Flower Arranging Trial #1: Orchids!!

Today, fiance came into the city to have lunch with me (he works in Virginia, I in DC) and on our way back to work we stopped and bought some very lovely Dendrobium Orchids from a flower stand.
The bunch has 10 tall stems in it and cost just $13 (which is weird because online florists want $3-$5 a stem...). Anyway, the blooms are this pretty/exotic purple/green/turquoise color (maybe have been dyed?) and looked to be in pretty good shape when I bought them.

I bought the orchids only to see how well they hold up--specifically in the case that we end up doing DIY centerpieces.
So, I'm going to put some of them in a vase with water and the others I am going to submerge in a vase under water. I'll track the progress of both the normal and submerged orchids.

But so far, I am very happy with how "sturdy" they seem to be... and with how they just look lovely all alone--with very little effort or "arranging" by me.



And here are the flowers on "floral frogs," bases with pins for simple arranging. The "frogs" make the flowers sink and stay under water for the submerged look (you can use rocks/marbles to cover the frog.
I didn't like how the frog looked in the vase, however. So I'm still trying to figure out how to keep the orchids submerged without weighting it down.
CARE - CUT ORCHIDS
To retain the dendrobium¹s radiance for up to two weeks, follow these healthful hints.
Unpack the flowers immediately.
Trim up to 1/2 inch off the stems.
Place the flowers in clean cool water for 5-10 minutes. If you have received dendrobiums and they are wilted upon unpacking, simply submerge whole sprays for 10 to 15 minutes in cool tap water.
Trim stems and change water 2 times a week.
Keep flowers away from heat and temperatures below 45 degrees F.
Dendrobium orchids are slightly sensitive to ethylene. To avoid ethylene buildup, you¹ll want to ensure adequate ventilation and sanitary conditions. What are the ideal storage conditions for dendrobium orchids? These tropical treasures will stay their loveliest when held in water and at 50 to 55 degrees F. Holding dendrobiums for more than a week at temperatures below 45 degrees can cause blooms to discolor or drop.