Visakha

 flowering plant has a  more beautiful, graceful, and miraculous bloom than an orchid. The name comes from ancient Greek, and literally meaning ‘testicle’ because of the shape of the root.

The story behind the plant’s name comes from a strange Greek myth:  Orchis, the son of a nymph and a satyr, came upon a festival of Dionysus (Bacchus) in the forest. He drank too much, and attempted to rape a priestess of Dionysus. For his insult, he was torn apart by the Bacchanalians. His father prayed for him to be restored, but the gods instead changed him into a flower–An odd tale, but none-the-less an almost perfect plant.

The only thing imperfect about orchids is how incredibly difficult they are to take care of.

Minding the light, the amount of water, where to cut the stem once the flower has fallen, all often prove too challenging for owners. Many even resorting to tossing the entire plant once the last bloom falls.

In an effort to save the many orchids sure to be dumped by their frustrated owners, we’ve put together a list for basic orchid care. Good luck! And remember if all else fails, most Trader Joe’s carry great prices on orchids..shhhh…