Christmas & Teacher Appreciation

Parents always love to give gifts at Christmas to the ones who make a difference in their children’s lives. Whether it’s a school teacher, an educational assistant, a school secretary or a daycare teacher it is nice to let them know how appreciated they are and that their constant help and support is making a difference in your child’s life. Parents often struggle with what the perfect gift is and have a hard time deciding on what the gift will be. 416-Flowers has a great selection of gifts appropriate for Christmas and will for sure be remembered for years to come.

Gift Baskets

Gift Baskets are a great way to show your thanks and appreciation to a special teacher in your child’s life. They will surely appreciate a Christmas basket with luxurious chocolates, snacks, tea, coffee and other sweet items. They may also enjoy a more savory Christmas basket with crackers, cheese, jam and nuts. You may also prefer to send a beautiful fresh fruit Christmas basket. The choice is yours but one thing is for sure any Christmas gift basket prepared and delivered by 416-Flowers will be dressed to impress and enjoyed by whomever receives it.

Plants

Plants are another great way to send your warmest Happy Holiday wishes to your child’s favorite educational assistant. What’s nice about a plant is that it can last for a long time and be brought home to be enjoyed for many months to come. 416-Flowers has a great selection of Poinsettia’s,  beautiful orchids , potted plants and dish gardens.

Christmas Flowers

Christmas vase arrangements, bouquets, centerpieces and wreaths are great gifts to give and to keep with the festive theme and decor. We have a beautiful selection of Christmas vases and Christmas fillers guaranteed to convey your most sincere Merry Christmas message! Your favorite teachers, daycare teachers and school staff will be thrilled you remembered them and will get to enjoy our beautiful and fresh Christmas flowers.

416-Flowers wishes you, your family and your friends a truly wonderful Holiday season!

Thanksgiving

For many of us, the meaning of Thanksgiving usually includes feasting, four-day weekends,  family reunions, or a forerunner to Christmas festivities. The “first Thanksgiving,” however, was neither a feast nor a holiday, but a simple gathering. Following the Mayflower’s arrival at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620, the Pilgrims suffered the lost of 46 of their original 102 colonists. With the help of 91 native Indians, the remaining Pilgrims survived the bitter winter and yielded a bountiful harvest in 1621. In celebration, a traditional English harvest festival, lasting three days brought the Pilgrims and natives to unite in what has become our traditional Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is always an eagerly anticipated holiday. It’s a great time to have delicious food and spend quality time with family. Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday so many people have the day off work. Thanksgiving is celebrated in Canada during the month of October and in America during the month of November.

The meaning of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for the blessings of the past year, to celebrate successful harvest and for religious people it’s to give thanks to God. Many religious people thank God for good things that has happened to them and pray to God for what’s in store for their futures.

416-Flowers has a beautiful and wide variety of great choices to add to your Thanksgiving table. From gorgeous and fresh fall arrangements, to Thanksgiving centerpieces or even a Thanksgiving gift basket our team is dedicated to help you and your loved ones have an amazing Thanksgiving.

Sunflower Secrets

There are many types of sunflowers and they range in sizes as well. From small to large, yellow to red, there is more then meets the eye when talking about beautiful sunflowers. Sunflowers are known as a happy flower and their sunny faces are guaranteed to bring joy to whomever gets the pleasure of enjoying them. They are one of the brightest stars in a garden and have been around for many years.

Sunflower Facts

  • Sunflowers have Greek origins and their botanical name Helianthus comes from the Greek words for sun and flower.
  • Sunflowers don’t actually follow the sun. Though, their flowers move to follow the sun’s arc across the sky each day when in bud phase, most stop by the time they flower.
  • The record for the tallest sunflower is 30 feet high. This was grown by Hans-Peter Schiffer in Germany in August 2014. He previously held the Guinness Record twice for tallest sunflower.
  • Sunflowers are the flower for a third wedding anniversary. Sunflowers symbolize loyalty and longevity. Like a marriage in its third year, the sunflower relies on its stalk for a strong foundation and its petals are vibrant and passionate.
  • A single sunflower head can hold up to 2000 seeds! These seeds are great sources of several nutrients, especially vitamin E and selenium.
  • There are about 70 different species of Sunflowers. They come in all different colors — including bright yellow, copper, red, brown, orange and even beautifully bi-colored.
  • Sunflowers bring all things good! It’s no wonder why many cultures look to sunflowers for meaning, finding positivity and strength in the bold flowers that face the sun. In China, they symbolize good fortune, vitality, intelligence and happiness. Other meanings include joy, focus, healing, and warmth.

