Just as we start feeling the winter blues, our orchids start going into dormancy. When spring rolls around again, your Phalaenopsis orchid might need some help reblooming. Here's how to make it happen.
Over the fall and winter, your orchid stopped blooming, and you might have been hit with a wave of sadness. But don’t worry: your orchid went into dormancy and might need a little extra love to rebloom again.
Dormancy gives your Phalaenopsis orchid a period of rest and allows it to replace the nutrients that are used up when the plant is blooming. While dormancy is in place, nutrients and water remain stored in the leaves of your orchid until they're needed once again. You can expect dormancy to last anywhere from 6-9 months. Because like people, every orchid is different, your orchid may very well bloom on its own!
If your orchid needs a little extra TLC to get blooming, follow these three simple steps:
1. Get fertilizing
Start fertilizing your plant every other week with either an all-balanced fertilizer, one labeled as "bloom booster" or even one specifically designed for Orchids. Dilute the fertilizer to half strength (meaning half of the normal recommend amount) into the water before applying it to the soil. Foliar fertilizers can also be used on Orchids.
2. Increase light
Increasing light levels can also help facilitate blooming if your Orchid is placed farther from a window. Preferably within an east or west exposure.
3. Find a new spot for your plant
During this period, you can try moving your orchid to a cooler spot – one that reaches between 55–65 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your plant here until a new flower spike emerges.
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