Design Inspirations · April 21, 2024

Easy Orchid Care Tips (and how to get them to bloom again!)

including orchid tending tips and what to do subsequently they blossom

Good morning!  Today’second mail service is all near orchids, including orchid tending tips and what to do subsequently they blossom.  I hope you lot detect all sorts of skilful ideas and information on how to accept aid of an orchid constitute, including Phalaenopsis too other types of orchids, before, during, in addition to afterward blooming.

If y’all’ve been next along for a petty patch, yous know orchids are a favorite of mine.  I take iii white orchids inward our habitation, too every fourth dimension 1 of them blooms, I become then excited I accept to portion it on Instagram:

How to care for orchids after they bloom - jane at home

The natural beauty of orchid plants is the best way I’ve constitute to brand any space wait finished as well as cohesive. 

Orchids are an interior designer’s surreptitious weapon, because they immediately brand whatsoever infinite await more than stylish and polished together with function beautifully with every pattern fashion.

Orchids are perfect for decorating a coffee tabular array or console table, a kitchen counter or dining tabular array, a bedside table, or whatsoever spot that needs a piddling something.  My motto is, when inward dubiousness, put an orchid on it! 

As the largest family of plants inward the Earth, orchid flowers are unmatched inwards their beauty in addition to delicacy.  I particularly beloved white orchids for their slow tending, elegance, and beauty–fifty-fifty when they aren’t blooming!

Blue cabinet and round mirror with orchid in the entryway - jane at home #orchids #blue #blueandwhite #bluedecor

I dear the expect of orchid foliage – they’re beautiful even when they aren’t blooming!

Orchid plants are a smashing manner to add a bear upon of timeless beauty too elegance to any infinite inward your domicile.  And in today’s postal service, I’m sharing some unproblematic tips on orchid care subsequently flower, how to have tending of an orchid, how to get an orchid to rebloom, a consummate conduct to Phalaenopsis orchid aid, pruning together with repotting tips, too much more.

I’ve spent hours learning well-nigh this theme as well as years taking aid of orchids, too today I’m sharing everything I’ve learned alongside yous.  So whether yous’re wondering how to attention for an orchid or just thinking about adding ane to your abode, I promise you lot’ll detect roughly keen ideas, tips, guidance, in addition to inspiration inward this post.

How to Take Care of an Orchid Plant

First, how make I have care of my orchid?

If you lot’re wondering how to accept care of your orchid, y’all’ll live happy to hear that orchids are surprisingly depression-maintenance–particularly considering how beautiful together with exotic-looking they are. 

I’m e’er amazed at how slowly my orchids are to aid for, too how much beauty I have inwards return.

Beginner Orchid Care

To get down, orchids similar their temperature, watering schedule, in addition to the sum of calorie-free they receive to live relatively stable. 

If y’all’re a beginner, the basic orchid attention steps are:

  • Place your orchid in a bright place inward your dwelling house, where they have enough of indirect sunlight.
  • Water your orchid some every 7 days, or when it begins to dry out out.
  • Fertilize your orchid with a granular or liquid orchid fertilizer in one case a calendar month. There’second no involve to fertilize an orchid patch it’s blooming.
  • Occasionally repot your orchid (later on the flower is finished) amongst orchid potting mix.

By the way, fifty-fifty though this postal service is variety of long, don’t let that scare yous away from adding orchids to your domicile. 

The higher up orchid tending tips are really all yous take to know (and honestly, I don’t fertilize or repot very often, together with my orchids grow beautifully). 

But I want to pass you lot all the data together with guidance y’all mightiness postulate, and then I’ll get into more than particular on each of these orchid aid tips below.

How to Care for a Phalaenopsis Orchid Plant

Although there are many different species of orchids, Phalaenopsis orchids are the nearly common.  Since the chances are really skillful that this is the type of orchid you lot’re caring for, I’ll go into more than particular here nearly how to care for a Phalaenopsis orchid.

Often called “the beginner orchid,” the Phalaenopsis orchid, or moth orchid, is considered i of the easiest varieties of orchids to grow, which explains why it’s likewise the almost pop type of orchid.

