How do I get an orchid to rebloom

If you purchase an orchid or receive it as a gift in full bloom, know that it will flower beautifully for weeks or sometimes months. But once an orchid sheds its delicate blossoms, many people consider that this is the tail end of a short relationship. You’re left with a few leaves and unsightly stems.

But don’t worry. This ugly duckling will come back in full bloom with a little patience and some tips.  

An orchid can rebloom one to three times every year if it receives proper care. The number depends on its species, the environment and its health. We explain how to get an orchid to bloom again easily, and in less time than you might have thought.

Bloom stage: how long will my orchids bloom?

Let’s understand how it grows first. The most common orchid sold is Phalaenopsis, and this type can bloom up to two times a year. During the bloom stage, the plant is putting all its energy into flower production but not much on its leaves and roots. Its blossoms can last 1-3 months, depending on how well you care for the plant. So, when the blooms are eventually done, the orchid is tired and needs to regroup its strength and put energy into developing leaves and roots.

Where do you cut the orchid after the blooms fall off?

Once the flowers drop, orchids go into a recovery mode. For months, it looks like the plant is not doing much, but the orchid is actually rebuilding and storing energy for the next blooming period. During this quiet stage, you’ll see some new leaves forming as well as new roots in the potting mix and some new aerial roots.

The orchid will recuperate through the recovery phase. With the correct conditions, the plant will push out new flower spikes from the base or from the old stem. This is the start of new blossoms coming soon.

How to take care of orchids: the basic needs of the plant

When you first bring the orchid home in full bloom, you want to encourage its delicate blossoms to thrive as long as possible before flower drop and the recovery phase begin. To do so, you just need to be aware of its light, water and temperature needs to stretch this blossom period.
 

Where is the best place to put an orchid in your house?

Orchids require about 6 hours of bright, indirect light. An east-facing window is perfect, or a west-facing window with sheer curtains will work as well. Don’t place the orchid in a dark corner and especially stay clear of harsh midday sun from a south-facing window.

Orchids grow well in normal household temperatures of 15-25 °C and the higher humidity found in kitchens and bathrooms.

What is the best potting mixture for orchids?

Most orchids are planted in a loose, orchid-specific bark substrate. Regular potting mix isn’t used as it lacks the necessary air pockets to mimic the orchid’s natural habitat. Because bark is chunky, it drains and dries out much faster than regular potting mix.

Most orchids that you buy come planted in a transparent plastic liner pot with drainage holes. This makes it easy to see the roots and ensure they are healthy. You can put it inside a decorative ceramic pot with no drainage holes.
 

How often should an orchid be watered?

Orchids usually need to be watered every 10 to 15 days (when the roots turn a silvery-grey colour). The best way to water orchids is to soak them. Take the orchid and plastic inner pot out of the ceramic pot and submerge it in lightly fertilized lukewarm water for 10 to 15 minutes so the bark potting mix absorbs what it needs. Be sure to remove all the excess water from the pot before putting it back in your decorative pot. Overwatering is the most common way to kill an orchid by leaving water in the ceramic pot.

What is the best way to fertilize orchids?

The best way to fertilize orchids is to feed them each time you are watering them with a plant food specifically designed for their needs, like Schultz Orchid Liquid Plant Food 15‑5‑5.

Maintain moderate watering and avoid soggy roots. Healthy green roots and leaves indicate proper care. You have to adjust light or water if leaves are dark, yellow or scorched. Occasionally, you’ll need to repot when you see a lot of aerial roots or when the liner pot is bulging out with roots. Make sure you use proper orchid bark potting mix.

How to trigger an orchid to bloom?

Once all the flowers have dropped, your orchid will enter the recovery stage. All you have to do is maintain watering and weak fertilizing and keep the plant in the same bright, indirect light.

Where do you cut the orchid after the blooms fall off?

Soon after the final flowers drop, it is recommended to prune the stalk(s). If the stalk is green, cut it 2.5 cm (1”) above a healthy node to encourage a secondary stalk from the node. If the stalk is brown, cut it back down to the base. Cutting old stalks keeps the plant from wasting energy on supporting unnecessary tissue.

What temperature triggers orchids to bloom?

A drop in temperature is needed. After a few months, move the orchid close to a window that may have cooler nighttime temperatures, say 4-5 °C cooler. Moving the orchid to a cooler spot for a few weeks will help to trigger flowering.

Gradually, you’ll see some new leaves and more roots, which is a sure sign that your orchid is gaining strength. Do not forget to fertilize at this stage. Eventually, a new stalk will be seen coming from the base or from the retained green stalk.

When you see a new stalk starting, place the plant back in its normal warmer spot. Make sure it gets at least 6 hours of bright, indirect light a day. Continue fertilizing right up until the new blooms appear. You can reduce the fertilizer at this point until the flowers fade away.

What is the lifespan of a potted orchid?

Indoor orchid plants can live for 15 to 20 years. Even though individual flowers only last a few months, the plant itself is a perennial that can rebloom year after year. So don’t throw it out after the initial bloom. It can continually refresh itself with new delicate blossoms one, two or even three times a year.

Buying tip: When buying an orchid, you don’t know if it’s at the beginning or at the end of its blooming period. Look for a plant that has many new flower buds ready to open. That way, you’ll get the maximum blossom time back at home.