An orchid's lifespan depends heavily on the care it is given. A well-maintained orchid plant can live for 100 years or more!

When it comes to light, orchids fall into two camps. Ascocenda, Cattleya, Dendrobium, Oncidium and Vanda are fans of bright, indirect light, while Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis and Miltonia prefer the shade. Keep the bottom of your orchid's container dry by watering about every 10 days. Provide adequate air circulation and offer them a boost with a liquid fertilizer according to the label on the bottle, usually once or twice a month. And don't add soil to your orchid's container; most are epiphytes---they get their moisture and nutrients from the air, bark and moss near their roots. Let them put down roots in a bed of rocks, moss, or bark, the way nature intended.

Orchids symbolize luxury, beauty, fertility and ecstasy. For these reasons they make great romantic gifts.

Flowers by Coley carries phalaenopsis orchids, cymbidium orchids, dendrobium orchids, and oncidium orchids! Most potted orchids are of the phalaenopsis variety, while other varieties make fantastic cut stems for vased designs.