I made a lot of changes in 2018, the biggest of which was moving across the country to California. After moving, I found a job and somehow stumbled into the floral business. While I was able to draw on my skills in customer service, I was completely lost when it came to the art and edification of flowers and floral arrangements. Fortunately, I think I’ve learned enough over the last few months to share some helpful tricks, tips, and fun facts about the flora I get to work with everyday.
Orchids are known as one of the most iconic and largest group of flowering plants. With over 28,000 different species, they are versatile, unique and can be found in almost every part of the world. Thanks to horticulturists, hybrid orchids are easy to find and well suited to the climate of your choice. For florists, orchids are perfect for almost any type of arrangement. Orchids were some of the first flowers I got to handle. Safe to say, they hold a special, albeit complicated, place in my heart. Complicated because they can be notoriously difficult to maintain (sometimes, beauty means pain).
Orchids need very little water and wilt quickly if in direct sunlight. They also like a warm/slightly humid environment to grow in. The leaves of the orchid will start to turn yellow if they’ve been overwatered, so keep an eye out. If you see any discoloration, transfer the orchid to a new pot and give it some time to dry out. An orchid should be watered until its mossy soil is damp, but not soaked. Once a week is usually best. Each orchid bloom is also extremely sensitive and fragile, so a bit of wiggle room between each stock is recommended.
We often arrange our orchids with succulents and other live plants. Succulents are hardy and easy to take care of, but much like orchids, are very susceptible to overwatering. I’ve learned first hand how quickly a succulent can wither away with too much water and recommend using a spray bottle instead of a watering can. Only water your succulents when the soil is dry, and even less so during the winter months. Several species of cacti hibernate during the winter, so do much better when seldom watered.
Orchids also make a great addition to any cut flower arrangement, and we love working with them. Take a look at our website, or give us a call if you’d like your own arrangement.
contact@myglendaleflorist.com
(818) 244-0200
104 W. Colorado Street, Glendale CA
