Orchids are a whole genus of beautiful flowering plants, highly valued ornamentally precisely for the great variety in the shapes and colors of their flowers, all of them of great beauty. There are currently more than 25,000 species and 60,000 hybrids due to their great success and popularity, although many fans have problems when it comes to enjoying the flowering of their orchids, and it is that you have to know well what care they need for their flowers appear and shine in all their splendor.
How long do orchids take to bloom?
Getting the first flowering of orchids is not especially difficult, since it is enough for the plant to have its basic needs for water, light, and nutrients supplied. How long does it take for this first bloom to appear? It depends on the variety and the specific circumstances, but in the case of, for example, Phalaenopsis, one of the most common to acquire, it can take up to 3 or 4 years from germination.
The first blooms will always be poorer and smaller, large and beautiful flowers will not be obtained until at least three seasons later. If we add that some species or later varieties take up to 8 years to flower, we will understand why they are expensive flowers.
How do I know if my orchid is going to bloom then? Actually, the best thing to do in this case is to cover all its needs for the plant and to be attentive to the birth of the flower rod of an orchid and its consequent flower buds, which are the only unequivocal sign that the plant is preparing to bloom...
When do orchids bloom
In their natural habitat, in tropical areas, orchids can produce up to three blooms a year. However, this only happens in these types of climates, where the seasons are not very marked and there are no significant changes in temperatures.
If you do not live in a zone with a tropical climate, your orchid will give flowers only once a year, which will almost always be in spring. In the northern hemisphere, this will normally occur from the end of March, although it will depend on the specific characteristics of the climate in the area.
How long do orchid flowers last?
When the conditions are right, if we offer good care to this plant, the flowering of the orchid can last for 3 months, being one of the plants with ornamental flowers of the longest duration. Specifically, the flowers will last longer in a cool climate, while in a warmer one the flowers will wither sooner.
Caring for flowering orchids
During flowering, the orchid’s needs are not greatly altered. These are the key points of the care of flowering orchids :
- Light: abundant and indirect or filtered.
- Location: protected from drafts and heat sources.
- Temperature: always above 10ºC. Necessary vegetative period.
- Watering: up to twice a week in the warm months, always without overdoing it or flooding. Fortnightly in the cold months.
- Humidity: it is necessary to spray water lightly on its leaves in dry environments or place the plant on water and stones, without the roots touching the water.
- Substrate: very light and porous, preferably specific for epiphytes or orchids.
- Compost: it is necessary to use specific fertilizer for orchids , the universal one can burn the roots.
How to make an orchid bloom again
Getting orchids to bloom again is the nightmare of many hobbyists, who sometimes give up and end up shedding the plant after the first bloom. However, these plants can continue to flourish. You just have to pay special attention to the care of the orchids when the flowers fall :
- The first and most important thing is to know when to cut the orchid rods , that is, pruning . This must be done once the flowering has finished and as long as it has not developed any keiki , that is, a new small plant from the knot of the floral rod, a way to reproduce orchids . If the rod has a knot, it is cut above it or the rod is removed directly, it is the gardener’s preference.
- Give your orchid plenty of light after flowering, but always indirectly.
- Add specific fertilizers in late winter to prepare the plant for the new flowering.
- Let the plant notice the seasonal changes in temperature. If you do not feel the cold in winter, it will not enter the vegetative period and, without it, it will not flower again.
Why is an orchid not blooming
If you are still wondering: why is my orchid not blooming? , it is most likely due to one of the points explained above. If you give your plant enough light and moisture without waterlogging it, if you allow it to go into vegetative dormancy, and prune it properly after flowering, it should bloom again the following spring. If all this still does not happen, it is most likely that your plant is affected by some disease or plague such as fungi or insects.
