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Glass Beads Add Holiday Sparkle to Just Add Ice Orchids

December 7, 2011

Holiday Glass Bead Decorating Project

Total project time: 15 minutes

You will need:

  • 1 Just Add Ice Orchid
  • 1 cylindrical glass vase, 6 inches in diameter by 8 inches tall
  • 2 bags of ruby gem glass beads or pebbles
  • 1 bowl to hold beads

Directions:

  1. Open bead packages and pour into bowl. A steep sided bowl will make it easier to grab handfuls of beads (see step 4). You can use any festive colored beads. If red clashes with the color of your orchid, try green, silver, gold or opaque white beads. Do not use clear beads as you want to hide the roots that are visible through the grower pot. Other filler suggestions: small jingle bells, raw cranberries, tiny pinecones, small glass ornaments.
  2. Holding your orchid firmly by both the stem and stake, slowly pull the grower pot out of the decorative exterior pot. (Just Add Ice Orchids are double-potted when sold. To aid drainage and facilitate root inspection, Just Add Ice Orchids are planted in a clear grower pot that is placed inside a decorative exterior pot.)
  3. Lower the grower pot into the glass vase and center it.
  4. While gently grasping the stems and stakes in one hand to keep the grower pot from slipping off-center, use your other hand to slowly add glass beads to the pot. Give the pot about a quarter turn after adding each handful of beads to distribute the beads evenly around the pot. To prevent the grower pot from shifting off-center, gradually go around the pot, building up an even layer of beads until you reach the top of the grower pot. Do not fill beyond the lip of the grower pot to prevent filler from mixing with potting medium. Over-filling also makes ice cube watering more difficult.
This project also works well for personalizing an orchid gift for someone special during the holidays.

Watch the video demonstration below to see this project come to life!

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