U.S. #5561
2021 55¢ Garden Beauty – Moth Orchid
Value: 55¢ 1-ounce First-class rate (Forever)
Issue Date: February 23, 2021
First Day City: Bloomfield, IN
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Booklet of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 600,000,000
Orchids are beautiful house plants that spruce up any side table or summer patio. However, many people believe them to be high-maintenance plants that require a lot of skill to keep alive. This may be the case with some species, but those of the genus Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) are actually not at all hard to care for.
When choosing an orchid for your home, keep in mind that moth orchids are some of the easiest to grow. Their flowers last for several months, and they can be encouraged to bloom again without any special treatment. When keeping orchids, the soil is one of the most important things to manage. They should be planted in a well-draining mix made mostly of tree bark or sphagnum moss in a pot with a hole in the bottom. The roots don't like to be sitting in water, but care should be taken not to let them completely dry out either. Since orchids like humidity, it helps to have a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
For moth orchids to re-bloom, they must get enough light. Bright light from an east or west-facing window is perfect. Just make sure your orchid isn't in direct sun or it could burn. Finally, to encourage new flowers, allow temperatures to decrease 10 to 15 degrees at night. Do this and you're sure to have a plant that produces beautiful flowers over and over again.