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.
The indoor orchids usually bloom only once a year, but if enough care is taken to mimic the floral environment they live in their native jungle, outdoor orchids can often be induced to re-bloom. During winter and early spring (in North America), we might bring an indoor orchid into bright natural light for twelve hours per day.
How do orchids know when to bloom?
Look for tiny buds along the stalk, as these indicate that the plant is ready to send out new blooms. Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) can also be encouraged to bloom on the same stalk in the next blooming cycle by cutting the stalk back to a healthy node after blooming.
Varieties’ bloom times can be summed up as follows: Cattleyas bloom in the winter and continue to bloom until the end of spring. Flowering begins in winter and continues until spring with Lady’s Slipper. Moth orchids bloom in the dead of winter and bloom until the end of spring or the beginning of summer.
How to get orchids to bloom and rebloom?
Protect your orchid from drafts. Inventory all exterior doors, heating, and cooling vents and heat sources (wood-burning stoves)., and regulate watering. Irregular watering is a sure way to shrivel orchid buds. A few extra things to examine are: be aware of pollutants, take a break from fertilizer, and orchids are sensitive to pollution.
Return to your regular watering and fertilizing schedule. There is no concrete rule on watering orchids, and it’s very easy to over-water the plants. The American Orchid Society recommends only watering when the soil has dried out. Water by placing your plant in the sink and running the water for about a minute. You should fertilize your orchid about every 2 weeks.
How to make orchid blooms last longer?
Orchids need a suitable environment to be able to thrive properly, so if you want the blooms to last long, you need to create a positive environment when you bring them home. You need to keep the orchids in an area where they are going to get a considerable amount of bright sunlight.
While we were reading we ran into the question “What to do with orchid after it blooms?”.
You can follow these guidelines below: For healthy, green spikes: Find the knot underneath the lowest blooming flower. Trim 1 inch above that node. Cut all the way back to the base of the plant for unhealthy brown spikes. For double-spike orchids: Cut one spike right at the base of the plant. Cut another spike 1 inch at the top of the node under the lowest bloom.
How long do orchids live growing indoors?
With the right water, sunlight, growing mix, and fertilizer, your orchid will live a long, healthy life and produce iconic blooms for years to come. Typically, orchids live for 20-25 years if grown indoors, though the life span of an orchid plant surely depends on how attentive its grower is and how well it’s cared for.