Sunflower Decor:

In autumn, when days grow shorter, why not bring the sunshine indoors?The warm colors immediately add brightness and warmth to any room. Whether you add a vase full of sunflowers to your living room, or one stem by the kitchen sink, they will brighten your day immeasurably. 416-Flowers has a great selection of beautiful sunflower arrangements to choose from!

Sunflower Care:

When cutting fresh sunflowers, it’s best to cut early in the morning, before they open fully and when they are fully hydrated.  Have you received sunflowers by delivery?  Check the water level in the vase is at least ¾ full of cool water and add the packet of flower food included. Remove any leaves that will be underwater and use pruning shears to give them a fresh cut – one inch off the base of the stems. Put them right back into the water. Refresh the water and give them a fresh cut every three days to extend the their vase life.

Sending Flowers at Christmas

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It is the season for gift giving and flowers make great gifts for family, friends and coworkers.  Ordering flowers for Christmas delivery is a very nice and thoughtful way to wish someone a wonderful holiday season. Place your orders in a timely manner to ensure what you want is in stock and available for delivery on your selected date. Here are a few tips for ordering and delivering Christmas flowers.

What Flowers are most associated with Christmas?

There are many popular flowers and plants associated with Christmas. Red poinsettia plants, white Casa Blanca lillies and fresh evergreen are probably the most common Christmas plants and flowers. However, roses, mum’s and tulips are always popular too. When creatively designed in a Christmas theme with pine-cones, candy-canes or festive decorations, your Merry Christmas message is strongly portrayed.

Who Can I send flowers to at Christmas?

You can send flowers to your children’s teachers, your accountant, your grandma and to anyone who has made a significant impact on your life.  Sending someone a beautiful and fresh flower arrangement is a great way to convey your warmest Happy Holiday wishes and a great way to spruce up the Christmas cheer for your recipient. Sure, you could simply exchange cards, but why not add a bit of Christmas joy with some flowers? Do you have trouble finding an appropriate gift for your boss? Do you ponder with each item you look at “Is it appropriate?” Flowers are the perfect solution, not too fancy, not too expensive, yet very thoughtful. Flowers eliminate all gift choice second guessing. The number one person to send flowers to at Christmas is the person on your list for whom you just can’t figure out what to buy.

 Combine Your Christmas Flowers with Gift Baskets

Apart from flowers, there is a wide variety of Christmas gift baskets, fruit baskets and gourmet treat baskets that you can add on. There is no limit, and you can be as generous as you like with these gift items! Our website has a huge ready made selection of amazing baskets, which are perfect for the holiday season!

Order Christmas flowers online

Ordering flowers and gifts is a very easy process. Instead of searching the mall with large crowds of people you can place your order online from the comfort of your own home. This makes for a stress free shopping experience and can be done fairly quickly. You can choose your item and select your delivery option and you are good to go. Many florists offer reliable delivery services that take into account of your own personal schedule. You can request for a same day delivery, or select a specific date and time. You can even work with the florist to make your gift a surprise for the recipient, by creating a twist to the delivery!

Please stay tuned for next week’s blog on perfect gift baskets for Christmas. 416-Flowers is open everyday and we hope to prepare a beautiful Christmas arrangement for you this year!

 

The Best Flowers for Christmas

Christmas is a wonderful and magical time of the year. It lands annually on December 25th. Christmas is eagerly awaited and anticipated by a wide variety of people. It’s a great holiday for enjoying quality time with family and friends. Rocking around the Christmas tree, kissing under the mistletoe, sipping Egg Nog and singing Christmas carols. It’s a time to decorate your homes in bright lights, filling the interior with red, green and white for a most welcoming Christmas cheer.

Some great blooms for sprucing up your holiday cheer:

