How to Make an Easy DIY Orchid Centerpiece

2 Materials

1 Hour

Easy

In the simple tutorial, I show you how to upcycle an old fruit crate into a DIY orchid centerpiece to swap your moth orchid plants in and out of it as they flower and for maintenance such as watering.

How to care for Phalaenopsis Orchids

Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchids are beautiful plants adapted to be kept as houseplants, thriving in temperatures of between 17C-26C.

However, they do have a couple of specific care needs that this DIY Orchid Centerpiece takes into account.

I prefer to keep my orchids in their original pots, then sit them inside a decorative pot to display. There are several benefits to taking this approach. Firstly, it allows me to follow the watering regime that I’ll outline below. Secondly, it will enable the roots of my orchid plants to photosynthesise during their non-flowering period. Many orchids come in clear pots for this reason.

Watering Phalaenopsis Orchids.

Phalaenopsis Orchids should never be left standing in water for long periods as it can cause their roots to rot.

The easiest way to water a Phalaenopsis Orchid is to dunk the whole pot into a water sink. Submerge the pot for a few minutes to allow the root system to absorb all the water it needs, then leave to drain for a few more minutes before returning the orchid to its decorative pot.

Orchid Positioning

Position your orchid in a bright area, away from radiators and drafts and out of direct sunlight.

Although my orchids are all currently in our living room, Orchid plants also love living in bathrooms where their aerial roots can take advantage of the humidity.

If your Phalaenopsis Orchid does not thrive, try moving it to a new location in your house.

Phalaenopsis are sensitive to ethylene gas which is produced by ripening fruit. If you place your plant too near a fruit bowl, it may drop all of its flowers.

What I used for my easy DIY orchid centerpiece

Small Fruit crate
Balsa wood
Coloured macrame cord
Plastic sheet for lining
Orchid plants
Glue gun

How to make an easy DIY orchid centerpiece

I used a small wooden fruit crate for the body of my orchid planter. Because the orchids will remain in their pots, you can use anything that provides the dimensions you require.

My crate walls weren’t high enough to cover the plant pots, so I used some extra balsa wood to build them up before decorating the crate.

I used macrame cord to decorate my crate, but paint or decoupage would also look fab.

Using a glue gun to hold the cord in place, I wrapped my crate with stripes of different coloured string.

To stop any moisture from the pots seeping through and damaging the surface beneath I lined the crate with a plastic sheet.

And here is my finished easy orchid centerpiece.

It really couldn’t be simpler to make. I think it looks lovely filled with my beautiful Moth Orchids.

If you have enjoyed this upcycled planter tutorial, why not check out some of our other quirky planter ideas. You can find a couple of our favourites below.

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