method to avoid this is to water right at the base of the plant beneath the leaves.
• DO place an Orchid in a relatively sunny location, as Orchids, like most plants, love the sun both indoors or out!
• DON’T leave an Orchid in direct sunlight, this will cause the Orchid to burn. The
  leaves will become discoloured and blooms with wilt and fall off quite quickly. This also changes seasonally based on the intensity of the sun.
• DO have good humidity and airflow for your Orchid. It should always be around 18-25 degrees for your bloom. How do you make it humid you ask? Provide the plant with a shallow dish or saucer and fill it with a little bit of water. Then watch Mother Nature run its course!
• DO re-pot every 18-24 months as Orchids do outgrow their containers/pots. This will require a pot, some fertilizer, and soil (all conveniently carried at the shop)!
• DON’T cut the vines that grow out of the Orchid, these often aid the bloom in
  gathering oxygen. If the vine is shriveled up then you may remove it, but leave the healthy ones, as those act as the plants’ lungs.

Need further assistance? Have more questions that weren’t answered?
Contact Karen’s Flower Shop, at www.karensflowershop.com or 905-878- 2881 for all your needs including care, maintenance and pricing on all our Orchids.

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