Lowes mini-orchids
I bought 6 from Lowes ~3 weeks ago...
I noticed a very few "blasted buds" but they were very nice, lots of blooms & reasonably priced, so I bought them. Those few buds fell off, but the remaining blooms...many of them....were very nice & are still.
However, because of the way they were potted, I did something I never do....repotted them while they were still blooming!
I often repot my orchids, unless they come in "orchid pots", with lots of holes in the bottom & slits on the sides.
I doubt you would ever find an orchid from a florist potted like the ones at the big box stores are, but they wouldn't be $9 either!
There were several things wrong....pot too small, too much medium, packed too tight....drainage hole, but no AIR holes....some of the roots were already dead/dying....I don't think they would have made it....certainly not long term, without repotting.
Most of the ones you see in a grocery store don't even have holes in the bottom....too messy in the store!
Orchids don't mind being rained on every day....they live in the rain forest!
But they DON'T LIKE STANDING IN WATER!
I don't toss my orchids after the blooms fall, like some do...I take care of them and they rebloom....so I was willing to sacrifice some blooms to get them potted correctly.
I repotted into ceramic 'orchid pots' (with lots of holes in the sides, in addition to the bottom hole), and used orchid potting mix....I've never used that moss as a medium, only as top dressing. I did lose a couple of healthy blooms, but I think I bought time for the remaining blooms!
I'm a lazy gardener, and orchids are about the easiest plants I've ever grown! If you get things right, they will be happy & rebloom.
It does help if you live in a sweat box....Tennessee.
Even in the winter, we have to run a de-humidifier to keep the humidity <60%, and in the summer, it's ~90+ outside!
Good luck!
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