Cool trick for hot day flower runs

I wrap wet paper towels around stems and put them in coolers for delivery. It works great for most flowers, but I'm confused if it's okay for orchids. They don't like too much water. Any florists have experience with this?

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3 Comments

paige8707mo ago

Orchids are epiphytes that grow on trees in the wild with exposed roots. Wrapping their stems in wet towels basically drowns the crown and invites rot.

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val_henderson7mo ago

Well dang, I used to wrap the stems thinking it helped. This totally changes how I'll deal with them from now on.

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margaret9167mo ago

But is rot really that big of a deal for home growers? @val_henderson, my aunt kept her orchids wrapped in moss for years and they bloomed fine. People online act like a little extra moisture means instant death, but these plants live through rainstorms in the wild. I've seen way more orchids die from being bone dry in bark chips than from a damp towel around the base. Sometimes it feels like plant advice forgets about normal home conditions, lol.

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