Orchids and Blooms

My parents-in-law has always loved orchids and any other plants that blooms with flowers.

Yet, they've not been successful at keeping the flowers in bloom. Often, the plants will be in full bloom when its bought from the florists and then dies.  You bet how sad my parents-in-law would be.

Recently father-in-law went to buy a few new pots of orchids - really pretty ones with lots of buds waiting to bloom.  Initially I thought its because the place where they put the pots (the corridor) was too shady hence the plants die.  Mother-in-law has been watering the orchids religiously but to no avail.  Remembering that my mom always soak the orchid pots (i.e. Orchids growing on charcoal) into water, I asked hubby to try. True enough, the orchid buds bloomed and the flowers looked more radiant. Mother-in-law also claimed that the leaves were also firmer and no longer droopy. That confirmed my initial hypothesis - the orchids were not getting enough water.

Then we went out to buy fertilizers and orchid hormones. This is where we learnt more about orchids.  The lady at the florist told us that orchids with spiky leaves (like needles) needs a lot of sunlight. Van de Joaquim  (I hope this is how we spell it) need not as much sunlight because they dun have spiky leaves. Just give them sufficient water (can soak the pots of charcoal in water for 10-15mins), spray it with water mixed with some of the orchid hormones twice a week. We were also told not to fertilise the orchids in bloom because it can shorten the bloom life.  That is, orchids usually can stay in bloom for 3-4 mths. If we fertilise it, it may shorten to 1mth or so.  Hence, we should only put fertilizers for those orchids that has deflowered to provide it with sufficient nutrients. Orchid Hormones on the other hand can be sprayed on the leaves, roots and flowers regardless of whether the flowers are in bloom or not.