Orchids – Failure Is Not An Option!

Jan 18th Orchids – Failure Is Not An Option!

I know this is a little off topic for me, blogging about flowers, let alone Orchids. However, I am so excited about my recent break through, I hope you’ll bear with me.

For years and years I have tried to grow Orchids. Bought the special soil to plant them in, watered them faithfully, sat them in direct sun, indirect sun, shade, artificial light. You name it, I tried it. Each effort met with terrible failure, resulting in a dead orchid and disappointment. I felt terrible. I was an Orchid killer, and I hated it.

My house is filled with beautiful plants, from purple African Violets, to White, Red and Pink Christmas Cactus, Palms, you name it, I‘ve got it. Well…pretty much, no Venus Fly Traps or plants from outer space i.e. Little Shop of Horrors. LOL.

Last Mother’s Day, my hubby bought me this beautiful, huge blue Orchid. It was infused with blue, so if and when I ever got it to grow again, it would bloom white, which was fine with me. If it would just bloom. Heck, I’d be happy if it would survive.

The Orchid came with a little instruction card of care and feeding, listing an exact watering schedule and food. So I carefully sat it on the kitchen table in a window that got direct sun during the morning, per instructions. I watered once a week, submerging the entire pot in water for 5 minutes. I used a timer. Wasn’t taking any chances. Took it out and let it drain for a few minutes, Orchids don’t like their little feeties wet. Fertilized with a balance mix (20-10-20) Believe me, that mix was hard to find. I finally resorted to looking it up on Amazon and ordering it there. No store locally had that particular mix. I was bound determined to do everything within my power to urge my orchid to live. After the last blue flower expired, I cut the spike one-half inch above the node from which the first bloom appeared. The directions said a new spike would branch off within weeks.

Low and behold, a few weeks later, first one then two and three new leaves grew on the plant, no sign of blooms. Yet my orchid was thriving. One morning I noticed a small spike on one original branch, then one on the other branch, to my delight a brand new spike grew from the plant itself. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. Now, I am considering asking for another Orchid this May, maybe a Black Sapphire Orchid to join my other one. My Orchid killing days are over and I am celebrating! Won’t you join me. Leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.