I do not have a green thumb, but today I am thinking about my orchid. I cannot remember what infraction my husband committed when he gave it to me, or if it was just a spontaneous romantic gesture, as he is prone to do. The amazing thing is I have managed to keep it alive for at least two years. And it has bloomed again. Like a phoenix that rises from the ashes. This bloom will last for several months.
The secret: it breathes air instead of water. Orchids have air roots that attach to the bark of a tree and live exposed to the elements, just letting the rain wash over them. In my house, I water it every couple of weeks, let the water drain and set it back on the table again. It is a thing of pure beauty and it requires almost nothing to exist in this state.
Next time you walk past an orchid for sale in it’s little pot, think about it as a piece of living sculpture that you can get for as little as $12.99. This hard working plant, available in so many different species, colors, and varieties will pull it’s weight and work overtime as your latest objet d’art.
© copyright 2012 Mariam d’Eustachio
Simply Turquoise 