Orchid Blog

The Birds and Bees of Orchid Reproduction

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:03:00 GMT

In our last post, we talked about the evolution of orchids. The same article from the North of England Orchid Society Website goes on to explain fascinating techniques orchids have evolved to attract pollinators.

One single pod can contain as many as 4 million seeds so it seems like reproduction would be assured, but conditions need to be just right, and to find that, the seeds need some help.

Our titular mention of bees was not merely metaphorical. There is an orchid known as the Bee Orchid that looks like a receptive female bee. Similarly using mimicry as a lure, the Oncidium Papillio have long stems which make the flowers dance like butterflies on a breeze.

Many orchid flowers provide an ideal landing platform for their pollinator to use, others use stealth--like the Slipper Orchid. Lured by the promise of a drink from its pouch, the insect finds the polished surface so slippery that it falls to the bottom, where the pollen is rubbed against it as it uses the escape hatch at the bottom.

Some orchids rely on crawling insects to pollinate them, and will produce long petals which trail down to the ground creating a pathway to their flowers. But some cater to specific insects—like the Angreacum Sesquipidales. Darwin wrote about this one in his Origin of the Species! He deduced from its long white star-like flowers which exude a heavy perfume at night, that the pollinator must be a moth with a long tongue. It was not until after Darwin’s death that the Predicta Moth was discovered, which possesses such a long tongue, and unfortunately the great man never had the pleasure of seeing his theory proven.

Of course, orchids do not rely on insects alone. Humming birds, small mammals, even bats, and even the wind all contribute to their reproductive success.

Orchids of Mystery

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:37:00 GMT

Orchids have come to represent the mysterious, so perhaps it should not be surprising that they are the stars in a series of murder mystery novels. The website for author Michelle Wan and her book series can be viewed at www.orchidsaremurder.com. The first book is Deadly Slipper, written in 2005. In this tale, the fate of a missing woman is tied to the hunt for an astounding, unknown Slipper Orchid. Booklist said it was “a fragrant combination of orchid lore and suspense”. (Slipper orchids are the ones with a pouch as the lip and include Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, Cypripedium, Mexipedium and Selenipedium orchids.)

In 2006, Wan released The Orchid Shroud. In this story, an embroidered representation of a mystery orchid reveals horrific things and causes people to wonder if a monster stalks the quiet forests of the Dordogne, France.

In A Twist of Orchids, published in 2008, orchids and drugs are linked to a murderous midnight apparition…with a rhyming burglar thrown in for fun.

Mysterious Reviews said, “With its sensuous language and evocative imagery Wan’s story of its twist of orchids and twists of fate has action galore and sustenance aplenty to tickle the palates of even the most discriminating of...mystery lovers.”

The latest in the series, Kill for an Orchid, is to be released in January of 2010. For real orchids that bring mystery to your life and maybe even a spine-tingle or two, just add ice!

Just Add Ice Orchids featured in National Magazine Blog

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:55:00 GMT

Just Add Ice Orchids was featured in a blog by the Editor of the CEO & Entrepreneur™ Magazine blog this week. We especially love the title Ice On Orchids? Yes. One Converted Skeptic. The Editor goes on to write about the ease of care and easy watering reminder tips found on our website, "(Yes, ice cubes.) Apparently, the demise of many plants, including orchids, is overwatering. Hmmm."

A quote from the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s blog “The Garden Variety” was also featured in the article. Author Cynthia Druckenbrod writes in her article Should You Water Your Orchids with Ice?, “Phalaenopsis orchids are tropical! Do they get ice cold water on their roots in south-east Asian jungles where they originate? Hardly! So, why ice?” She goes on to describe how the temperature consistency in consumers’ homes makes ice a good idea for re-spiking, “What’s the solution- ice? Why not? Cold, dripping water directly on the roots may just simulate the temperature drop that Phalaenopsis needs.”

Thank you CEO & Entrepreneur™ Magazine and Cleveland Botantical Gardens for publishing a blog about our Just Add Ice Orchids!

The Symbolism of Orchids

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:26:00 GMT

Caring for orchids is actually an ancient custom, so when you take one into your home, you’re connecting yourself with a long line of history. Over 35.000 different species of orchids grow around the world, and in almost every climate, so it’s easy to understand how the flowers have become part of many cultures, symbolizing something different to each.

