Are you planning on getting orchids for your garden or house decor?
Well, bad news – there are a lot of bad orchids on the market; you must know what you’re looking for before you purchase something.
This article will walk you through 4 crucial signs to look out for when in the market for orchids. (P.S. Most people are unaware of these)
Don’t Buy Another Orchid Without Checking These 4 Crucial Signs!
4 – Leaf Growth Patterns
Healthy orchids usually have symmetrical leaf growth, meaning the leaves are balanced and aren’t positioned in an odd manner.
Leaves that are wilting or tipping over to one side are a red flag. It indicates that the orchid plant didn’t receive even light and some leaves have gotten weaker as a result.
Although it could just be that the plant is adjusting to a new environment, asymmetrical leaf growth is still an indicator of low plant health, so you can’t, and probably shouldn’t ignore it.
3 – Watch Out For The Smell
Smell can tell a lot about a plant and its history. If the orchid you’re considering smells sweet, fresh, and earthy, it’s probably a good choice. Healthy and disease-free plants are supposed to smell that way.
A bad odor that’s somewhere between sour and bitter is a red flag. Put back any orchid that has a rancid smell because it has likely been overwatered a lot which must have led to root rot and decomposition.
To make it even simpler, if the orchid straight up smells like compost…yeah…better put it back in its place…
2 – Adaptability
If you find an orchid in the market that you particularly like, ask the store or nursery owner if the plant dries out or appears stressed if moved around or placed in a new setting.
Generally, plants that get stressed out easily will give you a hard time if you bring them home.
Sensitive plants that aren’t very resilient require intensive care. And, even then, some environments just won’t be welcoming enough towards them, meaning too drastic of a change could prove to be fatal.
1 – Asses For Pest Damage
Look for pest activity in the nursery you’re planning to get your orchid from. In nurseries and plant stores, pests can spread rather quickly. If surrounding plants show clear signs of pest activity and damage, the orchid you have your eyes on will likely be affected too.
Pest damage should be considered since an affected orchid will obviously be weaker and less resilient, meaning it has a higher likelihood of dying.
Look for an orchid that has whole well-developed leaves without holes or strange discoloration patterns.
Final Words
Before getting a new phone or tech gadget, people put in all the effort to know what specifications it should have and how it’s supposed to work.
But, the same kind of effort isn’t seen when it comes to getting plants for the garden/house. Whether it’s an orchid plant or a new vehicle, checking and inspecting is an important part of buying quite literally anything.
Hopefully, this article provided you with some insight into the factors you should consider before getting an orchid. Best of luck and happy orchid hunting!
