About Orchids
Orchids are among the most sophisticated and exotic flowers in the world. With over 25,000 species, orchids display incredible diversity in color, form, and fragrance. These elegant blooms have long been associated with luxury, beauty, and refinement, making them prized possessions in homes and gardens worldwide.
The most popular orchid for floral arrangements is the Phalaenopsis or "moth orchid," known for its graceful arching stems and long-lasting blooms. Orchids can bloom for weeks or even months, making them an excellent value and a stunning focal point in any setting.
Primary Meanings
- Beauty: Rare, delicate, and refined beauty
- Strength: Inner strength and resilience
- Luxury: Elegance, sophistication, and thoughtfulness
- Love: Mature, sophisticated love and affection
Orchids Colors and Their Meanings
White Orchids
Purity, elegance, innocence, beauty
Pink Orchids
Grace, femininity, joy, happiness
Purple Orchids
Royalty, admiration, respect
Yellow Orchids
Friendship, new beginnings, joy
Blue Orchids
Rarity, uniqueness, spirituality
Red Orchids
Passion, desire, strength
Popular Orchids Types
Phalaenopsis
Moth orchids with arching sprays of blooms
Cymbidium
Boat orchids with waxy, long-lasting flowers
Dendrobium
Spray orchids with multiple small blooms
Cattleya
Corsage orchids with large, showy flowers
Care Instructions
Water
Keep potted orchids lightly moist, not wet. Water weekly.
Trim
For cut orchids, change water every few days.
Temperature
Prefer warm temps (65-75°F), moderate humidity.
Light
Bright, indirect light. No direct sun.
Mist
Lightly mist leaves occasionally for humidity.
Best Occasions for Orchids
- Romantic Gestures: Express mature, sophisticated love
- Thank You: Show thoughtfulness and appreciation
- New Baby: Pink orchids for a baby girl
- Housewarming: Long-lasting gift for a new home
- Corporate Gifts: Professional, elegant presentation
Interesting Orchids Facts
- Orchids are one of the largest flowering plant families with 25,000+ species
- Some orchid species can live for over 100 years
- Vanilla flavoring comes from orchid seed pods
- Orchids grow on every continent except Antarctica
- The smallest orchid is 2mm wide, the largest up to 3 feet
- Orchids can take 5-7 years to bloom from seed
How to Buy Good Orchids
For cut orchid stems, look for a spray with several open flowers and unopened buds still to come at the tip, that is where the remaining life is. Flowers should be firm and waxy, not limp or translucent. For a Phalaenopsis plant, check the roots rather than the flowers: firm, silvery-green roots mean a healthy plant, while brown, mushy or hollow roots mean it has been overwatered and will decline whatever the flowers look like now.
Season, Availability and What Drives the Price
Orchids are produced under glass on a rolling schedule and are available all year with little seasonal price movement, which makes them one of the more predictable things to budget for. The trade is dominated by Phalaenopsis, the moth orchid, with Cymbidium and Dendrobium used where longer sprays are wanted. Individual blooms are also sold in tubes for buttonholes and hair. Because the plants are slow to bring to flower, orchids sit at the premium end regardless of the time of year.
What to Use Instead
Nothing substitutes convincingly for an orchid's shape, which is precisely why it is used. Where the aim is elegance and cost is the constraint, calla lilies or lisianthus carry a similar restraint. For a cascading effect in bouquet work, jasmine or stephanotis gives movement at a lower price.
Safety Around Pets and Skin
Phalaenopsis orchids are non-toxic to cats and dogs and are among the safest flowering plants to keep in a house with pets. Bark-based potting media is a mild choking risk if a dog digs in the pot.
Florist Tips for Orchids
Ignore the ice cube advice
Watering an orchid with ice cubes is popular internet advice and a bad idea for a tropical plant. Water thoroughly at room temperature, let it drain completely, and do not let the pot stand in water.
Cut stems last far longer than people expect
A cut orchid spray will often hold two to three weeks, considerably outlasting most of what it is arranged with.
Do not cut the flower spike off immediately
When a Phalaenopsis finishes flowering, cutting the spike back to just above a node will often produce a second flush rather than nothing.
Common Questions About Orchids
How long do orchid flowers last?
On the plant, two to three months is normal for a Phalaenopsis. Cut sprays hold two to three weeks in a vase, which is much longer than most cut flowers.
Should I water my orchid with ice cubes?
No. It is a tropical plant and cold water at the roots does it no favors. Water it properly at room temperature and let it drain.
Why did my orchid drop all its flowers at once?
Usually a sudden change, a draft, a move to a much colder or hotter spot, or being placed near ripening fruit, which gives off ethylene and makes flowers drop.