  1. Poinsettias
    These cherry red and deep green beauties are the most recognizable Christmas flower, even though poinsettias are actually plants. While their bright leaves look like flower petals, poinsettias are the most popular potted plant of the season. Stick with red or put a twist on tradition with a white poinsettia. Even better, display both red and white together for layers of festive florals.
  2. Red and White Roses
    You may not immediately think red roses for Christmas but they are actually a festive flower that brightens the holiday season. The red rose traditionally means love, but some believe it represents the blood of Christ during the Christmas season. Red roses paired with pine-cones and ribbons give off a chic and rustic vibe. White roses symbolize purity and peace, adding a gentle touch of winter elegance to your holiday decor.  Florists use white roses to create winter wonderland inspired arrangements.
  3. Christmas Wreaths
    The art of hanging Christmas wreaths originated from the Romans who hung wreaths on their doors as a sign of their status in society. It’s circular shape represents eternity, for it has no beginning and no end. Christmas Wreaths are great to have on your door for all your guests to see and an even better way to help spread your Holiday cheer.
  4. Christmas Trees
    Legend says the traditional evergreen Christmas trees have magical healing powers, and the circular shape of wreaths further symbolizes everlasting life. We also encourage getting creative with your magical evergreens, decorating them to fit your family’s style and endearing quirks. For smaller spaces like dorms, apartments and offices, choose a festive mini tree!
  5. Christmas Centerpieces
    The centerpiece for your holiday table can be used throughout the holiday season and inspire a festive season for you and your family. A centerpiece can give your dining table a flare of the Christmas spirit. It’s a great addition to your Christmas table to show your love for the festive season.
  6. White Lillies
    These enchanted blooms are a brilliant white, embodying a peaceful, hopeful and spirited holiday season. Traditionally, lilies are symbolic of the Virgin Mary. Aesthetically, they add a timeless look to any winter bouquet. Plus, their fresh scent complements the traditional evergreen and earthy pine fragrances of Christmas.

We hope we’ve given you enough information on choosing great Christmas flowers! Don’t forget 416-Flowers is here for all your Christmas floral needs and stay tuned for next week’s post about great Christmas flowers and gifts to send to your family, friends and coworkers.

Fun Flower Facts

The word flower comes from the Old French word “flor” or “flour”.  The importance of flowers  in nature is everywhere. They can feed insects, birds, animals and humans, they provide natural medicines for humans and some animals  and aid in a plant’s reproduction by enticing outside pollinators. Without flowers, plants would merely be green, and the world would be a duller place.  The arrangement of plant materials truly became an art and an important decorative device in the 17th century. During this period of worldwide exploration, colonization, and commerce, new plants were introduced into Europe, where an avid interest in horticulture developed.  A recent study  found that flowers improve emotional health, making people feel instantly happy when they receive flowers from a loved one!  All of the participants in the study showed “true” or “excited” smiles when they received flowers, showing extreme happiness and gratitude. Flowers make you feel happier for longer.

Some Fun Flower Facts : 

  • In 17th Century Holland, Tulip bulbs were more valuable than gold! The flower symbolized immortality, life and love. In 1630’s a kind of frenzy for tulips occurred in Western Europe named “Tulip mania” and tulips became so expensive as to be treated as a form of currency. Tulips lifespan is very short, being 3 to 7 days.
  • It is said,  that the Sunflower head track’s the sun’s movement. The Sunflower head is actually made of many tiny flowers called florets. Sunflower seeds are rich in oil, which they store as a source of energy and food; its seeds are crushed to produce sunflower oil for cooking. 
  • Roses are related to apples, raspberries, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears and almonds. Rose hips (the berry-like fruit structure of rose) of some species of rose are amongst the richest source of Vitamin C. They are used to make jams, jellies and also brewed for tea. 
  • The Bird of Paradise is a beautiful, oddly shaped plant that resembles a colorful tropical bird.
  • If you want to get a better night’s sleep tonight, try placing Gerbera daisies next to your bed. Gerberas emit oxygen and absorb carbon monoxide and toxins at night, this was said to be especially helpful for anyone suffering from sleep apnea.
  • Hydrangeas’ color is determined by the acidity of the soil it’s planted in. If the soil is too alkaline it will result in pink Hydrangeas.  
  • Shenzhen Nongke Orchid, most expensive flower ever sold – This orchid flowers only blooms once every 4 to 5 years and takes its name from the university at which it was developed. Scientists spent 8 years creating the delicate bloom which fetched a staggering $200,000 at auction in 2005. It remains the most expensive flower ever sold. You can browse our Orchid selection on our site. They won’t be so expensive! 
  • Lilies are flowers that are toxic and dangerous to cats. 
  • Calla Lily has numerous flowers. Each individual calla lily actually houses a series of flowers. The single outside petal—technically called a spathe—swoops around and protects those inner flowers in an elegant swirl shape. 
  • Carnations are edible! While they might not be the most delicious things in existence, carnations are often used as an edible decoration/garnish on salads, cakes, and other desserts. On top of that, breweries, distilleries, and wineries also sometimes use carnations as a flavoring agent. 

