How to Get Orchids to Flower

Trick orchids into re-blooming by mimicking a change in seasons.

Orchids provide a beautiful, tropic burst of color to your home when grown indoors. There are upward of 25,000 varieties of orchids, and most indoor orchids are those grown in tropical climates. Orchids have a reputation for being difficult to care for and easy to kill, and they are thought to be finicky bloomers. You can fight this by giving your orchid the proper growing conditions. Getting orchids to flower requires meeting their sunlight, water and feeding needs. Properly cared-for orchids will reward you with vibrant flowers, but you must be patient to achieve the best results.

Things You'll Need

• Orchid feeding formula
• Pencil or wooden dowel

Instructions

1. Put the plant in a shady location for a month following the orchid's flower drop. Water it regularly, but allow the plant to dry out between waterings. This mimics the wintertime rest orchids experience before re-blooming.

2. Transition the plant gradually into indoor sunlight conditions over two weeks. This prevents a sudden spate of sunlight from causing leaf burn.

3. Place the orchid to a sunny location where it can receive overhead, not sideways, sunlight. Position it no more than 3 inches from the window, or provide artificial light if your home conditions cannot accommodate this sunlight requirement. Lack of proper sunlight is the No. 1 reason orchids do not bloom, notes Argus Orchids.

4. Feed the plant mild feeding formula, available at garden centers. Take care not to overfeed, which can damage the plant. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for application.

5. Provide the orchid with a temperature fluctuation of about 10 degrees F at nighttime compared to the daytime temperature. Move the plant to an unheated room or away from heating vents at night to achieve this. Do not put the plant in front of a vent blowing cool air, however, as this can harm the orchid.

6. Water your orchid only when it needs it -- when the potting material has almost completely dried out. Push a pencil or wooden dowel into the potting material, pull it out and inspect it. If it is discolored from moisture, the orchid does not need water.

Tips & Warnings

• Orchids have built-in blooming schedules, and some younger plants will only bloom one time a year. Research when your variety normally blooms to learn when to expect new flowers.

• Older orchids tend to bloom more frequently, so proper care and patience with a young plant can pay off in later years.

References

• Orchid Web: Orchid FAQs
• Orchid Plant: How to Make Orchids Bloom
• Orchids.com: Frequently Asked Questions
• Argus Orchids: Why Won't My Orchids Bloom?

Resources

• University of Vermont Extension: Growing Orchids 101; Leonard Perry