Although they look exotic, Phalaenopsis orchid plants are tardily to care for, cheap, too almost e’er available at your local grocery store.

Phalaenopsis orchids typically bloom once or twice a twelvemonth, and the blooming menstruation can terminal for several weeks–fifty-fifty months.  

A single bloom spike tin agree 20 blooms or more. My older orchids commonly produce well-nigh 8-10 big blooms per growing wheel, amongst 4-5 blooms on each side of the stem. And my mini orchid usually produces nearly iv-vi blooms during each growth bicycle.

How to care for orchids after they bloom - jane at home

My five-twelvemonth-onetime Phalaenopsis orchid blooms twice a year for most three months each time!

By the style, it’s normal for your orchid to grow roots in a higher place the ground. These are called aerial roots, and you don’t postulate to cut them off.  I intend they add to the beauty of the orchid!

Light

Providing your orchid alongside enough lite volition greatly amend the likelihood it volition rebloom, so y’all should place your Phalaenopsis orchid inward an expanse that receives vivid, indirect sunlight. 

The more than calorie-free your orchid receives, the longer its blooms volition last in addition to the greater its chances of reblooming. 

A room alongside eastward or south facing windows alongside enough of indirect calorie-free is ideal for orchids.  

How to care for orchids after they bloom - jane at home

With an eastern exposure, our entryway receives the perfect amount of indirect sunlight for my orchids

The intensity of direct sunlight inward jump, summer, in addition to fall can drive orchid leaves to brown. However, inwards wintertime, near orchids tin handgrip upwardly to 3 hours a twenty-four hours of direct sunlight.

The ideal daytime temperature for orchids is about 75° F., and the ideal nighttime temperature is about 65° F.  However, our habitation varies from these temperatures, as well as my orchids make only fine.

I too recommended turning your orchid found about every like a shot in addition to then and then the novel leaves will grow evenly.  You tin can meet inward some of my photos that I haven’t rotated my orchids real frequently, because the big leaves tend to thin to one side.

My orchids in a sunny spot in the dining room - jane at home - how to care for Phalaenopsis orchids

My orchids enjoying our sunny dining room last summer. I intend they like hanging out together!

How to Water a Phalaenopsis Orchid

How make yous water orchids?

Phalaenopsis orchids don’t have the H2O-storing capability of other orchids; as a outcome, they take a lower tolerance for drought.

However, spell orchids similar to stay moist, they shouldn’t be soggy, and then don’t hand them besides much water or you mightiness finish upwardly with yellowish leaves. 

Water your orchid about once a week, or whenever the exposed orchid roots turn argent white.  After the roots have been watered, they should turn dorsum to a low-cal green colour.

I’ve institute the best place to water my orchids is inward the kitchen sink. I H2O my plants amongst lukewarm H2O for almost 15 seconds, until the planting media is completely moisture. I then permit the orchids to drain in the sink for nigh xv minutes.

When you lot H2O your orchid, it’s a expert thought to soak the orchid’second roots, just H2O should never live allowed to remainder around the stem of the plant or between the leaves.

After you lot’ve watered your orchid institute, empty the tray underneath then it’second non sitting in water. Orchids don’t similar a continuously wet surroundings.

How to care for orchids after they bloom - jane at home

To go along the land mixture moist betwixt waterings, you lot can add together a chip of sphagnum moss to the acme of the land and spritz it when it dries out. 

How to water an orchid alongside water ice cubes

When you lot buy Phalaenopsis plants, they commonly come alongside a piddling tag containing tips on how to aid for your orchid.  These tips ofttimes advise watering your orchid alongside water ice cubes, past placing 2 large water ice cubes at the base of your orchid one time a calendar week.

The thought is that equally the ice cubes slow melt, they pass on the growing medium as well as roots plenty time to absorb the H2O, providing your orchid with the exact total of wet it needs.

When I brought my first orchid dwelling from the grocery store, I used this water ice cube watering fox, in addition to it worked but fine.  However, right away that I accept several orchids, I observe the kitchen sink watering method industrial plant best for me.

Orchid Care After Bloom

What do yous do with an orchid after the blooms autumn off?

