| I bought an orchid last year; it was flowering at the time, but has not flowered since. It has produced two new stems however. Do I need to be patient, or should I start fertilizing with orchid fertilizer and go ahead and repot the plant in new orchid medium? The plant receives indirect sunlight for about 8 hours a day. The internal temp is 65 to 70 degrees. |
| If an orchid isn't flowering, it probably isn't receiving the exact conditions it requires. Let's start with some general rules: Orchids need about 70F degree days in the summer and 60F degree days in the winter. They like temperaturesto be about 10 degrees lower at night. Ten to fifteen hours of bright light each day will encourage bloom. Supplement with artificial light in the wintertime so they get their full dose of light. Keep the growing medium moist, but not soggy, and add some humidity to the air by placing the pots on a tray filled with pebbles to which you add water once a week. You can also mist the leaves every few days. Orchids appreciate being root-bound, and some roots growing above the soil surface are natural. Repot only every three years, when plant growth seems to stop. Some kinds of orchids bloom more frequently than others. If you've given your plants all of the above conditions, it's just a matter of time before they bloom. If want more specific information about your orchid, please ask another question and include the species name - we'll be happy to help! |
