Common Name: CATTLEYA ORCHID

Botanical Name: Orchis cattelaya

"Nickname (s) ": Mother Orchid, Symbol of Hawaiian Royality

Origin: see History / Legends below:

Availability: Year round, spoecial order

Lasting Quality: 4 - 5 days

Design Techniques: Most frequently used in corsages and wedding work - but make a great statement when applied to simple centerpieces

Preservation Quality:

How Packaged:Single bloom

Size:Average bloom size is 4.5" - 6"

Available colors:White with yellow throat, purple and magenta

You have purchased fresh flowers in bulk...

They come to you just as the Florist receives them, and they usually don't look like the ones in the Florist's cooler.  Your Florist may go through several bunches to select the "Right flowers" for the arrangement.  As a Florist for over 20 years, I believe each flower is beautiful and has a place somewhere in your flower arranging.

Enjoy your flowers!

Priscilla

The HOW TO SHEET...

Prepare & Care for Freshly Cut Bulk CATTLEYA ORCHID

Our bulk flowers are cut and shipped directly from the grower or distributor to your door overnight.  They come to you just as a Florist receives them:

• Dry cut
• Packed tight
• Blooms vary within bunch
• Sometimes a bloom or two is broken off within a bunch
• By buying "in bulk" you do the work the Florist must do to get your Field Packed flowers to look like the ones they sell in their shops, saving you money!

When Your Flowers Arrive, You Need To:

• Remove the plastic sleeve from the bunch
• Remove the rubber band or twisty-tie from the bunch
• Now you can work on one stem at a time

For Each CATTLEYA ORCHID You MUST:

• Make sure the water tube is full until ready to use
• Cut 1/2" off the stem using a sharp knife or scissors
• Blooms usually are stored in a box with batting to protect the petals 
• If the stems are not going to be used immediately as a hand-out or in an arrangement, you can place them in a regular refrigerator
• CAUTION: One Rule MUST be followed!!!
•      No fruit or vegetables are allowed in the refrigerator with fresh flowers
•      WHY?  Because fruits and veggies emit an ethylene gas that 'puts the flowers to sleep'!!--     Droopy heads are NOT pretty!

HISTORY / LEGENDS OF CATTLEYA ORCHID