If you incorporate a few consistent steps into the care of your phalaenopsis orchid, it will live for many years, producing a long-lasting bloom (up to three months) annually. We spoke with two experts, Christopher Satch, aka the Plant Doctor, and Alfred Palomares, Vice President of Merchandising and Resident Plant Dad at 1-800-Flowers.com, to show you how to keep orchids alive indoors and get them to bloom again.
Selecting a Great Flowering Orchid
There are over 25,000 different species of orchid. The phalaenopsis orchid is popular and widely available because it blooms for a long time and is relatively low-maintenance. Colorful blooms help to sell plants so most of the orchids available will already be in bloom. This can be useful by allowing you to see and choose a particular color. On the other hand, the more blooms that are open on the plant, the shorter the bloom time will last. Select an orchid with the most unopened buds. “Those flowers will last the longest because they haven’t bloomed yet,” says Satch, “You don’t know how long the open flowers in the store have been open for, and don’t want to cheat yourself out of a bloom.” Be sure to inspect the leaves and stems for insects and fungal infections. Orchids can attract white flies, scale and other small insects. Look for white patches on the undersides of leaves as a sign of pests. Satch says fungus will often look like brown or black splotches, usually with yellow around them. “The key to prevention of issues later down the line is picking a plant that’s good, to begin with,” explains Satch, “Don’t pick a rescue plant unless you are familiar with rehabilitating plants.”
How to Keep Orchids Blooming
Once you have a good specimen, providing them with the proper care will increase their chances of survival and reblooming. Adequate lighting is vital for the survival of an orchid. “Phalaenopsis orchids can survive in a low-light space,” says Palomares. However, the closer to a full day of dappled sunlight it receives, the longer the blooms will last and the greater the chances for rebloom. “Be sure to put it into a window that gets a tickle of direct sun,” suggests Satch, “Up to three hours of direct sunbeams or a full day of dappled sunbeams is ideal.” Orchids like their temperature, watering schedule, and light to be stable. “Too much of a deviation in any direction leads to bud blast—spontaneous death of the flower buds,” explains Satch. Orchids also like their media to stay moist, not soggy. “Orchids are also considered air plants, or epiphytes, and do not grow in soil,” says Palomares, “They are typically potted with moss or even rocks.” To keep the medium moist, top dress with sphagnum and spritz often when it dries out, especially during blooming. It’s okay to allow the medium to dry out somewhat between waterings but it should be watered before it’s fully dry. There is no need to fertilize orchids while they are blooming. “Under proper care, blooms will last for two months or more before fading,” says Palomares.
Orchid Care After Flowering
The after bloom care sets up future success or failure of your orchid. Once the blooms have expired, you can cut them back or let the flower spikes fall off naturally. If you do cut it, Palomares suggests cutting the spike about an inch above the planting line. “At this point, the orchid is going into its resting stage to store up energy before it re-blooms,” explains Palomares. You may repot your orchid during this phase. “Replant the orchid into half sphagnum, half orchid bark chip mix in a clear plastic pot with drainage,” says Satch. “Believe it or not, the roots photosynthesize, and some exposure to light helps the plant a lot.” However, if you do not like using a clear container, slip it into a larger pot to cover it. Avoid trying to push all of the roots down into the medium. Roots that grow outward and even upward could break or be damaged. Just be sure the corm is securely anchored in the medium. During the resting stage, the plant will put energy into new foliage and roots. You can now fertilize with a liquid orchid fertilizer; applying according to the product’s instructions, about once a month. “If you follow these simple rules, you can get your phalaenopsis orchid to bloom about twice a year and hold the blooms for a few months,” says Satch. Once you’ve successfully gotten a phalaenopsis to rebloom, Satch says to give other orchid varieties a try, such as oncidium hybrids, jewel orchids, and lady slipper orchids.
