will my orchid flower again?

Barbara Harrison

After my phaienopsis orchid finished flowering I cut the flower stems right down. I now know this was wrong. It has been a year since it flowered so am I right in assuming it never will?

Hostafan1

I see no reason why it shouldn't , eventually. Some are sooner to respond than others. don't give up hope.

Dovefromabove

My parents have some in their room at their lovely care home - they bloomed and bloomed and bloomed, then bloomed no more - someone cut the stems right down and now, some months on, they've sent up new stems and are blooming again 

Lori73

Don't worry, I did this when I had my first phalaenopsis and it didn't flower again for 2 years. Now it's constantly flowering  Be sure to keep it somewhere with plenty of natural light but not in direct sunlight as I did (it scorched the leaves) and given time it should flower again. I think they go into shock for a while and need time to settle into new situations but they really are a lot more resilient than people think.....pretty much have to be to survive in my house!  

Barbara Harrison

That has given me hope. At the moment it is busy sending out roots so I think I will repot it.

KT53

Don't repot using compost, they need a special medium.  If you've only had it a couple of years it's actually unlikely to need repotting anyway.

You didn't do the wrong thing in cutting the flower stem back.  There are differing opinions on how far you should cut back.  Some people say cut back about 1/3rd, others to within a node or 2 of the base and either will work.  As you cut right back it may well take longer to throw out new flower stems but they will happen.  Once all risk of frost is gone put them outside and mist spray them once a week. That worked for ours and nearly all of them flowered again last year.

Orchid Lady

Barbara, was it you who started the other orchid thread? I posted some pics of my white one last week, have a look. After an initial flourish of flowers it stopped, I nearly threw it away but instead just left it and a few months later it had a baby shoot and new flowers.

Orchids like it have roots everywhere, they are tropical plants that grow in bit humid climates on trees (possibly in the Amazon but I can't remember exactly).

As KT53 said, they need special orchid compost and also I use an spray feed, they prefer no being sprayed to actually watered in the conventional way.

I hope this helps.

Orchid Lady

 

Not the best quality pics but I wanted you to see them to give you encouragement.  The white one is the one that stopped flowering, notice the roots on it, this is fine and is really happy.

The pink one really needs repotting but it started flowering again before I managed to do it and you aren't meant to repot when they are flowering, the leaves and flowers are smaller than usual though and this is probably why.

Hope this helps and excuse the photo quality (or lack of!)

Barbara Harrison

Hi. The other orchid thread wasn't me.Great pics. Thanks.

Orchid Lady

I realise that after I wrote it Barbara and checked, but have bumped it up for you as some quite useful info on it, hope it has helped.  I don't really know much about gardening and plants in the garden so can't usually offer advice, (hence the name Newbie!), Orchids are the one thing I have learnt a bit about so am glad to help 

Dirty Diggin

Here is a hand out produced by our nursery. The key to getting your orchid to re-flower is to look after it properly. They arnt too fussy but there is definatly a few things you can do to promote new flowering growth. Hope it helps

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CLEEVE NURSERY, CLEEVE, BRISTOL BS49 4PW

Tel. 01934 832134                                

                                                               

                                                               

                                               

Tips on Orchid Growing

 

Orchids are split into very many different genus groups and within these there are very many species.

The most popular orchids sold in garden centres are Phalaenopsis, (Moth orchid). Dendrobium, (Bamboo orchid) and Cymbidium.

Phalaenopsis, (Moth orchid)

These are the easiest and most reliable orchids to grow and can flower up three times a year in any season. They are showy and the flowers can last for many weeks. The flower stems erupt from between beautiful dark glossy green leaves.

Cultivation

• This plant likes a semi-shaded spot with bright light but no scorching sun.
• They grow continuously throughout the year oldest leaves being replaced as they die and often followed by a new flowering cycle.
• They do prefer a nighttime temperature of 15oC and up to a maximum of
  30oC in the day, so a heated conservatory or centrally heated houses suite them well. This day/night temperature change is essential to promote flowering.
• Humidity is an essential element to these orchids growth so placing plants on a saucer of moist pebbles will help, so too will a morning spray of rainwater on warm bright days.
• Watering of this orchid should be based on keeping them moist but never wet. Water once a week in summer, less in winter using tepid rainwater when ever possible into the top of the pot, avoiding the crown. Do not allow the plant to sit in water. Should the growing conditions be nearer the upper range then more water may be required.
• Feed your orchid plant once a month with a balanced fertiliser at quarter strength. Or use a specific orchid fertiliser such as made by BabyBio or Maxicrop following the application rates on the label.
• Careful cutting of the flower stem as the last flower fades, but no sooner or later, as the new branch will not develop. This can sometimes encourage extra flowers. Cut above t