After Orchid Flowers Fall
Posted by Just Add Ice Orchids... It's Just That Simple. on Tue, May 25, 2010
So you've been given an orchid plant and have enjoyed its long-lasting bloom, but now the last orchid flower has faded and you're wondering what to do with the rest of the plant. Right? Fortunately, they will bloom again. In the meantime, you have a few options:
You can let it be, while making sure to fertilize monthly or as often as every other week with a houseplant fertilizer or balanced fertilizer (example: 20-20-20) at half the recommended rate. During this time,the plant may produce new buds at the end of the old flower spike. (If the orchid flower spike has turned yellow or brown, the entire spike should be removed.)
You can cut the bare flower spike back to a "node", a triangular shaped area on the stem, which may encourage the orchid to generate new side flower spikes.
You can remove the entire flower spike so that the orchid plant can put more energy back into the leaves and roots, helping it to grow stronger and produce a fresh new flower spike.
You might also want to promote orchid reblooming by moving it to an area where the night time temperatures are slightly lower than their current environment - ideally between 55 to 65 degrees F, but with the same amount of in-direct sunlight exposure as before.
You'll know an orchid flower spike has formed when what looks like a root starts to grow upwards and the tip takes on the appearance of a mitten, as opposed to a root tip that is rounded. Once the orchid flower spike is identified, the orchid can be returned to its normal setting.
As the flower spike grows, support it with a stake along the way. To produce a beautiful display of orchid flowers try to avoid changing the plant's orientation to the light when it is producing its flowers. Otherwise, the flowers may be twisted on the stem and you may jeopardize a nice arching floral display.