phalenopsis orchids brides bouquet

[Kristine]

Sorry this in not in the correct forum, but I kept getting the "you are not allowed to post" message under design.

Wedding tomorrow is outdoors, temp will be in mid 80's with hi humidity. Bad news is heavy chance of rain, so that may move the ceremony inside. I'm crossing my fingers for the bride. But this week has been a soaker with not end in site.
However,

Bouquet is phalenopsis orchids, steph and roses. using oasis holder, steph stems and floral loc along with a heavy C&G

Any thing I should do to the orchids to help with lasting quality. I noticed in the JH wedding book, it recommends a coat of flat white paint to the backs of the blooms. Good or bad? The orchids will have to be inserted with a wire/tape/pic as their stems will not be long enough to insert them into the foam. Any suggestions here.

THANKS!!!!:hug:

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

Inka, we wire our individual phales w/a little wad of wet tissue on the stem - white taped wire over the bridge of the "nose", pulled through to the stem. Then add the wet tissue and tape.

I've heard that covering them with moist paper in the cooler, after the bqt is made, helps retain mositure, but I haven't tried it....

hope that helps - good luck!

tracy

 

[theflowersmith]

We wire ours the same way.

Just visited Phipps Conservatory last evening and saw many varieties of orchids. From my experience, you shouldn't have a problem. They like warm temps and high humidity. If they are looking limp, I've heard of spraying the back with paint, but that is a last resort.

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

I think you're gonna be OK Inka........
The "paint on the back" is a residual form of "firming up" the outer cellular structure, almost like putting tape on ONE side of a piece of paper, to help keep it upright, or putting tape, in an X form across your window, to give it some flex dynamics.

 

[flaflower]

Oh, I long for a fall day in the 80's... it's been over 100 here most days this week.... I spray my phals generously with CG and have not had a problem... the paint on the back does work but only if I have to... I do try to tell the bridesmaids not to leave the bouquets on the dashboard on the way to the reception though.... but, some things can't be helped

 

[rhjuska]

Tracy Pie Face has the best way!

 

[CHR]

Inka - I moved this thread to the design forum. (Must have been a bug during the upgrade.)

I agree with Tracy, too.

Painting the backs of the phals with DM Flat White does help keep them firmer but be extra careful to do light coats and hold the can far enough away. Too close and they'll 'burn' from the cold temp of the paint. To paint, we lay them upside down in a flat box lined with waxed shred and then lightly mist the paint from a minimum distance of 24".

HTH

 

[Kristine]

Thanks Cathy, I tried to post to design and kept being booted out.

The phalenopsis were beautiful and so was the weather. A big front came thru Thursday night (unfortunately with tornadoes, power outages etc) and the weather was sunny and mid 70's Saturday afternoon. Perfect day for a wedding.

On a side bar, three weeks ago I called my local wholesaler about getting 7 phales and the cost was $80. I went to my local greenhouse vendor and got a beautiful plant with 8 blooms for $20. They worked fine and my hubby has another orchid baby.