A couple of months ago, I was given an orchid as a farewell gift when I left my paying job. It was beautiful. Two stems full of gorgeous white blooms and healthy green leaves. I owned an orchid!
I started thinking... maybe I could care for an orchid! How hard could it be really? I brought it home and upon the suggestion of someone who seemed to know what she was talking about I placed it in the bathroom.
Things seem to be going well. Another bloom opened. It seemed healthy. Time went by and the blooms lasted weeks and weeks. I was encouraged. Oh sure.. after about six weeks a few of the blooms started dying and falling off, but really - this orchid thing wasn't so hard. And I was pleased to have such a lovely plant in my home.
Then I was reminded why I have never had an orchid before...
I work for a lawfirm and we get new orchids every 3-4 weeks, as they end up looking just like yours. I know nothing of their upkeep either. I am told by the florist who delivers them to really soak them once a week pot and all in a bucket of water. Leaves will appear first... Very large ones. None of us had any flowers come back yet, but our leaves are really big and pretty.
ReplyDeleteSo there is hope of bringing it back after it gets to this point? Interesting!
Deleteorchids are so tricky I had a lady that lived in my carehome her daughters brought her orchids for every holiday and I felt horrible that the staff wouldn't even try to keep it alive for her I did constance care on my shifts but not quite enough to save them, then the daughters got smart and TA DUM...they got her a silk one that looked so incredibly real with a few squirts of floral air freshener are little lady was happy all year long!! Maybe go for a silk one lol :))
ReplyDeleteThat might be the only kind I can keep alive! LOL
DeleteI am laughing as I read this. SW got me an orchid for Mother's Day. The last two buds fell off without opening (I think I overwatered it) and the rest of it is still going strong. But I look at it every day wondering when it will die. Because it surely will. I kill everything. Well, except my Patricia vine and Pothos. Those seem to be like weeds, and weeds thrive with me. :D
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking I should stick to Pothos and Purslane!
DeleteAwww... poor little plant. I have a black thumb so I certainly sympathize. My mom loves orchids so for Mother's Day I got her an artificial orchid plant from Gump's (a store in San Francisco that specializes in fancy merchandise). You honestly cannot tell it from the real thing. Makes me feel a little better about my total lack of horticultural abilities ;-)
ReplyDeleteI know! It's sad, isn't it? I'm thinking artifical orchids may be my only hope of keeping one alive. : )
DeleteAww! One day I hope to have a garden full of beautiful flowers...but I think that I was not blessed with the elusive green thumb. I can't keep anything alive either!
ReplyDeleteFunny thing... the outside flowers look pretty good. It's the indoor stuff I struggle with.
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