Phalaenopsis orchids usually bloom once a year from winter into early spring.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
1.
Reduce the frequency of fertilizer and watering to give the phalaenopsis a rest period.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Only feed resting orchids monthly and irrigate weekly.
Resume a more active maintenance routine with water and fertilizer.
Let the plant dry completely between waterings.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Orchids do not like continuously wet environments.
Fertilizer
Fertilization is key to repeat flowering.
Orchids benefit tremendously from fertilizer, but they are not heavy feeders, so dont overfertilize them.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Feed once a week or every two weeks with diluted orchid fertilizer.
Move to a Colder Location
The orchid enters its rebloom cycle once the new leaf is fully grown.
At night, move it to a location 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
This drop in temperature is critical for nudging the plant into flowering.
In the wintertime, this can often be achieved by moving the plant slightly closer to a window.
It typically looks like an upward-growing root with a knobby “mitten” on the end.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Once your orchid is actively flowering, fertilizer can be discontinued until the bloom period ends.
Once it extends to about 5 inches long, the flower spike should be staked and loosely tied.
Increase feeding to a weekly dose of diluted fertilizer until the plant produces a new flower.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Cool nightsin the 50s Fare a surefire way to trigger orchids to rebloom.
An orchid that drops its flowers is entering dormancy.
It is not dead; if given the right conditions, it can rebloom again.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Phalaenopsis orchids will rebloom on old stems; however, most other orchid types will not.
