When they're not blooming, you can often find orchids at low prices. |
When it comes to orchids, phalaenopsis (moth orchids) are among the most easy to grow. Blooms can last for several months and you can get them to rebloom without a lot of effort. Well, some folks can. I haven't had such good luck with getting another bloom, and I have the shelf of non-blooming phalaenopsis to prove it. Frankly, I'm a little bit embarrassed.
In an effort to succeed in getting rebloom, I checked in with our orchid expert at Gardner's Supply, Anita Nadeau. She helps customers in the conservatory at our Williston, VT, store (Check out the slideshow, below). Here are her tips for getting your phalaenopsis to rebloom:
Blooming phalaenopsis are available by mail-order and at good garden centers. |
Pay attention to watering and humidity. If you neglect your orchid, it will not reward you with blooms. The plants are growing in a free-draining blend of fir bark, so you need to water regularly. Avoid letting the plant dry out between waterings. Most homes are quite dry during the winter, but you can increase the humidity by setting the orchid pots on a tray of pebbles or a special humidity grid. Make sure the pots are not sitting in the water; they should be just above it.
Fertilize regularly. A fertilizing routine is just as important as a watering routine. Anita recommends fertilizing once a month at full-strength or every week at quarter-strength. For an organic option, consider Orchid Fertilizer from Terracycle. It's a ready-to-use liquid that's made from worm castings.
Make sure plants get enough light—but not too much. Anita says, "When a healthy orchid does not flower, it is usually due to not enough light." Phalaenopsis thrive in bright light, but not direct sun. This means east- or west-facing windows are best. Orchids also thrive under full-spectrum lights.
Orchids in BloomA selection of orchids growing in our Vermont conservatory. To see the caption, click on the photo. Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR. |
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15 comments:
I'm very wary of my Phalaenopsis (absolutely the worst approach as any orchid-grower will swear!). I grow, bloom and rebloom a thousand dendrobiums but when it comes to Phals, I'm as nervous as a kitten. And they know it... sigh!
Wow! I love the dark colored orchid blooms in your slideshow.
That is an awesome slideshow. Sure got me interested. Very good info as well. I appreciate you taking the time to inform us.
Remember though that Phals need different types of fertilizer in the growing period (summertime) and different type of fertilizer during blooming time.
I grow both Phalaenopsis and Dedrobiums inside, in orchid bark mix and have no problem getting them to bloom. I never let them dry out and I use a weak fertilizer (the one for African violets) every time I water. I do not even have them setting on wet pebbles. They don't bloom all the time but when they do it's like someone just gave birth!! I have one that is blooming for the third time on the same stem - after the blooms die, I cut just above the first bloom node. Be patient.
I've come to the conclusion that trying to time when to use what fertilizer does not make that much difference with phals in a hobbyist collection. It also depends what mix you grow in. A good quality blossom-booster or flowering orchid fertilizer, should suffice especially for plants in peat mixes or moss. If you use bark, then a high nitrogen or urea-free fertilizer should be part of your regimen, at least in the 6-8 months after flowering. Using different types of fertilizer at different feedings is also a good idea because of the different micronutrients they contain. While feeding is important, as the author writes, good light is more critical. Furthermore, cooler night temperatures around 60, not just to initiate spikes, but also during spike elongation, will help maximize the number of buds.
I put mine outside, not in the sunlight for 3 weeks, day and night. They then bloom in the early spring.
I forgot to say that I leave them outside in October.
I have a large collection of phalaenopsis with about half of them blooming at any one time. They sit above my kitchen sink where they get lots of steam and bright light, but not direct sun. Don't cut off the bloom stalk, and you should get at least one re-blooming. I prefer phals to cut flowers - they last for months, and are SO beautiful. Try them - you'll love them!
to Bellamaya where do you live to be able to leave you orchids outside in October?
One more thing: I only rarely give my orchids fertilizer, and they bloom their brains out! Maybe I should give them some and see what happens.
My wife has been growing orchids and finds Phals, the easiest to grow. She has 20 orchids, with many in bloom both Phals and Dedrobiums in bloom. She has one Phal that is 35 years old and has bloomed every year. Tally
I had trouble getting my orchids to thrive until I started to mist them every day with Willard Water. Now they are thriving and blooming.
Why doesn't your slide show give the name of the orchid in the picture?
I wasn't able to get names of all of the orchids, but there is information on some of them. For instance, the first one is a zygopetalum. To see the caption, click on the photo. The image should get smaller and display more information. -David
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