Tips for Getting Orchids to Rebloom

If you are wondering how to get your orchid to rebloom, you are not alone. It's probably the question that we receive more often than any other orchid care question. The good news is, it's easy to get your orchid to rebloom if you follow these simple suggestions.

Cut Back or Remove the Old Flower Spike

• Once an orchid has lots its flowers and the flower spike has turned brown, you should cut the entire stalk with a clean (sterilized) pair of trimmers at the base of the plant about a half of an inch to an inch away from where it formed at the base of the plant. 
• If the flowers have dropped, but the flower spike is still green, you may be able to coax the plant into reblooming from that mature stalk. Assuming the spike is green and healthy, find the node below where you saw the blooms. (Nodes are the small, brown or green, ring-like markings on the Phalaenopsis flower stalk.) Use a sterile blade or shears to cut half-way between that node and the one below it. 

---

Temperature Check

• Given their tropical origins, many orchids prefer warm day time temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid placing your orchid in drafty locations, cold spaces, or rooms with sudden temperature drops and hot air vents. 
• To encourage future blooms, many orchids prefer a dip in nightly temps. If you keep your orchids outdoors, this will happen naturally in most climates. If you grow your orchids indoors, try moving your orchid to a cooler location within your home to encourage the formation of a new flower spike. 

Humidity

• Orchids flourish in air that is 50 percent humidity or above. They grow well in moist places such as by a kitchen window or even in a bathroom. The water from the sink or shower provides extra humidity.
• Tip: Low humidity levels can cause your orchid to dry out. To increase the humidity, place your potted orchid plant over a tray filled with pebbles and water. As the water naturally evaporates, the orchid will absorb some of the moisture. Be sure your pot is not sitting directly in the water as this could cause the roots to rot. 

---

Sunlight

• Many orchids prefer bright filtered light. Do not place your orchid in a window with direct sunlight as it may burn the plant. Place near a bright window with a window covering that allows the light to shine through.
• If the leaves of your plant are a dark, luscious hunter green it may actually be a sign that your orchid isn't getting enough light. Move your orchid to a brighter location to promote the formation of a new flowering spike. 

---

Feeding Your Orchid

• Fertilizing your orchid regularly throughout the year will promote healthy growth and encourage the next blooming cycle. Select a water-soluble fertilizer designed especially for orchids. Most orchids need to be fed once every three to four weeks, or you can water weekly with a weaker solution.
• Water orchids more frequently in hot conditions and less often in cooler or drier conditions. Many orchids rest in winter, so water more frequently than in spring and summer.

---