Orchid Styling Session – There’s an Orchid for Every Interior
Did you know that there are over 25,000 species of orchids? True fact! Amazing right?
Orchids bring back fond memories of the months I was living in Thailand working, which is where I met my husband many moons ago. I had orchids in my room and just loved being surrounded by such striking flowers.
Earlier this year I noticed them pop up a few times in Milan when I was there for Design Week, and declared them the new peonies, so I was pretty happy when I was approached to work on this 'We feel better around orchids' campaign!
I still love a peony as much as the next Instagrammer, but orchids are a fabulous antidote to the blowsy blooms that have been so prevalent for the last several years.
Before I get into caring for your orchid, there's a fun quiz you can take to help match you with one that works with your interior style - there's an orchid to suit everyone! Let me know what your 'Orchitype' is in the comments below once you've taken the test.
I got matched with the classic Phalaenopsis, which is probably the most well known type of orchid. The white ones that I have in my living room are just stunning, and this species also comes in the prettiest pinks, peaches and purples.
Sarah Akwisombe is the UK Orchid Ambassador, and we had a chat about styling and caring for orchids, and of course Cleo wanted to get in on all the action too.
Surprisingly, and unlike so many plants and flowers, the Phalaenopsis is apparently non-toxic to both dogs and cats, which is just as well and there's nothing Cleo likes more than sneaking a nibble on a pretty flower!
Sarah and I agreed that the white against my cream walls was perfect - the beautiful translucent petals are just SO pretty! We put the standard Phalaenopsis plants into a simple concrete pot and a footed aged one, while the mini version is in a glass pot with moss to surround the root ball, which looks really sleek and modern.
* If you don't have time for that, or if you've re-potted your orchid and it's not in the plastic pot anymore, you can use one shot glass of water (approximately 60mls) and pour it into the side of the container. Make sure you don't pour it into the middle on the leaves as the leaves will rot.
* Normal tap water is fine, but orchids particularly love rain water or water from a condenser clothes dryer as it's devoid of minerals and lime. Now that really would be recycling at its best!
* In the summer months, you can add orchid food to its water once a month. Make sure it's specifically for orchids as normal plant food is too strong.
* If you want to re-pot an orchid, make sure you buy potting soil specifically for orchids with the right composition for them to thrive.
* Like many plants, they like plenty of natural light, but not direct sunlight.
* They don't like drafts and the perfect temperature for them is between 15 and 25 degrees.
* Be wary of placing them near fruits and vegetables as some emit ethylene which can cause an orchid to drop all its buds!
* Cut off dead flowers if they don't fall off naturally, so the plant can put all its energy into creating new buds.
Orchids bring back fond memories of the months I was living in Thailand working, which is where I met my husband many moons ago. I had orchids in my room and just loved being surrounded by such striking flowers.
Earlier this year I noticed them pop up a few times in Milan when I was there for Design Week, and declared them the new peonies, so I was pretty happy when I was approached to work on this 'We feel better around orchids' campaign!
I still love a peony as much as the next Instagrammer, but orchids are a fabulous antidote to the blowsy blooms that have been so prevalent for the last several years.
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| Image: Bianca Hall |
While there is an orchid to suit all styles, with their incredible form and structure, I think they fit particularly well with a slightly less maximalist look. Or as I like to call it, a mini-maximalist look, because a minimalist I am not!
I'm sharing some care information below, directly from The Flower Council of Holland, and it's really specific too which is great. Hopefully this will give you the confidence to buy an orchid plant, as they truly are such beautiful things to have in the home. Compared to the price of cut flowers which usually last a week at best, they're amazing value for money too, and they're renowned for making you feel good too!
I'm sharing some care information below, directly from The Flower Council of Holland, and it's really specific too which is great. Hopefully this will give you the confidence to buy an orchid plant, as they truly are such beautiful things to have in the home. Compared to the price of cut flowers which usually last a week at best, they're amazing value for money too, and they're renowned for making you feel good too!
 |
| Image: Bianca Hall |
Before I get into caring for your orchid, there's a fun quiz you can take to help match you with one that works with your interior style - there's an orchid to suit everyone! Let me know what your 'Orchitype' is in the comments below once you've taken the test.