All About Roses

Roses are a flowering shrub. They grow in many different colors from classic red to yellow, purple and pink. Roses belong to the Rosaceae family and grew wild all over North-America, Europe, Africa and many parts of Asia. There are over 100 species of roses and roses are widely known as a luxury flower around the world.

Roses are widely used across the world as as symbol of love, sorrow and sympathy. Many years ago, Rich Romans would lie on beds made of roses and wear roses around their necks. Anything that was said “under the roses” was considered to be a secret.

The flower from the rose plant comes in many different sizes. It may be as small as a half of an inch or as large as 7 inches in diameter.  Most roses all have a very pleasant smell. You are able to see the tiny perfume glands on the petals from under a microscope.

There are thousands of types of roses grown around the world today. The names used to describe all the types usually come from the species of rose that is the main ancestor for the flower.  Hybrid Tea roses, Floribunda roses and English roses are the most common roses found in gardens these days. They come in a wide variety of colors such as red, orange, yellow, pink, purple and so on. Other types of roses you may have heard about before are Alba roses, Bourbon roses, Climbing roses, Miniature roses, Moss roses and Rugosa roses. These are just a few of the many types of roses there are.

Different colors of roses have different meanings. When choosing roses for yourself or for someone else it may be helpful to know what the colors mean.

  • Red – A red rose is an expression of love. Red roses usually show deep feelings, like love, longing, or desire. Red roses can also be used to show respect, admiration or devotion. A deep red rose can be used to show regret and sorrow. The number of red roses given has a special meaning as well. 12 red roses is the most popular number to give; it means “Be mine” and “I love you”. 
  • Pink –  There are a lot of variations of the pink rose. Usually, pink roses are used to express gentle emotions such as admiration, joy, gratitude and deep or endless love. 
  • Dark Pink – Deep pink rose blooms may mean deep gratitude and appreciation. Dark pink roses also express elegance and grace.  
  • Light Pink –  Light pink rose blooms are symbols of pleasantness and innocence.  
  • White – White is the color of purity, innocence and love. It represents love that is eternal and endures beyond death. White roses usually may symbolize a new start, and it is a custom for brides to hold them when she walks down the aisle at her wedding. In certain faiths, the white rose can represent the sanctity of a marriage. White roses can be used to show sympathy or humility. They also may be about spiritual things. 
  • Yellow –  Yellow roses are usually used as an expression of exuberance. Yellow roses show sunny feelings of joy, warmth, and sometimes welcome. They are symbols of friendship and caring. The yellow rose, unlike some of the other roses, does not mean or express any romance.  
  • Orange –  Orange roses remind most people of a fiery blaze. These fiery blooms are symbols of passion and energy. Orange roses can be used to show desire and pride.  
  • Blue – Blue roses cannot be found in the nature and so they represent the unattainable or the mysterious. Blue roses therefore show the desire for the goals you cannot reach. They may sometimes mean “I can’t have you but I can’t stop thinking about you”.   
  • Black – Black is the color of death and farewell. A black rose shows the death of a feeling or idea. Sending black roses to someone indicates the death of the relationship, or sometimes it may be used in burials.   
  • Lavender –  A lavender rose, like its color, shows enchantment. It also expresses “love at first sight”.  

 

When choosing roses you wish to have delivered you have many options to choose from. You can choose a beautiful and fresh rose arrangement in a vase, you can send a hand-tied bouquet of roses or you can also have them sent in a beautiful box with decorative ribbons. Many people associate boxed roses with Valentine’s Day or to celebrate a special Anniversary date. Hand-tied bouquets are very popular to send to someone you know that has a lot of vases on hand at home and a vase arrangement is also very popular for Valentine’s Day, Anniversary’s or just to say I Love You.

Planning your Perfect Wedding Flowers

Choosing your flowers is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. But before you make any decisions, there are a few points you’ll want to consider. Use this step-by-step wedding flower guide to help get you on the right path for perfect flowers.

