We all love orchids for their refined stems and blossoms. These indoor plants have unique flowers which is what makes them such popular house plants.
The flowers are long-lasting, and when looked after appropriately, the plants can last for years.
When orchid plants are comfortable, they bloom at least once a year. But what happens to this house plant once the flowers fall off? Will it grow back and bloom again? What can I do when those elegant flowers begin to fall off? And why are they falling off in the first place?
Do Orchids Bloom Again After Flowers Fall Off?
To simply put, yes they do. Once an orchid finished blooming, the old flowers will fall off leaving bare spikes in their spot.
To make the plant bloom again faster, the old flower spike will have to be removed so that the plant can put more stability into new leaves and roots.
cutting short the old stem at the base of the plant as if you’re pruning it is important as it prevents the plant from having an ugly appearance and allows it to bloom quickly, if the old steps are kept for long, they will turn yellow and brown.
Why Are My Orchids Losing Flowers?
The most common reason why orchids lose their flowers is that the flowers have finished blooming, this is a natural process and eventually, the flower will bloom again. Other situations may include overwatering of orchids, lack of sunlight, underwatering, diseases, etc.
What to Do with An Orchid After the Flowers Fall Off?
Even if the flowers fall off, the green spikes can provide new blooms, following the steps below will help our orchid bloom in no time.
1.Toss out the Flower Spikes
If you notice that your spike has become yellow, brown, and weakened, the plant needs to be pruned. When the yellow and brown parts are pruned, you are saving your orchid plant from expending vitality and nutrients and rather encouraging it to grow and bloom rapidly eventually.
When pruning the orchids, make use of sharp scissors and a clean razor blade, cut the flower spikes, and remove it after use. To prevent fungal diseases from attacking the cut-out part, apply fungicide to the places that you’ve cut and sprinkle some cinnamon powder on the pruned parts.
2. Repot the plant
Once the roots start growing over the pots, you have to report them. Do this once the orchids stop blooming, as it’s a good opportunity to move it from their old pot to a new drainage-enabled pot. Ensure that the new pot has a hole to allow excess moisture to leave the plant.
When replanting, use a potting mix that is created specifically for orchids. The potting mix should be bark-based and rich in organic nutrients and fertile soil.
3. Watering and fertilizing
When orchids stop flowering, they rest before continuing flower generation. Orchids with succulent stems like Cattleya and Oncidium need less moisture.
During the resting period of the orchid after flowering, reduce the amount of watering.
Orchids with less succulent stems like Vanda and Phalaenopsis need more moisture to help them in growing. Reduce the amount of fertilizer until new leaves emerge.
When fertilising, ensure the use of a water-soluble orchid fertilizer.
Cut the stem off just above a visible joint to help accelerate the stem to grow another flower over the next few months.
For stems that do not produce a new shoot, or start turning brown or yellow, remove it just above the base. The plant will continue to grow new flower spikes.
How to Get an Orchid to Rebloom
The below are best ways in which we can get an orchid to grow back and rebloom after flowers fall off:
1. Check the spikes and treat infection
The first thing you want to do to get an orchid to rebloom is to check the spikes and make sure they are strong and active. Active spikes are green in appearance, thick, and strong when they are being held.
Short vulnerable spikes result from excess light, insufficient light, or nutrient shortage. If the orchid spike is brown or yellow, it won’t produce any new sprouts, let alone flowers.
Treat the orchid infections to allow for the new growth of flowers. If you notice that the plant is suffering from fungal or other diseases, separate it from the rest to curb the disease from circulating.
2. Provide the orchid with bright light
Orchids don’t like too much light as it can burn their leaves. They want just enough light to thrive well and reduce the darkness.
Dark green leaves are an indication that the plant isn’t getting sufficient light. Green leaves are a good indication that the orchid is obtaining enough light.
The right amount of light will give it the required strength to form a fresh blossom with lots of blossom spikes.
If the light is limited, you can add artificial lighting to enhance the lightning. Place your orchid in a spot where it can get direct sunlight or bright light in the morning.
A place near a window can be suitable because indirect afternoon sun can assist the plant to rebloom quickly.
3. Cut off the old flower spike
After the flowers of an orchid drop out, they leave you with a flower spike where most flowers have fallen. Most orchids blossom once from the same branch. To encourage new growth, you need to do the cutting.
Don’t cut the spike to the base. Instead, cut it off just above the visible protection. The process will facilitate the production of new flower stems after a while
However, if no shoot appears, or the original stem becomes brown or yellow, when this occurs, the brown parts need to be cut out to prevent diseases from occurring.
4. Water orchids at appropriate Times
Orchids will easily bloom again when saturated at least once every week. However, how frequently you mist your orchids depends on the climate and humidity conditions. During warm weather, water orchids once or twice a week. During winter, water the plant once in two weeks
Do not overwater your orchids as this can cause curling leaves and flowers, root rot, and general ill condition.
5. Apply fertilizer
Feed your orchid with a fertilizer with high phosphorus volume to improve growth and stimulate flowering.
Refrain from adding fertilizer when the flowers begin to grow to help in safeguarding them as they are the most delicate part of the plant.
Always wait for new development before adding fertilizer. Don’t fertilize on the days when the plant is static i.e when there is no flowering or growth of new leaves or roots.
6. Maintain a warm environment
To get orchids to grow back and blossom again, keep your indoor temperature. Colder climates are better for some species to bloom quickly after the flowers fall off.
You can meet the needs of warm and moderate growers in a typical home environment. However, it can be difficult to get orchids that grow in colder environments to rebloom, as it can be challenging to get your home to meet the cold temperatures.
Do Orchids Grow Back Each Year?
Since they are perennial plants, orchids don’t wither after flowering. However, the species of the orchid will determine if it will grow back each year. Most orchids flower once a year but some varieties can bloom twice or even more times.
In conclusion, orchids are restricted to different growing conditions but when they are provided with the seasonal transitions and situations they prefer, your orchids will grow back year after year.
