When you’ve enjoyed your beautiful blooming orchid for many weeks, it can be quite sad to see the flowers eventually fade and die.
The question is then, how do I get my orchids to reflower? The good news is that after a period of rest, you can get your orchid to reflower.
If you follow these 6 simple orchid care steps, not only will your orchid reflower, but you will also keep your plant healthy and increase its chances of thriving for many years to come.
6 Steps to Get Orchids to Reflower
1. Cut back the flowering stems to just above the pale horizontal band. This allows the plant to focus all of its energy on producing new leaves which in turn will provide the energy needed for the next set of flowers.
2. Make sure that your orchid gets plenty of light as too little light will inhibit the plants ability to produce flowers. During winter when the light is weaker, bring the plant closer to the window and dust the leaves regularly to enable maximum light absorption.Don’t forget to move your orchid further away from the direct sunlight during the warmer summer months.
3. Repot the plant if it’s becoming root bound. You’ll notice roots protruding through the drain holes at the base of the pot and over the sides of the pot when root bound. Repot into pot just one size larger as orchid roots don’t mind slightly cramped conditions.
4. Keep your orchid hydrated as necessary, watering less during the winter months. Mist the leaves and serial roots every day with rain water or distilled water, or set on a tray of damp pebbles.
5. Feed your plant with specialized orchid fertilizer, applying the correct dosage for the type of orchid. (see article “ Top 6 Easiest Orchids to Grow Indoors” for more orchid care tips. During winter, either reduce the feeding or cease it altogether, depending on the needs of your specific plant.
6. Check your plant’s temperature needs, especially if it needs a marked drop in temperature over-night. Depending on the type of orchid, you may need to move the plant into a cooler room to encourage buds to form and then back into a warmer room to encourage flowers to bloom.
Final Orchid Reflowering Tips
- Remember that each type of orchid has their own specific plant care needs which when met, will encourage long term health and reflowering
- Some orchids, such as those from humid forests, prefer cooler temperatures, whereas others, such as the moth orchid, thrive in warmer conditions.
- Be mindful of orchids that may require a sharper difference between day and night temperatures. The Cymbidium is a good example of this kind of orchid.
- Check to see if your particular orchid would respond better to a fertilizer rich in potash as opposed to a specialized liquid orchid fertilizer.
- Try to be patient and remember that some orchids will reflower after a dormancy of only 8 months where and others will only ever flower once a year.
I do hope that you’ve found this article on how to get orchids to reflower interesting and helpful.
To discover the top 6 easiest orchids to care for indoors click here.
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