In most cultures, as you might imagine when looking at an orchid, they have been seen as symbols of beauty, royalty or love. In Europe, orchids were used as a main ingredient in love potions. Today, the pink orchid is commonly designated as the 14th wedding anniversary flower, symbolizing affection and love.

Ancient Greeks associated orchids with virility and fertility. It was believed that if the father of an unborn child ate the largest and newest orchid stems and roots, then their child would be a male. But if the mother ate small orchid roots and stems, then she would give birth to a girl.

Victorian era Europeans saw orchids as symbols of luxury and elegance, largely because they were seen as tokens of the exotic East, and weren’t readily available, needing special care in hothouses.

The symmetry of the flowers to its stems and leaves has led to the orchid being a symbol of beautiful perfection. In Christian theology, the spots on orchids are believed to represent the blood of Christ, so they are often found in Easter and even Christmas arrangements.

One of the most famous orchids is the vanilla orchid, which grew wild in Mexico where the Aztecs viewed it as a symbol of strength. They are said to have drunk a mixture made of vanilla orchid flowers as a strength potion.

We just think they add a touch of exotic beauty and class to any room!

Phalaenopsis Orchid Basics

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:50:00 GMT

Here at Just Add Ice, we specialize in one type of orchid: the Phalaenopsis. But that doesn’t mean that your choices are limited, since there are about 60 stunning varieties!

The name may refer to the genus Phalaena, a group of large moths named by Carolus Linnaeus, probably since the flowers of some species are said to resemble moths in flight. For this reason, the species are sometimes called “Moth orchids”.

These seemingly delicate blooms are native throughout southeast Asia from the Himalayas to the Philippines and northern Australia. An entire Taiwanese island is named for them: Orchid Island. In the wild they are typically found below the canopies of moist and humid lowland forests, protected against direct sunlight, but are found equally in seasonally dry or cool environments. Different orchid species have adapted individually to their particular habitat. They bloom for several weeks.

If orchids are kept indoors, the flowers may last two to three months!

Phalaenopsis are among the most popular orchids sold as potted plants, due to the ease of propagation and flowering under artificial conditions. They were among the first tropical orchids in Victorian collections. Since the advent of the tetrapoloid hybrid Phalaenopsis Doris, they have become extremely easy to grow and flower in the home, as long as some care is taken to provide them with conditions that approximate their native habitats.

We suggest our customers just add 3 ice cubes once a week - it's that simple to give your beautiful plant the water it needs to bring its tender beauty to your home or office for an extended period of time.

With watering being one of the most important aspects to keep your orchid flourishing and in bloom for months, we’ll even send an email once a week to remind you to add 3 ice cubes to your orchid pot.

Added Bonus to Watering with Ice

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:05:00 GMT

In case you’re contemplating watering with ice, there now may be another benefit in support of this method!

Using ice cubes instead of water is not only easy to remember, it also decreases your chances of over-watering and helps to prevent your Just Add Ice Orchid from sitting in water because of the slow melting process. Now watering with ice has a new advantage; it may help your Just Add Ice Orchid to bloom more regularly!

The cooling temperatures that ice provides may stimulate flower spike production, which only occurs when orchids are exposed to lower temperatures for a period of time. Check out this recent article from the Cleveland Botanical Garden for more information on the topic:

Should You Water Your Orchids With Ice?

Summer Décor with your Orchids

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:44:00 GMT

The summer months bloom with fresh motivation to decorate and add color to your outdoor living area. While you’re hauling a wheelbarrow topped with soil or pulling weeds and replacing them with new flowers, why not take just a few moments and a minimal amount of effort to add color and excitement to you indoor living space as well.

Do you want to create some excitement that will last for months? Simply add an admirable orchid to your dining table or living room. Better yet, get a Just Add Ice Orchid and you’ll have a beautiful conversation piece to enjoy with each visitor.

Are you buying more orchids this summer? Which rooms are your orchids brightening up? Let us know about your favorite ways to decorate with orchids. You can also email us a picture to info@JustAddIceOrchids.com and we'll add it to our website.

10 Terms You Should Know About Orchids

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:20:00 GMT

As an orchid grower, it is helpful to carry knowledge about orchids so here are a few tips on terms to make you sound orchid savvy.

