You’d expect orchids that look unhealthy not to bloom, but when there aren’t signs such as wrinkled leaves, happy orchids should bloom at least once every year. What if your orchid is not flowering yet it looks healthy and happy, what could be the problem? How can you make it bloom sooner?
RELATED: HOW TO TREAT WRINKLED ORCHID LEAVES
Orchids bloom at least once a year but some varieties such as the Vanda orchids bloom 2-3 times a year with the flowers lasting up to 6 weeks. You can make your orchids bloom again by feeding them with a 20-20-20 NPK fertilizer, watering them 1-2 times per week, and providing bright indirect light.
Orchid flowers also have economic value as they are sold all over the world to be used for different purposes. When blooming does not occur, you’ll end up frustrated. Here’s a complete guide on how you can make your orchids bloom again.
When do orchids bloom?
Most varieties of orchids bloom naturally when the weather starts to be calmer during winter or spring. Blooming occurs just after their best growing time which is summer. For instance, Phalaenopsis blooms in late winter and throughout the spring.
Do orchids bloom more than once?
Some orchids bloom more than once. Though, most of them bloom once every year. In most cases, the orchids which bloom twice or more yearly do so if provided with appropriate conditions to trigger flowering. Some of these conditions are listed below:
- Enough amount of light – most orchid species require 12 to 14 hours of light to be happy. Such varieties include cattleya and Dendrobium orchids. Artificial provision of this vital requirement to your orchids activates them to bloom more than once a year.
- Cooler temperatures – Introducing orchids to a temperature colder than daytime by ten degrees triggers the blooming process.
Also, if one purchases an orchid that is in bloom at the time of buying and maintains the ecological needs properly, reblooming is guaranteed.
How often do orchids bloom?
Most orchids grow back and bloom once to twice a year. Since orchids are perennials, they stay vegetative for many years as others shed theirs annually. After falling off of flowers, the plant remains in a dormant stage until the next re-bloom.
RELATED: DO ORCHIDS REBLOOM AFTER FLOWER FALLS OFF
Dormancy is the stage where the plants rest for some time as they regain the energy that was spent during the last blooming.
Re-blooming of orchid plants takes place over six to nine months.
How do you get orchids to bloom again?
As stated above, orchids stop blooming when they enter the dormancy stage. In this stage, you might think that the plant is dead and will not bloom again, but that is not the case. While they can replace the nutrients on their way to blooming, it is crucial to take the necessary steps to help the plants thrive again.
Here’s what you can do to make orchids flower again:
- Add a moderate amount of fertilizer that contains equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to speed up the flowering process.
- Transfer the orchid plants to a colder area with an approximate temperature of 55°F to 65 °F. Also, ensure that the area has indirect sunlight until the first flower spike arises.
- If these conditions are maintained, the orchids will continue to develop more spikes. When the spikes are about four to six, anchor the plants by holding them with a loose tie and a stake.
- Water your orchids 1-2 times a week while allowing the top two inches of soil to dry between waterings. Be careful not to overwater orchids as it can cause root rot.
RELATED: HOW TO REVIVE OVERWATERED ORCHID
Apart from watering, care for the plants as you normally would so that they remain healthy all the time.
If you do all of this, the plant’s bloom should last between 30-45 days. If you are lucky, the plant may even bloom twice a year.
If, after providing the above conditions, the orchids do not bloom again, move them to a different location, preferably one with relatively higher humidity.
How long do orchid flowers last?
Depending on the species of orchid, some orchid flowers bloom for seven days up to four months. Some orchids have long-lasting blooms. Such include moth orchids. Others, such as Phalaenopsis orchids (a common type of orchid), bloom for 60 to 120 days. Another factor determining the flowering time is how well the plant is taken care of.
What do you do with an orchid after the blooms fall off?
After the orchids’ blooms fall off, continue watering. This is done if the orchid plant stems are still green. If the orchid stem is dying, one should cut the stem a few inches above the plant and proceed with the watering too.
After some time, they shall produce a set of flower buds and bloom again. Also, add some appropriate nutrients to fasten the blooming process. Providing plants with the necessary environmental conditions is also very important at this stage.
Since orchids are stunning and have several benefits such as medicinal and improving virility, they deserve the noble task of being keenly taken care of. Understanding the life cycle of the orchids is a fundamental advantage of ensuring that they produce enormous and quality flowers. Such produce is guaranteed if the above information about the orchids’ blooming cycle is well used during their propagation.
