How to get a Phaleonopsis Orchid to Bloom
I got this plant in May of last year and within two weeks all of the blooms had fallen off. I didn’t worry because I was told that would happen periodically but it would bloom again in a couple of months. As you can see it still appears to be healthy, the leaves continue to grow, it started off with just two and now has five beautiful leaves. The roots look good too. I just don’t know why it will not bloom. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Princess,
Proper feeding of an orchid plant is important if you want it to flower. Fertilize weakly, weekly when an orchid plant is actively growing. Dilute your plant food to 1/3-1/4 the recommended strength. Do not feed an orchid plant when it is dormant or when the plant is in bloom. There are excellent orchid plant foods on the market. You can also use a well- balanced houseplant food diluted to 1/3-1/4 the recommended strength.
Temperature is another important factor in getting an orchid to flower. Like a gardenia plant which needs cool temperatures to set its buds, an orchid plant needs some very chilly nights, around 55°-65°, to encourage the spike (stem) that will produce the orchid flower.