  1. Find the right Wedding Florist
    Before you venture out and start the meet-and-greets with selected florists, think about the type of person you work well with. Do you want someone who’s going to grab the buds by the stems and take control? Or are you looking for someone who wants you to guide them every step of the way? A combination of both? You’ll also need to get a good idea about design tendencies (and if they match yours).  Insist on seeing a portfolio before you commit. Talk to friends and relatives who recently got married and find out who they used.
  2. Consider your Budget
    Figure out exactly how much you want to spend on flowers before you meet with any florists. A lot of people estimate that eight percent of the total wedding cost will go to flowers – from the bouquets and boutonnieres to the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception decor. There’s a lot of stuff to consider, so don’t be surprised if you end up spending more. So we suggest you pad in an extra 10% to your budget for flowers to stay on the safe side.
  3. Determine your Wedding Flower Vision
    Have a general idea about your taste. Are you a true minimalist? Or are you looking to do a romantic Gatsby-style wedding? Create a file of magazine tear-outs  and not just bridal pics. Lifestyle shots, colors, and fashion photos will all help give your florist a clear idea of your loves and love-nots. And don’t forget shots from friends’ weddings. Maybe you flipped over the centerpieces, but hated the bouquets. Make sure to tell your florist what flowers you like and what flowers you don’t like to make sure your flowers will be everything you ever dreamed of on your big day.
  4. Create your Wedding Color Concept
    Please figure out exactly what your maid of honor, bridesmaids, flower girls, groomsmen and ring bearer will be wearing before picking out your wedding flowers. It will be very hard to pick flowers if you don’t know what color your wedding party will be wearing on your special day.
  5. Pick your Wedding Dress before Flowers
    At this point, you should have already picked out your gown, seeing as that will dictate what kind of bouquet you should carry. While you might not think so, florists base many decisions on the bride’s gown, how ornate it is, whether it’s white or cream, if it’s classic or contemporary, and so on. Most florists think of the wedding dress as the centerpiece of the day, so this will give your florist a good idea of where you’re going with the wedding style.

Now that we’ve gone through a few steps to help guide you along in the process of choosing your perfect wedding flowers we would like to give you some information on what flowers you need and choosing your perfect wedding style. 

If you’re having trouble figuring out how to pick out your wedding flowers, think about what style best suits your wedding vision. Some common styles are Traditional, Rustic, Soft, Romantic, Bohemian, Simple, Elegant & Bold. 

Once you’ve decided on the style for your big day, you have to start thinking about all the types of flowers you will need for your wedding party and what purpose they will serve. Some common wedding party flowers you may need will be Bride Bouquet, Bridesmaid Bouquets, Corsages, Boutonnieres, Flower Girl Bouquet, Ring Bearer Boutonniere, Bouquet Toss & Flower Crowns

After you have a general idea about flowers required for your wedding party, you can start planning flowers for your big day. You will most likely need Entrance Flowers, Alter/Chuppah Flowers, Aisle/Pew/Chair Flowers, Flower girl Rose Petals, Table Centerpieces, Head Table Centerpieces, Cake Decor, Guestbook Table Decor, Bar Decor & Buffet Decor

Once you have picked your wedding style, determined who in your wedding party requires what flowers and last but not least decided on what flowers you need for the actual wedding itself you are now ready to meet with your florist. Make sure to pick the florist you feel most comfortable with and don’t necessarily pick the one who promises the cheaper price. You want to make sure your flowers will be breathtakingly beautiful and admired by all for years to come! Getting married is a very special and important time in your life so make sure everything is exactly how you dream it to be.

 

Benefits of Office Plants

Plants can bring a lot of character to neutral office interior’s. Having small plants will also improve the air quality, remove impurities and add focal point’s to your work environment. Plants have been proven to lower workplace stress and improve productivity. Doctor recorded research from several universities in the world have proven that the stress levels tend to be around 12% less in offices with plants then in those with no plants.

Small Indoor Plants

One of the benefits of small indoor plants is they are easy to take care of, and they are resilient. With minimal care, you can keep the plant around your desk or in other parts of the office for a very long time.  The key to making this happen is choosing the right plant.  Office’s tend to be very busy environments and once 5:00 hits Friday afternoon no one usually returns until Monday morning. Some good low maintenance plants for your office may be:

  • Cactus Plants- If you’re a plant novice, pick up a cactus. These plants thrive in natural light and only have to be watered once a week.
  • Air Plants- These spidery guys don’t even need soil to survive. All you have to do to water them is dunk them in water for two or three hours every 10 days—a perfect activity while you labor the afternoon away crunching numbers.
  • Aloe Vera- Forget to water your Aloe Vera? No problem. It’s actually worse to over water these plants than to underwater them. Just it give it a soak every week or two.
  • Succulents- These waxy plants actually store water in their thick leaves. Therefore, they typically only require weekly water and enjoy sunlight and dry air.
  • Bamboo- This “lucky” plant needs very little light meaning it’s basically made for cube desks. Even better? It’ll give your work space a much-needed Feng Shui boost.

Large Indoor Plants

There are a number of reasons that a business or homeowner would want to decorate their space with tall indoor plants.

