How to Shop for Orchid
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How to Buy Healthy Orchids
Grow Stunning Orchids at Home – Discover Essential Tools and Planting Tips!
Buying an orchid can be as easy as picking a plant on impulse or as complicated as searching websites and specialist growers for a rare specimen. Regardless, it's a good idea to take a few steps to ensure you're getting the healthiest plant possible, one that will hopefully survive long after its first flowering at home.
Should You Buy an Orchid in Bloom?
Most people like to buy blooming orchids because of the instant gratification of bringing home such a beautiful plant. The orchid can be placed on the table and enjoyed immediately.
However, this choice can have its drawbacks. Flowering consumes an enormous amount of energy for the orchid plant. Many seasoned growers know that phalaenopsis, in particular, can bloom on its own to death, meaning they will have spectacular blooms for a few years in a row, then wither and die.
When deciding whether to buy a blooming orchid, therefore, you need to consider your intentions. If you want to maximize the chances that your plants will live and adapt to your growing conditions, it is best to purchase non-flowering plants. But if you can't resist the display of blooming orchids in your garden, go for it. Try to choose one with many closed buttons so that you can enjoy the flowers for longer.
Picking Your Orchid
Choosing a healthy orchid is important, even if the plant is a gift or just a tabletop display. You want one with beautiful flowers, but there are other more important factors to consider:
- The wiggle factor. Carefully bring the plant close to the substrate and give it a little stir. Epiphytic orchids (including dendrobium, cattleya, phalaenopsis, oncidium, and brassavola) are generally packed in a thick mixture of bark nuggets, charcoal, Styrofoam, and other inorganic and organic materials. If the roots are not firmly attached to the pot, you can carefully lift the orchid from the pot and carefully inspect it. If it is securely attached to the pot, do not remove it. You don't want to damage the roots. It's okay if a few roots come out of the top of the pot. If the orchid is poorly packaged but healthy, you can still buy it, provided it is replenished at the first practical moment.
- Healthy roots. The roots are the most important part of the orchid plant. Orchid roots are highly specialized organs that quickly collect water and even photosynthesize. In the case of epiphytic orchids, they are designed to adhere to rough surfaces and anchor the plant high above the forest floor. The roots of a healthy orchid will be light green when dry and dark green when wet. There should be a long, pointed, shiny, green growing tip. The longer the growing tip, the healthier the plant will be. Dead orchid roots wrinkle and brown when wet and white when dry. A plant with dead roots will not survive.
- Look at the leaves. This is a difficult subject to tackle because there are so many variations between orchids. Some have pencil-thin blades, while others have flat, fleshy blades. Some, like the ghost orchid, are leafless and look like a small tangle of roots. In general, however, you should look for thick, light-colored, and tough leaves. The leaves should be slightly yellowish-green, almost like a green apple. The very bright green leaves mean that the plant has probably been overfed and will not flower either. The leaves should also be free of insects, obvious spots, and soft spots. Finally, make sure that the growing point is not destroyed.
- Check the bulbs. There are two types of epiphytic orchids: those that grow from a single growing point (Phalaenopsis, for example) and those that grow from a low rhizome (Cattleya, for example). Plants with a single stem are called monopodial, while plants with a creeping rhizome are called sympodial. Sympodial orchids emit a new bulb, or pseudobulb, each year with new leaves and flowers. If you are going to buy this type of orchid, make sure the pseudobulbs are plump and plump.
- Count the blooms. If you are buying a flowering plant, resist the urge to buy a plant with all flowers open. Long-lasting orchid flowers can last a month or more, but if you buy a plant with closed flowers, you will enjoy the overall show for longer. Don't buy plants with yellow or wrinkled flowers, as they are likely to fall off.
- Get a name. This may seem unnecessary, but it's a good idea to make sure your orchid has a full name tag whenever possible. Do not buy plants labeled "ORCHID" or "FLOWERING ORCHID." It is best to buy a plant with the full species or hybrid name whenever possible. This will allow you to learn more about that particular plant, and if you decide to start a collection, it is always good to know what you are growing.
Acclimating Your Orchid
It's okay to leave your new orchid on the table for a week or more when you get home, especially if it's in bloom. But remember that no orchid will survive long on a table.
Also, remember that the plant will be in shock when you get home. Orchids do not like to be moved, especially when they are in bloom. You are more likely to lose unopened buds once you bring the plant home.
Ideally, the first few days in your home should be quiet. Do not expose the plant to direct sunlight, cold drafts or drafts flowing through its openings, or get carried away by water.
This is counterintuitive for many people, but it is generally better to let an orchid dry out a bit than to drown. These plants like high, regular humidity, but have limited tolerance for constant exposure to water, which can cause black rot and kill the plant.
When you are ready to move the plant from its display location, find and follow the specific growing tips for the species you have selected.
Enjoy This Video Tutorial About How to buy a healthy Phalaenopsis Orchid
Source: MissOrchidGirl
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Last update on 2025-02-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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