During the leaf and root growth period not the bloom period , usually in summer, this new pseudobulb will ideally grow to be at least as big or bigger than the one that just bloomed. The next bloom spike will come from this new pseudobulb. We are looking to grow the biggest, healthiest new pseudobulbs possible as they will be the source of the next season's bloom.
Ample light, food and sufficient water are keys to healthy new growth. Over time, as the orchid grows in size and strength it will grow multiple pseudobulbs which can all spike at the same time creating an abundance of flowers. Each orchid type has a time of the year when it naturally will bloom. This may not be the same time of year that an orchid was blooming when it was purchased, as nurseries can force orchids to bloom off-cycle. Plant labels can be very helpful in recording bloom cycles.
Most orchids grow during the summer and bloom in the fall, winter or spring. Knowing the season that an orchid blooms helps alleviate the frustration of feeling like "It's July, why isn't my Phalaenopsis in bloom again now? For example, the Phalaenopsis orchid is most likely to grow new leaves in the summer and early fall and set a bloom spike in late fall.
The spike will elongate during the winter with blooms emerging in late winter or early spring. There are plenty of Phalaenopsis which bloom off cycle for a myriad of reasons from genetics to culture but most will follow this pattern. 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. Once the flowers fall off it may have a couple of extra flowers emerge from the end of the bloom spike or branch of that spike and bloom again.
If lots of long-lasting blooms are your goal, then Phalaenopsis is a satisfying orchid to grow. Cattleya, oncidium and dendrobium usually bloom once or maybe twice per year with spectacular blooms that last a month or two.
In nature, orchids have natural stimuli that indicate to the plant that the growth season is over and it's time to bloom. Some orchids are temperature sensitive and some are light sensitive. Those that are temperature sensitive are often triggered to bloom by the natural cooling that occurs in the fall. This drop in temperature signals to the orchid that the growth period is coming to an end and it is time to get ready to set a bloom spike.
Sometimes orchids grown in our homes where the temperature is fairly constant are deprived of this natural cue and will be reluctant to bloom. Temperatures in the 60's for a brief period weeks are usually sufficient to initiate a bloom spike in the majority of Phalaenopsis. Get more ideas on how to plant, grow, and care for various tropical plants with our Tropical Plants: A Field Guide. Search for:.
What should I do when my orchid stops blooming? Above: In the wild, many moth orchids thrive in humidity and moist climates, in filtered sunlight beneath a canopy of trees. Keep them out of harsh, direct sunlight. When should I re-pot my orchid? Above: Once established, a moth orchid will bloom year after year. How much sun does a moth orchid need? Above: If you put a moth orchid in a west-facing window, the problem is it gets sun in the hot part of the day.
Should I put my orchid in a Swiss-cheese pot with the holes? Tip : Give roots lots of air by tucking them into medium-size pieces of bark. Above: Fertilize your orchid every second time you water it, with a diluted solution of fertilizer.
How often should I water my orchid? Repotting is a tricky business for orchid growers. When your orchid media begins to break down, the roots can suffocate from lack of sufficient oxygen.
However, some orchids resent having their root zone disturbed, and will refuse to bloom for six months to a year after repotting. Still, other orchids prefer to be root bound and will bloom only when it seems they are on the verge of being strangled by their pots. To determine whether your orchid needs to be repotted , evaluate the root system, not the foliage. Even good chunky orchid media breaks down over time, which can deny life-giving air circulation to plant roots.
If the roots look brown or the planting material resembles garden soil in its density, it's time to repot. If more than one or two roots are creeping over the edge of the pot, it may be time to repot, or even to divide the orchid plant to maintain blooming vigor.
Most orchids need to dry out between watering, and you should never allow your orchids to have wet feet water satured soil in the root zone. Orchids growing in the right kind of pot with specialized orchid growing medium will rarely suffer from overwatering.
Wrinkled leaves can be a sign of too little or too much water. Some orchid growers err on the side of desiccation in their well-intentioned efforts to avoid overwatering the plants. Remember, orchids hail from humid jungles, and are subject to regular gentle rain showers.
If your orchid becomes too dry, the leaves will draw water from developing buds in an attempt at self-preservation. How sad it is to see your long awaited orchid buds yellow, shrivel, and drop one by one as the plant draws moisture back into the roots and leaves. If your busy schedule has you forgetting to water often, use a humidity tray to create a friendlier orchid growing environment. If you live in an area with cold winters like I do, wait until the night time temperatures are consistently 50F 10C or above before placing your orchid outside.
For my region of the Earth, this normally happens around mid-May or so, but I always keep my eye on the weather report and adjust accordingly. Summer your plants outside whenever possible. Let them reap the benefits of the air circulation, rainwater, and humidity. Leave your orchid outside all summer until the night time temperatures threaten to go below 50F 10C and bring your plant back inside at that time.
Make sure that your orchids are not sitting in water. If you have it slipped in a decorative pot with no drainage hole, you may need to remove it and place it into another pot with a drainage hole. Otherwise, after a rainfall, you will constantly have to go and drain the pot.
Keep your plants in a protected area from the wind. Be especially careful when you first move your plant outside to keep it protected from any sun. The intensity of the sun outside is different that the sun coming through your windows into your home. Your plant will burn outside, so it needs a period of hardening off in complete shade. Ideally, put it in complete shade, especially when you first bring them outdoors.
If you have more serious woes with your orchid plants, other than just not blooming, you may want to check out Help My Orchid Is Dying! In this blog post, I describe many possibly problems that you might be having with your orchids and how you can fix them.
If you want the most complete, quick and easy to understand guide on orchid care, please check my eBook, Moth Orchid Mastery. In under an hour, you will be equipped with everything you need to easily grow these elusive plants!
From light, watering, repotting, fertilizing, what to do after your plant is done blooming, and more! Looking to purchase a special Phalaenopsis orchid? One of my favorite and most convenient one-stop-shops to buy practically any plant is Etsy.
Check out the Phalaenopsis orchid selection link to Etsy today! Please do me a favor and share this post to social media because it will help me spread the Ohio Tropics houseplant care tips to the masses! Why do my orchids plants grow off to on side. They are flowerowerless right now but I feel like he leaves should grow upwards or somewhat evenly around the pot.
Hi Joan, that is a great question. If you don't regularly rotate your plants, they will eventually all lean over to one side and grow that way. There isn't anything necessarily wrong with that, but if you'd like the plant to grow straight upwards, you'll have to rotate your plants regularly so they get even light exposure on all sides. Hope this helps!
I have a large Phal that has never bloomed for me. I might add I have 7 others and those bloom with no problem.
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