How to make an orchid blossom?

Orchids are beautiful exotic flowers that amaze the imagination with their variety of shapes and colors. Recently, orchids have gained great popularity and have become residents of almost every apartment. And it’s not surprising - such a chic flower adds zest and luxury to any interior, pleases the eye and fills it with joy.

But here’s the problem - orchids, like any other flowers, have the unpleasant property of fading. After flowering, an incomprehensible plant remains with clumsy leaves and roots sticking out to the side - a faded orchid can hardly boast of being decorative.

What to do? Say goodbye to the capricious beauty? It's a pity. After all, it costs a lot, and I really want to hope that you can persuade the orchid to bloom again!

And your hopes are justified. Most orchid varieties bloom at least once a year. If the plant is healthy and all conditions for care, watering, lighting, nutrition, and so on are met. Orchid flowering lasts from 2 to 6 months. And some species, such as Phalaenopsis or Vanda, can bloom all year round.

Do you know how long an orchid lives? This beautiful flower can bloom for decades. The oldest recorded orchid is over 100 years old!

So, we are in no hurry to throw it away. First, let's determine at what stage you decided to achieve flowering from your orchid.

The orchid has bloomed and dropped its flowers.

Trim the flower stalk and reduce watering. There are differing opinions among flower gardeners regarding trimming the peduncle of orchids. Some believe that it needs to be cut to the base, others - to the last dormant bud, while others recommend simply cutting off the top or not cutting it at all. But most agree that it is worth trimming the peduncle to the last bud. If over time the peduncle turns yellow and withers, then it is better to cut it to the ground.

Let the flower rest for 1-2 months with reduced watering (Phalaenopsis and Vanda do not need a rest period), then resume normal care. We remember that orchids are tropical plants, and therefore love warmth, moisture and light.

In nature, after flowering, orchids begin to set seeds, which should scatter in different directions for several kilometers. This is only possible during dry periods, but not during the rainy season. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the orchid with conditions that are as close to natural as possible - then the flower will grow healthy and bloom often.

You purchased an orchid without flowers.

Orchids without flowers can be purchased at a very tempting price. If you decide to do this, carefully examine the leaves of the plant. It may be an already faded orchid or a too young, immature plant that is not yet capable of forming buds. Phalaenopsis capable of flowering must have at least 5-8 adult leaves. If you stimulate the flowering of a too young plant, there may not be enough strength to recover, and the flower will wither.

We wrote above what to do with an orchid that has already bloomed, but a plant that is too young will have to be given time to grow.

What does an orchid need to bloom?

Lots of light

Lots of bright light, but not direct sunlight. In nature, orchids always grow in the partial shade of tree crowns; they are not used to burning direct rays. Without the proper length of daylight, plants will not bloom. In winter, when daylight hours become too short, it is advisable to illuminate the plants with phytolamps to ensure flowering.

Humidity

Most indoor orchids should be watered every 5-12 days, depending on the species and time of year.

• Vanda and Ascocenda have the same watering needs as the Phalaenopsis orchid.
• Paphiopedilum, Miltonia, Cymbidium and Odontoglossum varieties like to stay moist at all times.
• Cattleya, Oncidium, Brassia and Dendrobium varieties prefer to maintain even moisture during periods of active growth. The rest of the time they prefer a dry substrate between waterings.

Air temperature

Different types of orchids require different temperatures. For an orchid to bloom, it must be in the correct temperature range for its variety.

     Cattleya 21-29 C° during the day and 13-18 C° at night
     Oncidium 27-32°C during the day and 13-16°C at night
     Paphiopedilum 21-27°C during the day and 10-16°C at night.
     Phalaenopsis 21-29°C during the day and 16-21°C at night

The ideal room temperature for these subtropical plants is between

+19°С to +24°C. At night, it is recommended not to lower the temperature below 17 degrees. The normal daily temperature difference is at least seven degrees. Orchids really don’t like standing in a draft.

So, you comply with all the conditions, but the orchid still does not bloom. Well, we’ll have to pamper our capricious beauty with the natural stress to which she is accustomed in natural conditions.

Temperature difference

At night, provide the orchid with a decrease in air temperature by 7-15 ° C. In summer, you can move the plant to a cool balcony at night or lower the night temperature in the room where the orchid is located by adjusting the thermostat.

Night mode

The orchid pot should be placed in a dark place for five days. After that, take it out and continue to follow the above tips. After two weeks, your flower should produce its first buds.

Ice watering

Another shock therapy technique. Instead of watering, place two or three ice cubes in the pot.

Reduce watering

Stop watering the orchid for 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the air temperature. Don't worry, it won't dry out, the tropical beauty is adapted to droughts in nature. And don’t give in to pity - no spraying or fertilizing during this period of time.

In the tropics there is a rainy season, during which time insects do not pollinate plants and there is no point in blooming. If you constantly water a flower, it will “decide” that the rainy season has come and will not release the arrow. By exposing the plant to drought for a while, you will bring it closer to its “native” environment, which will cause the long-awaited buds to appear.

In nature, similar processes (described above) occur by themselves and this is normal for beautiful orchids: a hot day gives way to a cold night, and the rainy season is replaced by a dry period. Conditions that are as close to natural as possible give the plant strength and the opportunity to bloom.

Summary

If you follow all the rules for caring for an orchid, but it does not bloom, it means that you have created too good, “greenhouse” conditions for the plant. Give the orchid a little stress that brings its natural growing conditions closer - and your capricious beauty will reward you with gorgeous, long-lasting and abundant flowering!