These Orchids are grown in a tropical climate. While great care has been taken to ensure that the orchids blooms remain fresh throughout, some loss of moisture is bound to occur during the transportation process.

Depending on their colors and varieties, these carefully selected blooms can last for 2 weeks if proper care is given.

Upon receiving the Orchids, we recommend that you follow these steps to restore the freshness of it.

Step 1 - Open the gift box immediately. Remove the Orchids stalks from the container and place the orchids in a cool place of about 10 to 15 Degree Celsius.

Step 2 - Spray a mist of water onto the Orchids stalks to restore freshness of it.

Step 3 - To help them last longer, cut half an inch off the stem of each stalk, immerse the cut Orchids in warm water (40 Degree Celsius) for about 20-30 minutes.

Step 4 - Put the Orchids in a vase of water (preferably at 40 Degree Celsius), keep them in an environment with natural humidity. Avoid placing in a room with central heating.

Hints : Choose only the unblemished flowers. Try not to knock off the pollen when you handle flowers, if the pollen fall off, the flowers fade quickly and give off a gas. In an enclosed area, for example a gift box, the flowers around it will fade too.

To refresh the flowers, make an oblique cut on the stem under the water (40 Degree Celsius) and leave it to soak for a few hours, Remove the bloom individually if they are to used for buttonholes, bouquets and garlands.

To grow an Orchid, you have to think like an Orchid.

The golden rule for Orchid's Success is to follow the plants' natural condition as close as possible. In nature, most Orchids are epiphytes (they grow on other objects).

These plants thrive in these conditions

- Strong light, but not direct late-afternoon sunlight ( although Dendrobium can handle more Sun )

- High Humidity

- Turbulent air flow around the roots

- Regular periods of drying, alternating with drenching rains

- Temperature between 50 degrees and about 85 degrees

The closer you bring them to their living conditions, the more success blooms you will get.

Follow these 9 golden steps to grow your orchids well.

Step 1 ( Water the Orchids )

Water the Orchids thoroughly when dry and allow the media to dry between watering. When in flower, the plants use more water, water it every 7 days and mist the foliage between watering. Avoid watering the flowers directly to prevent fungus growing. Never allow the plant to seat directly on water or else it will die. Avoid excessive water at the center of the plant where new leaves grow cause it may rot.

Step 2 ( Keep the correct temperature )

18-30 Degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature but for brief periods, they can withstand temperature from 16-37 Degrees Celsius but they dislike sudden temperature change which can cause their leaves to turn yellow.

Step 3 ( Watch for new growth )

This will be in the form of new cane growing under the base of the old ones. Under the right conditions, the new cane can be bigger than the mother cane before it is ready to bloom again.

Step 4 ( Maintain the blooms )

Peak blooming starts from late winter, mainly February and March, blooms usually last for 4-12 weeks. When the blooms fade, cut off the spike 1/2 inch above where it projects from the foliage. Cool nighttime temperature help to enhance the blooms.

Step 5 ( Feed the Orchids )

During winter, do not feed the Orchids. In late spring, apply a balanced fertilizer every other watering, using 1/3 the normal concentration.

Step 6 ( Repot when necessary )

All Orchids prefer being somewhat root-bound with their roots protruding from the top of the media. However, when they grow too much canes or spikes, it can lead to overcrowding. Carefully replant it into a larger pot with the porous media and good drainage.

Step 7 ( Use the correct growing media )

Orchids are always been killed when grown in soil. Most Orchids are epiphytes as mentioned earlier and require very different growing media. They grow best in soilless mixtures or attached to bark or cock. They require a growing media with good aeration and drainage.

Step 8 ( Get a suitable container )

This type of container can be plastic or clay. If you use a clay one, enlarge the drainage holes or make additional ones on the sides of it. Watering and fertilizing practices may be adjusted depending on the container and media selected.

Step 9 ( Have proper air circulations )

Having good air circulations is the fundamentals of the health of your Orchids. This will help your Orchids to heal in any case of fungus or pest attack that must be treated. Air circulation also prevent different type of infestations by keeping the leaves dry.

