Flowerless orchid

Hi everyone,

I'm fairly new here, was wondering if anyone had some advice.. I got a small orchid in the summer which was flowering at the time. Unfortunately within a couple of weeks, the flowers all fell off and it's not flowered since. It has plenty of light and the leaves all look green and healthy, but I'd like it so much if I could get it flowering again.

Is there anything I can do, or is it just a seasonal thing? A friend of mine has 2 large orchids which both are flowering and look stunning (I'm a bit jealous!)

Thanks!

Olivia

 

Hey Olivia,

I can say that from personal experience, my orchids take at least another 6months- a year before they begin to flower again. I've had some orchids that take even longer than that.Sometimes they will begin their cycle almost as soon as the last flower drops by sending out new leaves. Sometimes this stops and then you'll have a dormant period and the growing will continue whenever the plant is ready.

I keep about 20 in one room, and cycle them around once one is ready to flower I put it into the position wherever I want it. I find this helps to acclimatise the plant before the flowers open, and it is less inclined to loose it's flowers quickly. With a lot of orchids, a sudden change in climate causes the flowers drop, or the buds to shrivel up before they've had a chance to open. The more orchids you have at different growing stages then it is more likely you will always have one in flower.....you won't notice the bare plants so much then- or mind waiting for it to flower

I think if you just leave it as it is for now, keep your eye on it, you'll see a new leave forming before long, and normally by the time the second leaf has arrived you will have one or more flower spikes developing.

The above advice is based on Phalaenopsis, I cannot really speak for other varities as I have had limited success with those. I have a lady slipper orchid that's lay dormant for about 2 years.

Another little tip....after it's finished flowering if you snip the flower spike just above the next 'eye' down it may send out another flower spike. If you do this, put it somewhere light for a few weeks. If nothing happens then cut the stem off completely and allow the plant to cycle naturally again.

I regularly buy boxes of drip feeders for my orchids when they are in active growth. And I spray with an orchid foliar feeder once a month. Also keep an eye on the roots, and make sure it doesnt out grow it's pot.

 

Another thing to do is repot/replace the soil as this will stimulate the plant.

You can also get orchid fertiliser kits designed for feeding in the different stages of non flowering and flowering.

 

Very true Rootball. Although I find the whole re-potting process very lengthy and not entirely straight forward

 

Olivia, there are lots of different types of orchid freely available these days.

A picture would help.

 

\can you post a poicture Orchids are a very large family

 

Wow, thanks everyone for the really quick and helpful replies!

I'll try and get a pic for you asap - though at the moment it is just a few leaves and a stalk, so I don't know how much that'll help? I don't know the specific variety unfortunately, but it had really pretty yellow flowers with hints/thin lines of purple.

I'll try snipping back the stalk and see if that stimulates it! Had also wondered if I should try a drip feeder. I'd worried actually that maybe it had too much sunlight? I'd put it on the window sill. Though I daresay maybe I just need to be a bit more patient! :D

Thanks!

 

Hi,

I've uploaded a couple of pics of the orchid, I don't know how much you'll be able to tell from them. We cut the stalk back and will repot it this weekend. I also intend to get some orchid feeder - is there any particular brand/type which is best?

Thanks!

 

My first post on this forum......

Looks like a Phalaenopsis/Doritis/Doritaenopsis, so easy to care for.
One problem from your photo though; get it out of that cache pot. Put some pebbles in the saucer up to the rim, top up with water to below the pebble line and stand it on the pebbles - humidity is good.

I wouldn't repot unless the medium looks as though it has lichen growing in the moss and on the roots. Only water when the medium looks dry and the pot feels light - let it soak in the cache pot that you will now have spare for 20/30 minutes.

Move it to the side of the window so that it can get morning sun only (if facing south) - direct sunlight is not ideal.

I can't see the remnants of a flower stem, so this may be a while before it reblooms. Or, as was said by an earlier poster, it could be soon. I would leave it in an east or north facing window if possible, bathrooms are great, at least until February. Give it a chance to grow a little. Then, if possible, move it to a cooler room for 4/6weeks before moving it back to where it was.

These are my tips. The thing is though, trial and error is often needed as conditions differ in all our houses.

Good luck!

 

Thank you very much! My problem is I'd already repotted it by the time you posted your advice :( But I should be able to fiddle about this weekend and sort it. It is on a south facing windowsill so maybe that is having an effect, having too much sunlight... I'll move it to a north facing one.

Thanks for all your help!

 

Don't think that you need to fiddle too much other that remove the pot that it's growing in from the cache pot, placing it on pebbles instead.

 

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update to say thanks for all the advice - my orchid's getting on nicely now with 2 long, healthy stalks and one of them has several buds growing Looking forward to seeing them open up!

I appreciate all your help

 

That's good news!

 

Wondeful new Olivia