Orchids: After Bloom Care

What should I do with my orchid plant when it finishes blooming? How do I get it to bloom again?

Hi Mandy,

Lavender colored Cattleya Orchid
Cattleya Orchid

It’s important to use very clean sharp tools when pruning an orchid to prevent diseases. There are a couple of thing you can do with the spikes after an orchid has finished blooming.

  1. After the flowers have died, the main flower spike will start to turn brown.  Cut it back, leaving 2-3 nodes; a new stem can develop from this original spike. Keep feeding as usual.
  2. If no new stems develop cut the old spike off as close to the base of the plant as possible, avoid damaging any leaves. Hopefully the Orchid Plant will produce new spikes within 3-8 months.