Benefits of Orchids

Why do you grow orchids indoor? I have to confess that I do it for my esthetic delight. I really adore flowers and leaves of these wonderful plants. However these amazing creatures are not so idle. They do good to us! Let's talk about benefits of orchids.

A rose Phalaenopsis

1. They clean the air. Members of the Orchids Family can improve indoor air quality. According to NASA researches, matchless Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium orchids absorb tolyene and xylene. We can breathe clean air thank to our green friends. May be, that is a reason why a Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis) and a Dendrobium are widespread houseplants.

Moth Orchids clean air

2. They feed us. We may eat some of orchid "fruits". For example, we often add to dishes "fruits" of a vanilla orchid. As you know, vanilla is produced from vanilla pods. Caution! We have to remember that most orchids are toxic. I don't recommend eat these plants.

My fragrant orchids in winter

3. They cure diseases. Some of orchids are "green doctors". They can cure our ailments. For example, a purple orchid (Orchis mascula I.) is a medicinal plant.


4. They keep our youth. Orchid extract is a valuable component of some of anti-aging creams. This extract can improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles.


5. They smell sweet. Many orchids are fragrant plants. They smell sweet and may substitute synthetic home fragrances. Also scent of orchids is a component of many luxury perfume compounds.

Dendrobium Nobile hybrid keiki care: Why my Dendrobium offspring blooms

Do you grow orchid keikeis? As you know, orchid ofshoots often doesn't flower. Nevertheless my Dendrobium Nobile hybrid keiki makes me happy. It has been flowering since last month! I'd like to devote this entry to Dendrobium Nobile hybrid keiki care. I'm going to tell you about why my Dendrobium offspring blooms.

"Waltz of the Flowers"

I got the keiki from one of flower lovers in September 2014. "I planted it in July. The keiki feels fine. However it has not bloomed yet", - the plant lover lamented. "But this plant is too young! I think that it isn't able for blooming", - I said. I didn't believe that the offspring can bloom.

"Born in Winter". The first flowers of my Dendr. bloomed in December

I brought the orchid keiki home and located the plant at a light place on my glassed loggia. And in October I detected the buds! When I detected them I was glad like a child. "My little orchid is going to bloom!", - I exclaimed. The first couple of flowers bloomed in December.

My Dendrobium Nobile hybrid keiki is blooming

Why does my Dendrobium Nobile hybrid keiki bloom? First of all, it lives in the sunlight. This orchid adores bright diffused light. I never locate the offspring in the shade.

Couples of the Flowers

In November I relocated my orchid keiki from the loggia to the room because this hybrid orchid is afraid of cold. Orchid lovers say that Dendr. Nobile needs a rest period without watering. They say that this contrivance stimulates the flowering. 

However I think that Dendrobium Nobile hybrid care differs from "pure-blooded" Dendrobium Nobile care. I didn't give a rest period for my orchid keiki. The beautiful "hard worker" has bloomed without this "floricultural trick"!

I water the plant when the soil dry fully.

Happy New Orchid!

My green pet has tender lilac-white flowers. This orchid is aromatic. The flowers smell sweet like luxury fresh scent perfumes. Also this hybrid Dendr. is a sociable green person. Flowers of the plant bloom in pairs, as a rule. 


It seems like they are dancing the Waltz.

How to plant a vanilla orchid

Do you like scent of vanilla? Do you want to grow this spice on your windowsill? I've told you about a simple method of a vanilla vine rooting in one of my post. As you might guess, this amazing vine is one of my favorite houseplants. Today I'd like to tell you about how to plant a vanilla orchid. 

Vanilla planifolia variegata

I planted my Vanilla planifolia variegata cutting last year. And I want to share with you my own experience of "transfer" a rooted vanilla cutting.


Step 1. Choose the flowerpot. We may plant the vine in a pottery pot, in a plastic pot or in a special orchids basket. I've chosen last item. The basket is good for a vanilla orchid because the roots breathe in this "house". However it isn't good for cleanness of the room because the soil may fall through basket's holes. I think that a pottery pot is suitable for a vanilla vine as well. Also some of plant lovers use a coco shell as an orchid pot. 

A plastic orchids basket

Step 2. Prepare the soil. A suitable soil for V.planifolia is chunks of bark, a coco coir or coco chips. One of advanced orchid lovers recommends to use a "coco soil". I use a coco coir for planting my vanilla orchid.

A vanilla orchid needs a support

You have to wet the soil before using. As you remember, we've told about planting a vanilla orchid. If you want to transplant the flower you should not wet the soil.

Step 3. Take the soil to the pot. 

Step 4. Plant the orchid. We should earth only the roots. Please, don't deep the stem. 

The plant needs a support. It may be a bamboo stick, a plastik stick or even a pen.

My vanilla orchid in the "mini hothouse"

Step 5. Make a mini hothouse. Vanilla planifolia needs period of adaptation after the planting. You ought to locate the plant in a mini hothouse. Take out the plant from the hothouse for a short while in order that the orchid may breathe air.


I use a plastic bag. I had located my vanilla vine in the bag after the planting. I had been keeping my vanilla orchid in the mini hothouse for 2 weeks and then I located it on my windowsill without the plastic bag.