Although orchid blooms terminal several weeks, after a blooming wheel, the orchid flowers eventually wilt in addition to autumn off, which allows the orchid to store upwardly free energy for its adjacent blooming flavour. 

Actually, 1 of the things I honey nearly orchids is that after they complete blooming, their leaf is however vibrant too beautiful on its ain.

Orchid care after bloom: how to take care of Phalaenopsis orchids before, during, and after they bloom, and how to get them to rebloom. A simple guide to how to water, repot, and trim your orchid plant - jane at home

Your Phalaenopsis volition eventually bloom once again if y’all reach it the proper orchid tending afterward bloom.

After the concluding flower has completely withered in addition to dropped off together with the flower spike is starting to brown, y’all tin can either leave the stalk intact or snip the bloom spike downward.  See below for tips on when in addition to how to prune or trim back an orchid establish.

Then, proceed to grow your orchid inward a sunny location (but non inwards direct Sun), using the watering, fertilizing, too repotting tips I percentage in this postal service.

This fourth dimension of residue in addition to recuperation volition allow your orchid to recover the energy it expended while it was flowering.  Without this catamenia of residual, some other blooming season might non go on.

You may likewise repot your orchid during this resting phase.  See below for or so orchid repotting tips.

How to Trim an Orchid Plant

How far should I cutting my orchid stems later they flower?

Orchid care after bloom: how to take care of Phalaenopsis orchids before, during, and after they bloom, and how to get them to rebloom. A simple guide to how to water, repot, and trim your orchid plant - jane at home

After all the orchid blooms take wilted as well as dropped, yous tin either leave the stem intact or pick out to cutting back the bloom spike.  If the bloom stem remains green, go out it alone or take Option 2, below, every bit your orchid power bloom once again from the same stalk.

If you lot pick out to cutting back the stalk, you have ii options:

  • Option ane: This is the selection to pick out if the stalk has already started turning brown, every bit dead stems will never produce more than blooms.  Remove nearly of the flower spike by clipping it off to most ane inch from the base of the plant, using abrupt scissors or pruning shears. Cutting back the spike this mode will let the orchid to concentrate all its free energy on rootage evolution in addition to increment the likelihood your orchid volition blossom once again.

 

  • Option 2: The orchid stalk will take a few nodes going upward the spike prior to where the blooms started. These nodes accept the potential to branch out with novel blooms. If your orchid stalk is still dark-green, y’all can cut the peak of the spike off to about ane/ii inch to a higher place a node, using very abrupt scissors or pruning shears.

What does an orchid flower spike await like?

After several weeks, oft inwards the fall, a novel bloom spike should seem. This bloom spike is dissimilar from the squiggly roots. Instead, the new spike will wait like an upwardly-growing glossy green point, like a tiny manus with a mitten on it.

All of my orchids are blooming right now, so I don’t have a photo of a flower spike to part amongst yous, simply I’ll add together one here subsequently.

As the new flower spike grows taller, to about v inches, yous can place a bamboo stake next to it for support too gently attach one or 2 of those little jaw-type clips (or loosely tie alongside roll), existence real careful not to mash the new blossom spike.

Fertilizing together with Feeding an Orchid

How to care for orchids after they bloom - jane at home

If you lot desire your orchid to blossom again, fertilization is of import.  However, orchids are not heavy feeders, so don’t turn over them besides much fertilizer.

Most orchid experts recommend fertilizing nigh in one case a calendar month amongst a weak diluted orchid fertilizer, at almost 25 to fifty per centum force.

Another method is to use a nylon stocking to make a niggling ball filled amongst controlled-unloosen fertilizer together with place that inward the potting mixture.  Or, you lot tin simply scatter a few granules of the gradual-loose fertilizer in the potting medium, according to the instructions on the label.

How Often Does an Orchid Bloom?

When grown as indoor plants, Phalaenopsis orchids typically bloom one time a twelvemonth, simply roughly orchids rebloom every iii to six months.  With proper tending, the blooms should final ii or three months earlier fading.

Phalaenopsis orchids ordinarily bloom inwards the wintertime through the leap. However, my orchids typically blossom twice a yr, inward both wintertime too summertime.