Taller indoor plants exude the soothing feeling of shelter. People have an instinctive need to surround themselves with foliage. Also, using plants at varied heights (small, medium and tall) will help create the feel of nature indoors. Nature is random and by mixing up the size of your indoor plants your space will be able tap into the essence of the outdoors.

Some good options for larger office plants may be:

  • Palm Plants– There are a wide variety of palms that can be used indoors. Many upright palms can get quite tall in height. Most palms enjoy medium to high light. Having them by a window is best. Palms benefit from high humidity and don’t do well in soggy soil.
  • Ficus Tree- The Ficus Tree is a popular and inexpensive office plant. They do require high light and lots of water. They are a great addition to any office space.
  • Schefflera Plant-  If you have an area with high light (preferably direct or bright indirect light), Schefflera could be a very good plant for you. Make sure to water regularly and let the soil dry.
  • Dracaenas Plants- Dracaenas are one of the most common types of tall indoor plants. Dracaenas come in a variety of sizes, shapes and forms. Dracaenas are very popular because they are fairly easy to care for. They tolerate most indoor conditions and don’t require high light.

Dish Gardens

Dish Gardens are very popular these days. Miniature gardens are created in decorative container’s combining groups of blooming and green plants. They’re a fantastic way to bring nature indoors, to brighten up your office,  and to naturally assist with cleaning indoor air spaces. Most dish gardens are low maintenance and thrive under most conditions.

How to Properly Care for Orchids

Orchids are beautiful and graceful flowers. Orchids come in multiple colors, shapes and sizes. Did you know that there is over 22,000 species of orchids? Care requirements vary based on the type. Regardless of which orchid type you may have you can follow some easy steps to keep your orchid looking healthy and fresh. 

Here are some easy steps you can take to create the perfect environment for your orchids:

  1. Use pots with drainage holes. It is very important your orchid pots are equipped with drainage holes for excess water to run out. You don’t want root rot to kill your beautiful orchid!
  2. Place your pots near south or east facing windows if possible. Orchids require strong but indirect light to thrive. If you don’t have a window facing south or east your next best option is placing them by a window with a west view. However due to increased sunlight from west views please ensure you keep a sheer curtain on the window to avoid your orchid getting burnt. North views may not provide your orchid enough light to bloom.
  3. Maintain a temperature of 16-24C in your home or office. Orchids do extremely well in modest temperatures. They will die if it gets too cold. Correct temperature varies based on the species of your orchid but in general if you keep your home at 16C your orchids should do just fine.
  4. Provide your orchids with gentle air circulation to keep the roots healthy. In mild months you may open windows in your home for a gentle breeze.

Now that you have some general knowledge on creating the perfect environment for your orchids to live a long life we would like to go over watering, feeding and pruning your orchids. 

  1. Water your orchids before they go dry.  Inside your orchid pot the orchid should have a plastic clear pot with holes in the bottom. Remove the exterior pot and place the plastic pot in a bucket of water. Allow the orchid to soak for approximately five minutes before removing it from the water. Allow the orchid to drain and then place your plastic pot back into the original pot.
  2. Fertilize your orchids once per month while they’re flowering. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer, mix it at half strength  and feed the orchids once per month. Do not water them within several days after fertilizing or the nutrients will leach out with the water.
  3. Cut off stems when the flowers have died. Most orchids don’t flower more then once on the same stem with the exception of the Phalaenopsis.

 

 The last thing we would like to share with you is what you can do if your orchids become diseased or infested with bugs and pests. Bugs and pests are not good for your orchids

  1. If you see any insects remove them immediately by hand. Signs of insects may be sticky leaves and black mold. Use your hands to remove all the visible insects on the top and underside of the leaves and flower stalks.
  2. Clean the affected leaves with soapy water. Add a squirt of dish soap to a cup of room temperature water, dip a soft cloth in the solution and gently wipe down each leaf and flower stalk. The soapy water will remove the stickiness and will kill any remaining insects.
  3. If these problems persist, spray your orchid with insecticide. If you did step 1 and 2 but insects still persist, visit your local garden center and ask for help picking out an insecticide that is safe for orchids.
  4. If you notice that your orchid has discolored leaves or spots on them, it is likely suffering from a disease. Remove as much of the infected tissue as possible. Use a sterile cutting tool to cut away the diseased leaves, stems and flowers. After cutting away the diseased tissue, spray your orchid with fungicide or bactericide. You may find these products at your local gardening center.

Please take a look at our beautiful orchid plant options.