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Today, let’s talk about how to create a beautiful orchid arrangement that only looks complicated. Orchids are probably my favorite flower. They come in so many spectacular colors, patterns, and shapes that I absolutely adore. I love placing them around my home, particularly in the summer for that tropical feel that just screams “vacation!”. Don’t be intimidated by these beauties-they are much tougher than they look! Here’s an easy way to inject a ton of exotic beauty into your decor.
Orchid Arrangement Supplies
For this arrangement, I chose to use a vintage serving dish from Longaberger. It’s perfect because it has a heavy plastic liner to keep water off your surfaces. You can find similar ones on Etsy or Ebay. The woven design just screams summer to me, but they are versatile enough to use year-round.
You Will Need:
- Orchids of your choice(I used a combination of full-sized and miniature Phalaenopsis orchids)
- Accent plants(I chose Autumn Ferns and Tradescantia)
- Container(Preferably watertight)
- Assorted Mosses
- Floral foam or packing paper(for stability and height)
- Twigs, seed pods, sticks, rocks, or shells for additional texture
- Secateurs or scissors
Remove Orchids From Pots And Trim Roots
The first thing you will need to do is remove your orchids from their plastic grow pots. Inspect the roots carefully, and trim off any shriveled, yellowed, or dead roots. It’s important to use sterilized scissors, as to not introduce bacteria to the plant. So many times the roots are drowning in those clear grower’s pots, because they don’t have enough drainage. Repot the orchid in a bark substrate if needed. Remember, orchids like moist, not soggy conditions. For this plant, I actually removed most of the bark from the pot to make sure the roots wouldn’t rot. Keep in mind that the whole arrangement will be covered in moss, so this will help trap moisture and create a more humid environment. Place the orchid back in the grower’s cup.
Create A Stable Foundation
Next, tuck your orchids into your container, and stabilize them with packing paper or floral foam blocks. I chose paper since it’s easier to manipulate into shape. You can also vary the heights of your orchids by wadding the paper up underneath them. Varying the plant heights will give your orchid arrangement greater interest and will make it look more natural.
For this arrangement, I chose to use two large orchids as the foundation at the bottom of the planter. I also stuck a small Tradescantia from my porch in a corner to drape out of the arrangement. I created kokedamas with the mini orchids to place on top of the moss.
Add Moss To Your Orchid Arrangement
Once your foundation plants are in place, cover them with preserved moss. Use a variety of colors and textures for interest and depth. Don’t worry if you can’t cover every bit of paper – we are going to add plants and other natural elements on top anyway.
Add Accent Plants
To give my orchid arrangement extra color and texture, I added small Autumn Ferns(that I planted in nut pods), as well as the aforementioned Tradescantia. The pods add great architectural interest and adds to that tropical look.
Add Decorative Elements
Once your plants are all in place, now you can add any additional decorative elements. Since I planted my ferns in seed pods, I chose to not add anything else to the base of my orchid arrangement. I did, however, want to add some height. To do this, I collected some dead tree branches and added them to the arrangement. Not only do they add great height and texture, they also function as supports for my orchid stems. I was able to unclip some of my stems from their bamboo stakes and support them using the branches instead.
Caring For Your Orchid Arrangement
Since this is a living arrangement, it will require some maintenance. Not to worry though-it’s easy! About once a week you’ll need to give your orchids a drink of water. You can do this two ways: 1) pull them completely out of the arrangement and water them in the sink(drain well before putting it back), or, 2) CAREFULLY water them directly using a small watering can. You will have to be really cautious with this second method, as you don’t ever want your orchids sitting in a puddle of water. Overwatering is the fastest way to kill your orchids!
If you have thirstier plants like ferns in your arrangement, make sure they stay consistently moist. Since mine are in their own little pods, they’re easy to take out and water when needed. The kokedama orchids need to be soaked in a bowl of tepid, non-chlorinated water about once a week. Squeeze out excess water before replacing them in the arrangement.
Orchids do not do well in direct sun, and can burn quite easily. Keep them out of direct sunlight in a bright room.
Adding Natural Beauty To Your Home
Now you know how to create your own one-of-a-kind orchid arrangement! Even though I broke the process down into several steps, it really is no more complicated than tucking plants together in a container and covering them with moss. I hope you enjoy adding a gorgeous arrangement to your own home. Happy Growing!
