| the leaves on my plant are turning yellow.it is a steam orchid i dont know how to care for it the blooms have fallen off sould i cut it back?if so to where?this is the 3rd time i've asked questions with no reply yet.please help. |
| We always answer questions within 24 hours so if you haven't received replies your email address may be incorrect, or your mail program is blocking our responses. Hope this one makes it to your inbox! Now that the flowers are spent you can cut the flowering stem back just below where the flowers were. A secondary spray may form. If you cut the stem down to the crown of the plant, no new flowers will form on that stem. I usually just leave part of an old stem on my plants so another set of flowers can develop from a dormant bud. As for flowering, your orchid can produce a flowering stalk at most any time - initiation has to do with temperature changes and maturity of the plant. Although spikes can appear at any time of the year, most of mine come into spike during the winter months and flower around November, December and January. It takes about three months for the spike to grow and develop into flowers. Most growers cut back the flower stalk (called inflorescence) after blooming has completely finished to allow the plant to rest. The belief is that the next flower spike will be stronger. O Orchids are wonderful houseplants! Here are a few general care rules: Orchids need ample humidity, so put the pot on a pebble-filled tray and keep water in it. Also keep the soil moist. When watering, use tepid, not cold water. Mist the leaves occasionally. Orchids need 10-15 hours of bright light each day, but keep them out of direct sunlight. They prefer daytime temperatures of about 70F in summer and 60F in winter, with a 10 degree drop at night. Keep them out of cold drafts, feed them during the summer months with a low nitrogen fertilizer, and let them become pot-bound (they flower more freely when their toes are pinched). I hope this information helps! |