Generally flower arrangements last between 4-7 days, depending on the type of flowers and type of care given.

Here are a couple of tips we suggest to lengthen the life of your arrangements

1) Immediately re-cut the stems of of each items in the bouquet before arranging in your clean vase to avoid bacteria growth. If floral foams are used, make sure it is well saturated, meaning to say it has plenty of water supply.

2) Keep your vase filled with warm water ( 40 Degree Celsius ) and provide Orchids' food to it.

3) Re-cut stems every 3 days by removing 1 to 2 inches with a knife everytime you change your water for the arrangement.

4) keep your flowers in a cool spot, keep away from direct sunlight, cooking or heating vents, directly under ceiling fans, or on top of television or radiators ( these radiation give off heat, dehydrating your flowers). Avoid particularly hot or cold places.

5) Remove any leaves that is below the water line to prevent it from turning yellow.

6) To rearrange any flowers in the arrangement, re-cut the stems ends under water and then insert it back to the arrangements. If floral foams are used, make sure it the stems are inserted firmly and deeply.

Phalaenopsis, also known as Moth Orchids, are among the easiest and rewarding of the Orchids family for the home grower as they produces arching spikes of more than 10 flowers 3 times every year and which can cultivate flowers for months.

In this session, we shall scrutinize the methods as well as the conditions to care for this hybrid of Orchid.

Generally, Phalaenopsis is a genus of about 35 species of tropical Orchids deriving in the hot and low land of various countries. Many of their hybrids engenders long arching sprays carrying 10 or more attractive flowers which never fails to marvel the eyes of people.

In essence, the golden rules of growing Phalaenopsis plants, it it imperative to focus on these follow factors.

Light

Phalaenopsis are low-light/shade orchids that fancies half/dappled light (ideally located in the shaded east window). Too much exposure of the strong lights will burn the leaves while a lack of sunlight will result in plants with soft leaves that does not cultivate flowers. They cultivate well with human-made lights place at a foot above it.

Water

In nature, Phalaenopsis do not have large storing pseudobulbs to take in much water, however its leaves do store a substantial amount of water. As such, limit the amount of water giving to the plants, ensure that it is evenly moist but also at the same time ensure that there are no leftover pile of water on it as it may induce rotting. One good tip is to water it in the morning while allowing the plant to get dry when the night falls. During the growth season, give water to it weekly, a good hint to dictate the shortness of water is when its silvery roots turn silvery white.

Fertilizer

The type of fertilizer I will recommend is a slow release fertilizer with a equal proportion of N-P-K (14-14-14). During the blooming season, you might consider elevate the level of Phosphorus in the fertilizer (10-30-20), this boaster is given to provide a flower spike. The frequency relies on the season, during the growing season, ensure that it is fed weekly while the frequency is changed to monthly when it is flowering.

Temperature

During the growing season, the plants will bloom with optimum effect with a temperature of approx 27 Degree Celsius while for normal condition, a temperature of 20 degrees is sufficient. A thumb of rule is that as the temperature gets higher, the plants' desire for dampness will increase.

Potting

Clear pots are ideal in this case. Phalaenopsis can be grown in many types of growing media, examples are charcoal, pines of pine bark and styrofoam. It can live for a very long time and the only 2 reasons to report it are only when it has over-grown its current container or its media has decomposed and it is no longer oxygenated to preserve health roots.

Pests

Phalaenopsis plants should be constantly checked for pest such as aphids, mites, scale and slugs. When spotted, these can be remove by using a soft cloth soaked with soapy water. For routine checks, check the underlying part of the leaves as well as the color of the plants to prevent rotting. Water lodge is a common sight especially near the conjunction of the leaves and it will lead to rotting, so always use a paper tissue to remove it before it gets worst.

With these information, you are well-equipped with the basics to grow a Phalaenopsis plant, so come on and get one from us today to enjoy its beauty.