I got matched with the classic Phalaenopsis, which is probably the most well known type of orchid. The white ones that I have in my living room are just stunning, and this species also comes in the prettiest pinks, peaches and purples.
Sarah Akwisombe is the UK Orchid Ambassador, and we had a chat about styling and caring for orchids, and of course Cleo wanted to get in on all the action too.
 |
| Image: Bianca Hall |
Sarah and I agreed that the white against my cream walls was perfect - the beautiful translucent petals are just SO pretty! We put the standard Phalaenopsis plants into a simple concrete pot and a footed aged one, while the mini version is in a glass pot with moss to surround the root ball, which looks really sleek and modern.
 |
| Image: Bianca Hall |
Orchid Care Tips
Watering
* If you keep your orchid in its original plastic pot within another decorative container, you can simply lift it out keeping it in the plastic container, and pop it in a bowl, sink, or bucket of water for five to ten minutes. Do this once a week in the summer months, and once a fortnight during the winter. Keep it up weekly if you tend to keep the heating on constantly in the cooler months though!* If you don't have time for that, or if you've re-potted your orchid and it's not in the plastic pot anymore, you can use one shot glass of water (approximately 60mls) and pour it into the side of the container. Make sure you don't pour it into the middle on the leaves as the leaves will rot.
* Normal tap water is fine, but orchids particularly love rain water or water from a condenser clothes dryer as it's devoid of minerals and lime. Now that really would be recycling at its best!
* In the summer months, you can add orchid food to its water once a month. Make sure it's specifically for orchids as normal plant food is too strong.
 |
| Image: Flower Council Of Holland - Phalaenopsis |
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| Image: Flower Council of Holland - Cymbidium |
Maintenance
* If you want to re-pot an orchid, make sure you buy potting soil specifically for orchids with the right composition for them to thrive.* Like many plants, they like plenty of natural light, but not direct sunlight.
* They don't like drafts and the perfect temperature for them is between 15 and 25 degrees.
* Be wary of placing them near fruits and vegetables as some emit ethylene which can cause an orchid to drop all its buds!
* Cut off dead flowers if they don't fall off naturally, so the plant can put all its energy into creating new buds.
 |
| Images: Flower Council of Holland - Zygopetalum / Phalaenopsis Mini / Phalaenopsis |
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| Image: Flower Council of Holland - Cambria |
Blooming Again
* When your orchid finishes blooming, cut dead flowers right back to the base. Or for the Phalaenopsis it's better to cut it off right above the second node (the little bumps on the stem).
* To encourage your orchid to bloom again, you can move it to a slightly cooler spot.
* Make sure you continue to water it, but less frequently. Once a fortnight is good, and reduce feeding to once every two months.
* After a while the branches will start to grow again, and you can move it back to its original spot, and enjoy watching it bloom again.
This post is in collaboration with The Flower Council of Holland.
For more information please visit the following website and social media channels:
* To encourage your orchid to bloom again, you can move it to a slightly cooler spot.
* Make sure you continue to water it, but less frequently. Once a fortnight is good, and reduce feeding to once every two months.
* After a while the branches will start to grow again, and you can move it back to its original spot, and enjoy watching it bloom again.
 |
| Image: Bianca Hall |
This post is in collaboration with The Flower Council of Holland.
About the campaign ‘We feel better around orchids’
The ongoing promotion campaign ‘We feel better around orchids’ is an initiative of Flower council of Holland. The goal of the campaign is to inform consumers within the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom and Germany about the versatility of the orchid, to inspire them and to stimulate awareness and sales.
For more information please visit the following website and social media channels:
Website: www.orchidsinfo.eu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orchidsinfo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/orchids_info
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orchidsinfo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/orchids_info
Instagram: https://instagram.com/orchidsinfo
Pinterest: https://nl.pinterest.com/orchidsinfo
Pinterest: https://nl.pinterest.com/orchidsinfo