But spend they do, or the florists wouldnt sell them at so high of a markup.
So go ahead, buy the grocery store flower and enjoy regular yearly fresh blooms.
Put it in an extra fancy pot if the mood strikes you.
When all the flowers have wilted, its time to cut the stem so a new one can grow.
Get a pair of very clean scissors and cut the stem off around one inch from the base.
I leave about one nodethats the little bumpy line on the stemat the bottom.
Some people like to cut it right at the base, others leave two nodesI compromise .
Either way, the tiny remainder of stem will dry out before the new one grows in.
After the orchid is finished flowering is an excellent time to repot it.
Buy a bag of orchid potting mix.
Personally, I prefer orchid bark, but either one works well.
Be careful not to tear roots.
Try not to disturb the roots; its better to leave some clinging moss than to tear a root.
Fertilize and wait
There are any number of commercial orchid fertilizers on the market, so take your pick.
I prefer a water soluble fertilizer so I can fertilize when I water.
Eventually, after the new leaves have grown in, the stem will start to poke out.
As it gets longer, be sure to tie it gently to a stake you stick into the pot.
you’re able to save the bamboo stake and ties your orchid came with and use them again.
make a run at tie the stem to the stake before the flowers start coming in.
If the orchid isnt getting enough light, it may not put out a new flower stem.
When it comes to orchids, its better to forget to water than to water too much.
The roots can easily rot from being wet too often, which will eventually kill the plant.
So take a stab at allow the planting material to dry completely between waterings.
The large moth orchids sold at Trader Joes in particular like to dry out a little between waterings.
Its better to forget to water than to water too much.
If you forget to water, moss may be a better choice.
