Make your winter interiors bloom with orchid flower arrangements. In the winter when little else is blooming, what could be more wonderful than to lose yourself in an orchid blossom? They’re so intricately created, they could be jewelry. They almost blur the distinction between artifice and nature.
Our Most Popular Orchid Arrangements
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Indeed, the orchid family, Orchidaceae, is a marvel of evolutionary range and ingenuity, with more than 800 genera and 25,000 known species. And the number of registered hybrids, now topping 110,000, rises almost daily. In fact, they hybridize so easily that there may never be an end to the new varieties and new color combinations that growers create.
At their shop, Foxgloves & Ivy, Larry Hammack and partner Greg Brown send out hundreds of arrangements each week, and orchids are a part of many of them. “When orchids are used in arrangements, they always make a statement,” says Larry.
“An incredible cymbidium stem dropped in an inch of water in a big, clear, square vase says ‘contemporary’ in a way little else can,” he says. “Mixing orchids with what we in the floral trade call the ‘Dutch’ flowers is a great way to add drama to a more traditional arrangement, and extend the life of that arrangement.”
Because orchids don’t have to be in water, they’re perfect for occasions like weddings that call for “personal” flowers.
“We put them in boutonnières and bride’s bouquets, on the wedding cake or tucked in at the place settings,” says Larry. “That staying power makes them wonderfully affordable for home use as well. If you’re having a dinner party, buy one cymbidium stem and you’ll have enough blossoms for every napkin ring and to float in a beautiful crystal bowl to center the table,” he suggests.
Caring for Cut Orchids
For those of us who might be intimidated by these fascinating flowers, questions abound.
How do you care for orchids in a cut-flower arrangement? “Don’t put them in the refrigerator,” Larry cautions. “They just can’t handle the cold. Recut the stems just as you would the other flowers in an arrangement, and be sure your vase is spotless. They don’t really need flower food, but a little can’t hurt, as a key component is the bactericide, which will help keep the water fresh.”
By Conne Ward-Cameron