Potted Orchids as centerpieces.... risky?

I thought about doing this but they couldn't guarantee that they would still have them when I needed them and they weren't able to special order them in the colors I wanted. I didn't want to buy them 3-4 months in advance so I just did something different with orchids. The expense will add up too if you have a lot of tables.

I've wondered about that as well. It seems like a great centerpiece idea and a great gift to give away or have people "play" for. If you know someone with a green thumb that can keep them alive for you, it might work, but I just don't know for sure. If you wait too close to the date, you have to worry about getting the colors you want. If you get them too early, you have to worry about keeping them alive and storing them. Good luck on your decision.

I would talk to your florist about orchids (when they are available, how to maintain, etc.) I had a friend that did research on orchids and she said they are hard to keep up and need a certain type of fungus maintained in their soil. In all be careful and get good advice.

I was just looking at these at the grocery store yesterday, I think orchids are so pretty, specially potted like the pictures above. I didn't know that they needed a special type of fungas, ew. lol

We thought about doing this, too. FS is obsessed with orchids (so, now I kind of am too!). I worried about leaving that to the last minute, since you'd have to buy plants already in flower, and the variable cost. 8 isn't that many to need to buy - if you leave yourself adequate time to find them, you might be ok (ie, build time into your schedule to be able to go to a few different stores, in case 1 doesn't have everything you're looking for).

I just feel better about spending $50 on a potted plant than $70 on cut flower that are just going to wilt and die in a couple of days. I know I could do silk... but i really haven't seen any silk flowers that I like

You can check out greenhouses online and talk to some of them. I know there's a flower company out of California that specializes in these sorts of things. It was in one of my bridal mags and unfortunately I cannot remember the name. I buy orchids several times a year, and subsequently kill them several times a year. LOL. They are very beautiful, just difficult to maintain.

@Jenn, yea I have a green thumb but I have never tried orchids. We are hopping to get them close enough to the wedding in case I kill them lol. I will call around some greenhouses in the area. I figured I have plenty of places to choose from because I live in CT but I am having my wedding in NJ. I am not too worried about colors, just not fusia.

Orchids are my favorite. I'm usually pretty good with flowers...and my outdoor flowers always do pretty well, but I can't keep my orchids alive for the life of me. I keep them inside. We have been through 2 of them in the last 3 months. Not sure what we are doing wrong. I would buy them no more than 3-4 weeks in advance..and you should be good--especially if there are alot of places in your area. Our home depot and trader joe's always have a ton of them for about $15 each.

I haven't tried the "Just Add Ice" brand of orchids, but I've heard they're harder to kill. hahaha. I was so proud when the one I had in our bedroom lasted 6 months.

My first one was a just add ice one....... I killed it in about 2 months. lol

I bought my mom one of those for mothers day but now all the blooms are gone. It was gorgeous tho and only $20. I am thinking this would be perfect for what I am looking for since the guests are taking them home after. I would rather invest money in ones that I am keeping. We are thinking about doing a game to raffle off the plants at the wedding.

People were just talking me out of waiting that close to the wedding to get centerpieces.

Ahhh...good to know, jlam! You just saved me $15. Hahaha.

I always see orchids in the grocery store. I know our local Kroger will order them in a few weeks ahead of time. I ended up needing extra petals so i was at Kroger yesterday morning and they had a great selection.

FH and I are playing around with the idea of doing potted plants idea. We would do potted plants and place them in galvanized pots. I just don't know what to do and if cut flowers are really worth it to me... I've also been playing around with the idea of fake flowers too because the flowers really aren't that important to me. My bouquet and the BM's bouquets and the GM's boutonnieres would be real but the centerpieces I'm not too concerned with.

I agree heavnsnt. We want our main bouquets to be nice but the center pieces seem easy enough. Im having 8 tables so I dont really need that many. I wish i liked fake flowers... it would make life so much easier.

Gemma, Orchids are wholesaled a lot in the Ny, CT area.. the hudson valley is quite known for growing of Orchids you could try greenwich Orchids, Greenwich CT i know they are a retailer...also see if you can make friends with a retail greenhouse/gardencenter they should be able to order for you and Im sure they would pass some savings on to you... I was in the business up to a few weeks ago, locally.. if you need any additional help contact me i may have some contacts for you to try.. i am still in the Hudson valley area..

Thanks Barbara! I will let you know if I get stuck. I looked at their greenwich site and maybe will stop by there next week.

Hi Gemma,

I would recommend that you either get them at a local greenhouse or from a retail florist. Yes they will cost you more than the ones in the "big box" stores but there is a huge difference in what you get. The really inexpensive orchids are often poor quality and do not stand up well especially if it's warm. This is because they are forced into bloom. This is why if you go into the store and look at them this week they look nice but next week they don't.

They do make a beautiful centerpiece. It sounds like Barbara has you covered.