Column – the tiny, rounded, column-like extension between the two largest petals. This little guy is the central reproductive organ of the orchid flower
Inflorescence – the flowering part of a plant<< li>
Keiki – a small plant growing from a node on the flower stem
Lip – the part of the flower that is almost completely divided from the rest of the flower, however, it is connected by the column. The lip is specialized to aid in pollination
Medium – the material added to an orchid’s container, which can range from varieties such as soil to bark.
Node – A distinct joint or notch on the inflorescence from which a secondary flower stem can emerge from after the primary inflorescence has finished blooming.
Sepal – the outer segments on an orchid flower. Similar to petals, sepals are the three smaller segments of the flower that create a triangular shape
Spike – a flower stalk
Throat – the inner portion of a tubular orchid lip, often quite colorful
Yellowing – term used when a leaf is literally yellowing, which indicates an issue with the orchid

Pop quiz! What’s a keiki? If you guessed right without peeking, then you’re brain can store information like a pseudobulb stores water!

My Easy Orchids now Just Add Ice

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:22:00 GMT

Recently, myeasyorchid.com became "justaddiceorchids.com" to make remembering to 'just-add-ice' that much easier!

Please remember to add 3 ice cubes to your orchid plant each week and consider registering for our weekly email watering reminders.

Where Do Orchids Come From

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:36:00 GMT

Our Phalaenopsis orchids may be bred in an environment friendly growing facility in the U.S., however, where did these orchids originally come from?

These orchids are actually native to tropic regions of Asia and Australia such as the Himalayas and the Phillipines. In Asia, the Chinese adopted the term "Butterfly orchid" to describe the aesthetics of this particular flower. Strangely enough, the term "Phalaenopsis" officially derives from the Greek terms "phalaina" and "opsis" meaning "moth like".

In tropical climates, Phalaenopsis orchids tend to grow on tree branches and between rocks, usually near a source of water for moisture. Aside from rainforest climate, they also grow in grassland areas such as pastures. These orchids adapt to many different types of environments which is one of the reasons they are so easy to maintain!

Why Orchids are the Gift that Keeps Giving

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:39:00 GMT

This stylish, contemporary orchid is the gift that keeps on giving!

Go above and beyond the traditional floral gift for Mother’s Day and other holidays, by giving one of the most exotic and treasured flowers out there – the phalaenopsis orchid.

Check out our Orchid Holiday Decorating Ideas

Unlike typical bouquets that may last a couple of weeks, your mother will be enjoying her orchid for months. As one of the easiest indoor plants to care for, she won’t have to worry about complicated maintenance in her already-busy life. With the wide range of color choices of the phalaenopsis orchids, you'll be sure to find one that matches her style and elegance.

And of course, there’s one more added bonus…every time she looks at her orchid, she’ll be reminded of what a great son or daughter you are! There’s no better way to say how much you treasure your mother than with a beautiful, exotic orchid!

Celebrate National Orchid Month

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:26:00 GMT

Attention orchid lovers! April is celebrated as National Orchid month!

The American Orchid Society has designated April as National Orchid month to help spread awareness of orchid growing.

In favor of this celebration, Just-Add-Ice Orchids is encouraging you to share your favorite Orchid memories and experiences.

While you’re at it, help participate in National Orchid month and share our web site with friends so they too will know how easy it is to maintain orchids by just adding ice! And remember, don’t go the cheap route and give someone a tray of ice cubes! Buy them orchids today!

Do you have questions about more gift ideas? Not sure which product to choose? Visit our forums and send us your questions.

Orchids make great gift ideas

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:27:00 GMT

Just Add Ice orchids can relieve your tension of stress of any occasion with a great gift idea.

For starters, you can choose from a wide selection of stunning Phalaenopsis orchids of shapes and colors that range from neutrals to exciting hot pinks. They are available at a store or garden center near you. Is this person a first-time orchid recipient? Make sure to direct them to this web site so they know how easy it is to maintain and enjoy Orchids by simply adding ice. If you were thinking about something in addition to the orchids, consider combining your orchids with other gift ideas such as fresh cut flowers, a great book, tasty candy or other treats. And you can never go wrong keeping it simple and surprising someone you care about with the orchids alone.

Here are few classic events that are perfect occasions for giving orchids – please tell us about some of yours

Brighten up your kitchen before your next dinner party
A gift to start a romantic evening
House warming gifts to new friends and neighbors
Remodel any brighten any room of your home
Congratulate someone for a job well done!
A Corsage of orchids for a senior prom
Holidays – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah
Tell your mom, you love her