Orchids come in a whole rainbow of possible colors, including many striking variegated varieties. Even though orchids are famous for their visual beauty, they are usually very fragrant as well.
You have to pay close attention to light, moisture levels and room temperature. East-facing can be perfect. When it comes to water, orchids need to be kept moist without getting soggy, which can be one of the biggest challenges with these plants. The trick is getting the right mix of well-draining materials for your specific type of orchid. A blend of shredded bark, sphagnum moss and some perlite is the usual place to start.
In case you were curious, perlite is a natural mineral that looks like little white balls of styrofoam, often mixed into various types of potting mixes for drainage. Once you have the right growing medium, you should water your orchids to give them a thorough soaking but then leave them alone until the soil is dry for about an inch down from the surface. That can mean you only water your plants once a week or even less. An average house has humidity in this range so it may not be something you need to deal with.
If your house is on the dry side, you have to dampen things up. A nearby humidifier can help, as can a shallow dish of water with pebbles. Giving your orchids a daily misting is another option. The last element to good orchid care is the temperature. Generally, they are fine in rooms that are between 50 and 70F or between 10 and 21C , which is a little cooler than usual room temperatures. Keeping a closer eye on the temperature is important when you are trying to get your orchids to bloom, which will will address more closely in a moment.
After that, you may have to wait another year as most orchids only bloom annually. Some newer hybrids may produce flowers twice a year if the conditions are excellent. Even an orchid that is doing fine may not put out any flowers unless the right environmental conditions are in place. After light, the next issue is the temperature, and more specifically how the temperature changes from day to night. This gives the resting orchid enough water without drowning the plant.
Fertilize your orchid once a month. Replenishing the nutrients in your orchid's soil will help it gather the strength it needs to rebloom.
Roll back from your usual fertilizing period and only fertilize once a month during the orchid's dormant period.
Care for the orchid on a regular schedule. Dormant orchids are sensitive to changes in rhythm. For example, if you usually fertilize once a month and then fertilize after only 2 weeks, you could shock the plant. Keep your watering and fertilizing on a regular schedule to make sure your plant stays healthy while it rests.
Part 3. Wait until the fall or early winter. Orchids naturally start reblooming in cooler weather, so the fall or early winter is the perfect time.
By this time, your orchid has rested up enough and it's time to trigger a rebloom. Move the orchid to a cooler place. Experiencing cooler temperatures tells the orchid that it's time to rebloom. Your orchid will have to experience these conditions for about weeks before starting to rebloom. Also try to make the orchid's environment colder at night and warmer during the day. This mimics the orchid's natural rain forest environment where the temperature drops at night.
Note that some orchid species have different temperature needs. If you know what type of orchid you have, check here for its specific temperature needs. Look for signs of reblooming. If conditions are right, your orchid should start reblooming. The main sign of a rebloom is growths appearing from the healthy node that you left intact. Check here regularly for growths or protrusions from this area, as these indicate that the orchid is starting to rebloom.
Sometimes, orchids can take over a year to rebloom. Return to your regular watering and fertilizing schedule. When your orchid starts reblooming, it needs more nutrients than it did while it was resting.
Once you see signs of growth, you can return to your normal schedule. The American Orchid Society recommends only watering when the soil has dried out.
If it feels dry, it's time to water. Water by placing your plant in the sink and running the water for about a minute. Allow the water to drain through the drainage holes before placing it back in its pot. Leave your plant in the same location until a blossom fully forms. Moving your orchid into direct sunlight too early can cause the new growths to form crooked.
Instead, leave your plant where it was while it was dormant until a new blossom forms. At this point, you can move the plant to a new location. Clip the stalk to a stake when it's fully formed.
A stake helps keep your orchid straight and supports the weight of new flowers. Make sure your stalk has fully grown before doing this, or you could inhibit its growth. Monique Capanelli Plant Specialist.
Monique Capanelli. A healthy orchid getting the right amount of sun exposure will have bright green leaves. Move it to a brighter spot, like a south-facing window. If the leaves are reddish-green, the orchid is getting too much light. Move it to a less sunny spot, like an east or north-facing window. Moth orchids like a lot of light, but not direct light. Check the stems and leaves for signs of dehydration.
If the stems and leaves appear wilted or shriveled, your orchid needs more water. You will always need to water more frequently when the orchid is actively blooming. During the active blooming phase, water it twice per week. Increase watering when you see new shoots and roots appear on your orchid. Too much water can kill an orchid quickly. Never allow your orchid to sit in a soggy, water-logged pot.
Evaluate the potting material. Most orchids, including Phalaenopsis, do not grow in regular soil. They need a growing medium that provides fast water drainage and good air circulation. A free-draining blend of fir bark sometimes referred as fir bark nuggets is the most popular potting material for moth orchids. Most orchids will also grow in peat moss, dried fern roots, sphagnum moss, rock wool, perlite, cork nuggets, stones, coconut fiber, lava rock or a blend that combines several of these materials.
Monique Capanelli Plant Specialist. Monique Capanelli. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1. Katie Gohmann Professional Gardener. Katie Gohmann. The general rule when replanting orchids is to wait until the flower is no longer in bloom.
Not Helpful 6 Helpful I have several orchids that have numerous buds on the stems but the buds aren't opening up. What can I do to get the buds to open? Orchids grow very slowly! Continue to care for your plants correctly and be patient. If your orchids have not been exposed to cooler temperatures in a while, you might try doing that.
Not Helpful 4 Helpful There are mixed opinions about whether or not you should cut the long stem after your orchid has bloomed.
My orchid gets one long leaf that spikes up tall and that's all I get. This has been the same for years and it is in a bright window. What can I do differently to get a better bloom? You might be able to help improve the bloom by making sure that your orchid gets a period of coolness. Phalaenopsis also known as moth orchids , for example, need a month of cool temperatures to trigger blooms. Matt Bowman. Over-watering is a very common problem with orchids. They really only need about a shot glass of water each week.
Not Helpful 3 Helpful 4. You may cut it when the keiki has roots about three to four inches long. This may take up to a year. My stems shriveled up, so I cut them near the base. Now my plant has new leaves, but not new stems. How do I make the stems grow again? Make sure there is a drop in temperature during the night. You can trigger re-blooming from old spikes by cutting them just above one of the nodes, but this will drain energy from the plant. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8. Cold drafts, low humidity, or very cold temperatures will make buds fall before they open.
You should try to move your orchid away from where there might be a draft, such as a window or air conditioner. If it is very dry, you can try misting it with water. Not Helpful 15 Helpful Someone else was caring for my orchid and let it sit in water. Now I have yellow leaves. What can I do to correct this? Sitting in water is often times fatal to an orchid. Dry it out somewhat and correctly re-pot it. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
If your orchid has already bloomed once, you can still promote the reblooming of an orchid after a dormant period. Helpful 2 Not Helpful 3. Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References About This Article.
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