Growing Orchids – How to Have Orchid Flowers All Year Long
You may expect orchid flowers more or less at the same time the plant bloomed the previous year.
Some orchid flowers may last for up to six months. On average the flowers life expectancy is two to six weeks but there are species with flowers which last only a week or two.
Probably the most popular ‘home’ orchid, the Phalaenopsis, will have its flowers, on average, for three months, Cymbidiums can last two months, and some Cattleya hybrids, two to three weeks.
In most cases, plants with short-lived flowers tend to produce more of them. These species of orchids flower more frequently than those with long lasting blooms.
Once plants get bigger and have multiple growths, they will easily bloom more than once a year. The Cattelya hybrid flowers twice a year and there are also a few types of orchids which may bloom on and off throughout the year.
If you want a lot of flowers you have to grow healthy plants. Healthy orchids can exist only when you have healthy roots.
The very act of blooming is the most strenuous activity for the orchid plant so it needs to be able to provide enough energy and food to support flowering. It is not uncommon for a dying orchid to bloom as its ‘swan song’ right before dying – it is fairly common to see this with Phalaenopsis.
If your plant is not healthy and is trying to bloom, we suggest you remove the flower stalk as soon as it appears. I know, quite painful for you to do, but would you rather let the orchid flower and then expire or give it the chance to regain its strength to grow and flower for a few more years.
Orchids are seasonal bloomers.
Different orchids tend to flower at different times. This is especially true for many species or hybrids derived from them. Increasingly, though, you will find orchid flowers in bloom year ’round due to extensive cross breeding.
Since a particular orchid flowers at around the same time every year, if you buy a blooming orchid in May, you may expect it to bloom again around the same time the following year.
Most of the tropical orchids we grow in indoor environments tend to flower best in the fall throughout the spring months. In fact it is no coincidence that orchid shows are organized from October to March-April.
Orchid flowers come in an incredible variety. A relatively simple way to determine how long the orchid flower will last is by paying attention to the actual flower structure. Waxy and meatier flowers are the types which last the longest.
The moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) may remain in bloom for three or more months. Some tropical slipper orchid flowers will last an average of 6 to 8 weeks.
Cymbidiums, if you have the space for them, will also provide several months of color over winter. Make sure these orchids form the cornerstone of your collection for year ’round blooms.
Many orchids will bloom when they are quite young. Often, growers will divide their orchid plants too soon, before giving them a chance to mature and grow distinct clumps which, in turn, will produce the best flowers.
When an orchid flowers at a mature age it has the tendency to have more flower spikes and in cases of orchids that produce several blooms on a spike, a higher orchid flowers count.
It is also important to remove all flower spikes once the blooms fade. This allows your plant to build more strength and have a better bloom season next year. Do not remove old, apparently dead, canes/stems on Dendrobiums. They will sometimes bloom again, or produce young plants at their tips which can then be moved to make new plants.
Keep in mind that orchids need nutrients to grow and bloom well.
Orchid flowers drain the plant of all its life energy and it will not flower well without additional fertilizer or plant food. Feed plants using an orchid fertilizer. Even a normal flowering plant fertilizer will do OK as far as you cut the dose to 50%.
Do not over feed your orchids, they will not produce any more flowers.
Excessive feeding may actually damage your orchids. These plants enter a phase of active growth toward the end of spring, that is when they start increasing their bulk, which in itself is a way to store energy in preparation for the blooming season.
This is the time for helping your plant. You can do so by simply adding fertilizer at every watering session instead of every other session, as recommended for the winter months.
A very basic simple trick to have orchid flowers all year round is to purchase one or two flowering orchids every other month. In this way, as time goes by, you will find yourself with a collection of plants blooming in sequence.
Since most orchid flowers last three to four weeks you will be able to decorate your home with lively orchid flowers throughout the year.
Dalia Cruz learned about orchids from her mother. Collectively they have over fifty years of orchid growing experience. For more great information on growing orchids at home visit http://www.OrchidsGrowingBlog.com.
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