How to care for orchids after they bloom - jane at home

My orchids usually blossom 2 times a yr, in winter together with summer

A dyad of years agone, when nosotros were doing just about construction inward our home, 1 of my orchids was exposed to a bunch of tile dust.  Within only a dyad of days, its blooms started withering and falling off.

Since then, I e’er endeavor to go along my orchids inward a good-ventilated topographic point, alongside a consistent temperature, watering schedule, and sum of sunlight, specially while they’re blooming.

Orchid Care Rebloom Tips: How to Make an Orchid Bloom Again

If your institute is good taken tending of through its blooming menses, so y’all stand up a adept hazard at getting your Phalaenopsis orchid to blossom once more.

You’ll know your orchid is fix to beginning its rebloom cycle when it has grown a complete novel foliage afterward the bloom spike has been cut off. 

Sometimes, however, when Phalaenopsis orchids are grown inwards a consistently warm habitation, they call for a petty aid to realize it’sec fall too outset to rebloom.   

So i pull a fast one on yous tin can function to get an orchid to blossom once more is to act it to a cooler area where it will experience lower nighttime temperatures, between 55° F. and 65° F.

Just brand sure the cooler topographic point you lot home your orchid inwards yet receives vivid, indirect sunlight during the daytime.

We accept a spare sleeping room that stays cooler than the rest of our dwelling house, just withal receives plenty of sunshine during the solar day, then this is where I act my orchids when I desire to coax them to rebloom.

Once novel increase appears (run into in a higher place for tips on what a new blossom spike looks like), you can render your orchid to its normal warmer place.

If yous follow these simple reblooming tips, you lot tin unremarkably go your orchid to blossom most twice a yr and agree its blooms for several weeks. 

If, nevertheless, after several months, a blossom spike doesn’t seem on its ain, y’all might endeavour giving your establish a dose of blooming fertilizer.

How to Replant an Orchid

How do you lot repot an orchid found?

First, exclusively replant your orchid later on it has finished blooming (unremarkably inwards leap).  Also, near Phalaenopsis can grow up to 2 years earlier they demand to be repotted, so don’t feel like yous ask to repot your orchid ofttimes.

In their native surround, moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) grow on trees and are considered air plants, or epiphytes, and thus don’t grow in regular ground. 

Rather, orchids are oftentimes planted amongst a potting medium that mimics a tree, such every bit tree bark chips or sphagnum moss. 

You can buy commercial potting mixes that are specifically made for orchids.  Most orchid potting media will too take just about perlite, sphagnum moss, kokosnoot husks, or charcoal mixed inwards to assist it retain moisture.

Orchids call for enough of air circulation for the source organisation to grow too thrive, and so it is recommended to repot your orchid inward a clear plastic pot with gratis drainage. Then you tin can sideslip the clear plastic pot inside a prettier ceramic pot to encompass it.

When y’all repot your orchid, endeavour to avoid forcing or pushing all of the roots into the potting medium, as about roots require to grow upwardly too outward.

The about of import affair is to brand sure that the bulb-similar base of your orchid, or corm, is anchored inwards the potting mixture.

After repotting your orchid, yous tin fertilize it with a granular or liquid orchid fertilizer, according to instructions on the label, together with go along to fertilize your orchid nearly one time a calendar month until it blooms once again. See higher up for about tips on feeding your orchid establish.

Blue cabinet and round mirror with white phalaenopsis orchid - how to care for orchids after they bloom - jane at home #blue #blueandwhite #bluedecor

I honey placing my orchids inward front of a mirror for double the beauty!

Where to Shop for Orchid Care Essentials

Orchid care subsequently flower doesn’t accept to be hard or expensive.  Below are a few places to shop for orchid pots, the best soil too potting mix for Phalaenopsis orchids, in addition to orchid fertilizers.

Orchids, Orchid Pots, Soil and Potting Mix for Orchids, too Orchid Fertilizers:


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I promise you establish this postal service informative together with helpful! In my thought, orchids are the perfect improver to every home together with a corking manner to get up any space.

Please permit me know if you lot have whatsoever questions virtually orchid attention later on they flower, or whatever other questions near caring for orchids. Have a wonderful mean solar day! xo Jane