Help for A Languishing Orchid

Orchids used to be rare and expensive, but not anymore. Thanks to breeding breakthroughs, orchids suitable for home display are now plentiful and affordable year round.

Phalaenopsis or moth orchid is among the loveliest and easiest to grow. If you like orchids even a little, you’ve probably bought or received one as a gift. Their graceful blooms last for weeks. “Phals” look lovely in any setting, formal or informal, and they make the perfect housewarming or holiday gift.

Once the blooms are over though, most people keep their orchid around for a few more weeks, but eventually it gets tossed. Sound familiar? With patience and the right attention, most “phals” can be coaxed to rebloom at least once. So don’t give up on that recalcitrant orchid just yet!

This article is not by any means a thesis on orchid care. It’s a quick narrative designed to help you coax your orchid to bloom again, along with a handy “cheat sheet” for troubleshooting.

Growing Agapanthus in Pots

Lily-of-the-Nile, African Lily, Agapanthus— it’s a lovely tropical plant whatever you call it. The flowers resemble a cross between an allium and an amaryllis. In fact, it is a member of the Amaryllis genus. Until just recently, no agapanthus cultivar was reliably hardy in the ground below zone 7. This is starting to change, with cultivars bred for colder regions starting to come to market.

Still, if you want to grow this plant reliably in zone 6, a pot or planter is the best way to do it. Luckily agapanthus adapts readily to pots.