Israel Opens First Hotel For Flowers!

After pampering hotels for dogs, cats, birds and all other pets, it seems it is now the orchids’ turn to enjoy themselves. When going away, owners of these delicate flowers often have problems finding people to take care of them. That’s how the idea came about in Israel to establish a hotel for orchids, with all the accommodations and pampering treatments this flower loves. The stay costs approximately $0.60 per night (2 NIS) and includes breakfast and dessert! In short, the capricious flower gets a full pension. According to estimates, there are hundreds of different types of orchids in Israel, which prices varying anywhere between from $15 to $270,  depending on size and species.

“The idea came from growing needs,” explains Alon Yad Shalom, the plant advisor to the Wendy Nursery in Modiin, Israel. “People started coming to us with medical issues which their orchids suffered from. That’s how I opened a laboratory, the “Flower Clinic,” where owners come to me with their problem orchids. Often the orchids are kept with us and treated for a few days. Simultaneously, we started accepting house calls requests and there were times when the people who left on vacation didn’t trust their neighbors, so they asked us to come and take care of their plants professionally.”

The road from there to the idea of establishing a special pension for orchids was short. “What orchids love most is heat and humidity, and we do our best to give that to them in despite our intense weather conditions,” says Estee Lois Israel, the nursery manager. “Towards the holidays we’ve prepared an internal area with lighting that will fit all their needs.”

“I make sure they’re fertilized, with purified water which is good for their health, appropriate lighting conditions and room temperature, not like they experience in their homes, which varies,” summarizes Yad Shalom. “We also give them a special growing soil which fits orchids, with tree sawdust and a mixture of peat soil, in addition to making our best efforts to provide them with a friendly environment and personal treatment.”

Will this be profitable? Yad Shalom does not trust his livelihood with it and assumes he’ll have only ten “guests” at a time. “The main goal is to give our customers good service more than to profit from it it,” he concludes.
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For the original story in Hebrew click here
Translated by Lee Golan, for NoCamels
Via www.nrg.co.il
Photo by David Huang