How To Care For An Orchid Plant After It Blooms

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After the flowers drop from the orchid you have three choices: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, cut it back to a node, or remove it entirely. Remove the flower spike entirely by clipping it off at the base of the plant. This is definitely the route to take if the existing stem starts to turn brown or yellow.

How do you get an orchid to bloom again?

Follow these simple steps to help reblooming begin. Continue to water your orchid with 3 ice cubes once a week. Fertilize your orchid once or twice a month using a balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength. Help your orchids grow by providing plenty of indirect sunlight. Put your orchid in a cooler spot at night.

Do you still water orchids after flowering?

During their post-flowering rest period, reduce watering. If you overwater these varieties, they may rot and die. Phalaenopsis and Vanda orchids don’t have pseudobulbs to store water, so you should water them thoroughly when the potting mix is nearly dry to keep them from completely drying out.

How far back should I cut my orchid after it blooms?

If your orchid is fairly young, you want to encourage it to grow bigger roots and blooms. The best way to cut orchid plants when they are young is to trim the stalk all the way back to 1 inch (2.5 cm.) from the base of the plant. As it grows back, it will have stronger roots, bigger leaves, and larger blooms.

Do orchids bloom again after flowers fall off?

Fortunately, they will bloom again. You can remove the entire flower spike so that the orchid plant can put more energy back into the leaves and roots, helping it to grow stronger and produce a fresh new flower spike.

Do potted orchids rebloom?

Some Phalaenopsis orchids are genetically incapable of reblooming from the old spike, but most will rebloom from the old spike with a little extra care. The question is where to cut the flower spikes to initiate reblooming.

How do I know when my orchid will rebloom?

Check the old stalk on orchids, such as Dendrobiums that rebloom on the same stalk. Look for tiny buds along the stalk, as these indicate that the plant is ready to send out new blooms.

How many times can an orchid rebloom?

Many orchids bloom once per year, some twice or even more. Once in bloom some flowers last weeks or months while others can last only days. Some basic research about the type of orchid will identify what to expect. For example, Phalaenopsis orchids usually bloom once per year and the blooms can last for months.

How often should you water an orchid?

While each growing environment is unique, and watering habits vary from person to person, it is generally a good idea to water about once per 7-10 days, when the mix gets dry. Too much watering leads to root rot, crown rot and other over watering problems like fungus gnat infestations.

What do you do after orchid blooms fall off?

Should you cut the stem of an orchid after blooming?

Do you trim orchid stems? You should trim the stem of a phalaenopsis orchid after blooming has finished. Trim your orchid just above the node on the stem directly below where the first flower bloomed. This will increase the chance of another cycle of blooming from the same flower spike.

What happens to orchids when the flowers fall off?

Once it reaches the end of the bloom cycle, the plant will drop its flower and enter a dormancy phase. During this stage, the orchid will appear lifeless. There will be no new root growth, no buds produced, and very little water will be needed.

Do you cut off dead orchid stems?

It is but normal for any Orchid plant to have wilted and dry stems. When this happens, you only have to cut off those dry and dead stems. Old and dead stems of Orchids will only affect the health of the entire plant because dead tissues will be a breeding ground for pests, insects, bacteria, and fungi.

How do you deadhead an orchid?

To deadhead a flower on this stalk, snip off its basal stem, being careful to avoid cutting the main spike. If the spike produces more than two flowers, cut each one off as it fades.

How long does it take an orchid to grow a new spike?

Orchid spikes develop quite slowly, typically over the space of 2-3 months. The rate of development depends on two main factors. Temperature and light. Increased light increases the capacity for the plant to photosynthesize and generate energy which can be used to grow the new flower spike.

Will orchid flowers grow back?

Orchids bloom again after the flowers fall. Once an orchid finishes blooming, the old flowers fall off leaving bare spikes in their place. To make the plant bloom again faster, cut off the old flower spike so that the plant can put more energy into new leaves and roots.

Why do orchid buds fall off?

In stressful situations, they drop buds to divert energy to the stems, foliage and roots. Orchid bud drop can also be a sign of overwatering or under watering. However, orchids also absorb water from humidity in the air, so in dry environments orchid bud drop can be a result of under watering and low humidity.

Do orchids bloom more than once?

Orchid Facts Most orchids bloom once a year, but if they are really happy, they may bloom more often. If you want an orchid that blooms during a particular season, the best bet is to purchase a plant that is in bloom at that time.

What time of year do orchids bloom?

Most orchids, including the Phalaenopsis orchid, will experience the growth of new leaves during the summer months. Spikes and flower buds will appear in late fall and soon after it will bloom. It will continue to bloom until spring. The blooming season usually ends around mid-February.

Why is my orchid growing leaves instead of flowers?

If your Phalaenopsis orchid starts sprouting leaves instead of a flower at the end of its spike, congratulations! Your orchid is about to become a new mom! Such leafy growths are called “keikis,” the Hawaiian word for “baby,” and are actually baby orchids that can be cut from the stalk and planted to create new plants.