KUSA – Roses get a lot of press on Valentine's Day. How much does a dozen cost? How can they stay fresh longer? Will there be a shortage? Does anyone care?
Roses are old hat. Recipients often say they're pleased by the thought, of course, but they'd really rather get something else. Among the most popular alternatives is the orchid. The flowers on a living plant stay fresh for weeks or even months and, given proper care, the plant will live and bloom indefinitely. In addition, the orchid is appropriate to give to a woman or man.
In the language of flowers, invented by the modest Victorians to express emotions that were not allowed to be spoken, the orchid says "love." It also says, "beauty," "refinement," "ecstasy" and "All I have I lay at your feet." In China, the orchid is the symbol for "many children." This covers a lot of territory.
Exotic orchids are relatively easy to grow and even novice gardeners can have success with them. Nearly immune to dry indoor Colorado conditions due to their thick, leathery leaves, the plants generally need bright, indirect sun. To get them to re-bloom, orchids should be fertilized regularly with a liquid feed formulated especially for them.
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