Orchids are unique and very beautiful plants that can embellish our homes in many different ways thanks to their peculiar flowers and leaves. Whether hanging or as centerpieces in clear containers, their epiphytic plant feature allows for configurations only available for a few plants. However, precisely because of their peculiarities, the care of orchids is also somewhat special and sometimes it is difficult to see them bloom.
If you wonder”Why is my orchid not blooming and what to do?“, join us in this EcologíaVerde article in which we offer you a detailed guide.
Why is my orchid not blooming?
When an orchid does not bloom, it is almost always for the same reasons. Detecting them is very simple if they are known:
Lack or excess of light
Phalaenopsis orchids are the most popular and well-known and do not need too much light. Usually cultivated as indoor plants, it will be enough for them to be in rooms lit with subdued light to grow healthy and strong. Other types of orchids such as Cymbidium or Dendrobium, on the other hand, need much more light, and in these conditions they will get sick. If your orchid has dull dark green leaves instead of its natural bright green, it means that it needs more light.
Conversely, orchids can also get too much light. In their natural environment they are plants that are kept under the tree canopy, which protects them from direct sunlight. If your plant receives the sun’s rays directly, or does so through a window that does not filter enough, its leaves can burn. The sign that it is receiving too much light is usually in the form of yellow or brown spots on the leaves, as dry areas in the middle of the leaf, where the light has hit too hard.
Lack of fertilizers or inadequate fertilizers
Contrary to what it may seem, even orchids need fertilizer: they cannot live on water, air and light alone. If your orchid has a very poor substrate, it will not be able to develop properly, and this includes growth and flowering, which requires a large amount of energy from the plant.
Always provide specifically fertilizer to make orchids bloom to your plant, following the instructions indicated in it. Never fertilize it with universal fertilizer, as the roots of orchids are very sensitive and could damage them.
Changes in temperature and light
In order to flourish, the orchid needs to maintain its natural cycles. If you do not feel that there are changes in the environment that mark the passing of the seasonsit won’t know when to prepare to flower and, most likely, it won’t.
Put it somewhere where the temperature is about 5°C lower at night and keep it at a slightly lower temperature during the cold months.
weak roots
The roots are the most important part of the plant and if they are not in good condition it will not flower. Check that they are properly, with a healthy color and without rotten parts, and prune what is necessary with sharp and properly disinfected tools.
very young plant
Many orchids do not begin to flower until they are at least 2 or 3 years old. If your plant is too young, it will not flower no matter how ideal the conditions are.
new growth
If the plant is devoting its energies to producing a new stem or pseudobulb, it will not start flowering until it reaches a certain level of maturity. Pay attention to its growing stems and the appearance of immature flower spikes.
What to do if my orchid does not bloom
In this situation it is normal to ask yourself: “what to do if my orchid does not bloom or how to make my orchid bloom?”. In that case, check all the reasons that we have given here for which the orchid may not bloom and check which ones are failing. Move it if it has too much or too little light, allow it to suffer slight changes in temperature, fertilize it with specific fertilizer and water it whenever it needs it, without neglecting the environmental humidity, which you can provide by spraying water on its leaves and roots.
We recommend you review the general care of these plants, to make sure you cover them well. To do this, you can read this guide How to care for orchids or watch this video.
How do I know if my orchid is going to bloom?
When do orchids bloom? When an orchid is in ideal conditions, it will bloom once between the end of winter and the beginning of spring and again in autumn. This, in the northern hemisphere, normally corresponds to between February and April the first time, and between September and October the second. However, if your orchid only blooms once a year, it does not mean that the plant is going to die, but simply that its conditions are not so perfect.
If you want to know if your orchid will continue to bloom, you should look at the flower stems of your plant. If you are still showing flower buds, which are small shoots covered with bracts, your plant will continue to flower. These buds are active growth points of the plant, where it will continue to develop flowers and branches, even if the old flowers have already fallen off.
Discover much more about the flowering of orchids in this other guide.
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