Costa Farms Share Tips for Growing Orchids for Mother's Day

Miami, FL (PRWEB) May 08, 2015

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and spending for the holiday is on the rise.

A recent survey by the National Retail Federation found that families will spend a record $173 on mom this year. And aside from greeting cards, flowers are the most popular gift. Choose a moth (phalaenopsis) orchid that will flower for months and even years to come.

Orchids are highly coveted ornamental plants. Delicate orchids symbolize a mother’s love, beauty and strength. They look and feel luxurious but are actually very affordable.

“Orchids are the perfect gift for Mother’s Day because they’re so chic and easy to grow,” says Justin Hancock, garden expert at Costa Farms. “These exquisite plants reward with fabulous blooms for months and months.”

Here are Hancock’s tips to grow beautiful moth (phalaenopsis) orchids that will bloom for years and years:

Six Steps to Orchid Success

1. Selection: Pick an orchid with as many buds as you can to prolong the display. “Many homeowners buy the orchid that has the most open flowers, but that’s usually the first one to go out of bloom,” says Hancock.

2. Water: Water once a week or when bark or moss is almost completely dry. Allow orchids to dry out before re-watering and never leave orchids in standing water.

3. Location: Place orchids in a well-lit area, but not in direct sun. Moth orchids grow under trees and get sunburned in direct sunlight. Help orchids to thrive by placing them near east- or west-facing windows. If the plant receives too little light, it will not bloom. The larger the leaves of an orchid variety, the less light it needs.

4. Humidity: Orchids need humidity. Pair orchids with other plants that release moisture as they breathe or sit a humidifier next to the orchid.

5. Temperature: Keep them warm. Moth orchids love temperatures between 70 and 80F and about 10 degrees cooler at night.

6. Feed: Moth orchids bloom once a year, usually in winter when nights are cool. Fertilizing regularly in the spring and summer months will help it to grow, too.

Remind mom that just like her, orchids are more than just a pretty face. They provide oxygen and are great natural air filters that clean indoor air of carbon dioxide and other toxins. Learn more about growing orchids at CostaFarms.com.

About Costa Farms: Costa Farm s is one of the nation’s largest growers of ornamental plants. Founded in 1961 by Jose Costa, Costa Farms is a third-generation, family-owned business that globally stretches over 3,500 acres and employs 4,000 people. Along with thriving indoor and bedding plant divisions, Costa Farms operates merchandising and young-plant production divisions as part of its infrastructure, with operations domestically in South Florida and North and South Carolina, and abroad in the Dominican Republic and Far East.

Costa Farms Share Tips for Growing Orchids for Mother"s Day