Many years ago, (a decade? longer? less?) I found a Phalenopsis at the grocery that was absolutely lovely. I have never been successful with orchids, as much as I love them, and had given up bringing them home with me. It hurt my feelings to see them die in my care.

But, this orchid had a tag that said I could keep it healthy and happy if I would but 3 ice cubes on it once a week. It was relatively inexpensive so I brought it home.

And it didn’t die.

When the blossoms finally withered, the stem they had grown on remained green. I am a believer in leaving green alone until it finishes producing food for the plant. A new stem grew off the side of the original one and made more blooms. That’s the first time I ever got new growth on an orchid.

Eventually, I got it an orchid pot. And, again, it didn’t die when I transplanted it. (That’s the new pot in the picture.)

But, it didn’t bloom for a couple of years. I was about to give up on new blossoms when we went to a show by the local orchid society. I asked one of the members about my plant he suggested fresh growing medium and orchid food spray.

I did both things. After 3 or 4 months of no change, I was about to give up completely when I saw a stem starting. It bloomed and the blossoms lasted a long time on that single stem.

Last Fall, I got another stem of flowers and have left the stem alone while it remained green, even though the blossoms have been gone for months.

It’s rewarding me with another bloom branch and appears to have 2 buds forming.