Tips for Buying a Valentine's Day Orchid

Giving a beautiful orchid to your sweetie for Valentine's Day is guaranteed to make you a hero. But how do you choose the right one? Here are some tips to make sure your gift will last.

• Buy locally to avoid shipping damage during cold/hot weather. 
• Buy from a local source so you can see your purchase.
• Check the flower spike for yellow slightly shrunken buds. These buds will fall off. 

• Is the root system healthy? Roots are often visible through a translucent pot. Healthy orchid roots are white or green-tinged. An orchid with a healthy root system is firmly anchored and will not wobble if you move the plant or its pot.
• Avoid buying an orchid with leaves that are wrinkled or limp.
• The pseudobulbs should be plump and not shriveled.

• Make sure the pot has at least one drainage hole.
• If the oldest flower (the one closest to the base of the plant) is wilted this is the first sign that the spike is aging. It won't last much longer.
• A spike with the two youngest buds unopened will last significantly longer than one with all of the flowers open.

Here are some tips if you're looking for cut flowers from a florist.

Happy Valentines Day!