Orchids for Christmas?
December 3rd, 2019
Nothing comes close to the poinsettia as king of the Christmas plants.
Moth orchids have become a popular Christmas plant.
But lately, there’s an elegant floral queen that’s been closing the popularity gap – orchids.
This large and diverse family of bloomers used to have the reputation of being expensive to buy and finicky to grow.
Then mass merchants began carrying relatively easy-to-grow moth orchids, jacking up grower production and driving down retail prices.
So although poinsettias are still the top-selling potted plant in the U.S. – with almost all of them changing hands between Thanksgiving and Christmas – orchids have moved into the No. 2 position in dollars sold, ahead of both Easter lilies and fall mums.
Orchids have a few Christmasy advantages.
For one thing, they still seem pricey and elegant, making them alluring gift choices.
They also come in lots of colors, are non-toxic and low-allergenic as a houseplant, and some are fragrant.
Orchids have exceptionally long bloom times, too – usually months.
And unlike poinsettias, which are generally throw-away plants since they’re difficult to bring back into color at home, orchids can last and rebloom for years (if you know a few care basics, which I’ll get to in a minute).
Although orchids aren’t as purely seasonal as poinsettias, mums and Easter lilies, many of them have the good marketing sense to bloom in December – a must for Christmas sales.
At the top of the list is Phalaenopsis or “moth orchids,” so named for its flowers that look like spread-open moth wings. They’re mildly fragrant and can stay in flower for three to four months.
Lady’s slipper orchids are a second type becoming more available at mass merchants.
Three other orchid species you’re likely to find in bloom for Christmas are Paphiopedilums or “lady’s slipper orchids,” Cattleya or “corsage orchids,” and Oncidiums, a diverse species that includes “dancing lady orchids” that have flowers resembling gowns.
Besides lower prices and wider availability, better consumer education is helping home gardeners realize orchids aren’t as difficult to grow as their finicky reputations indicate.
As with any plant, you just have to know what kind of conditions they want and then give them that.
Most of the orchids we encounter are tree-dwellers in their native tropical to sub-tropical climates. That means they like good air flow, extremely well drained growing medium, and nothing close to freezing temperatures.
Other than sitting them outside in winter, the fastest way to kill orchids is to grow them in heavy soil and give them lots of water.
Instead of “regular” potting soil, orchids do much better in a medium that’s mostly bark, usually with horticultural charcoal and perlite mixed in. Most garden centers carry mixes specifically formulated for orchids. A fresh mix should last about two years.
Orchids should be watered when the mix goes dry. Don’t keep them constantly soaked, and don’t allow excess water in the bottom of the pot. Room-temperature water, preferably unsoftened, is ideal.
One good way to do the watering deed is to hold a potted orchid under a faucet or sink sprayer for 10 or 15 seconds, then let it drain completely.
Most orchids do fine in household temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees. Just keep them away from hot-air heaters and cold drafts near doors.
Corsage orchids and oncidium types do best in brighter light, such as near south, west or southwest windows. Moth orchids and lady’s slipper orchids are happy in slightly lower light, such as near an eastern window or behind sheer curtains.
You’ll know you’re giving orchids too much light if the leaves turn yellow or red. They don’t like getting blasted by bright, direct light.
Orchids that are dark green but fail to flower may not be getting enough light.
For nutrition, a balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20 – diluted about half and applied every other week – is usually enough.
Follow that game plan and your new orchid shouldn’t become a memory of Christmas past.