How To Care for an Orchid After It Blooms
Orchids are beautiful plants that fill any space with their unique look and vibrant blossoms. But, when these blossoms are gone, what do you do with your orchid? Caring for an orchid after it blooms usually only requires a bit more effort than some of your other plants.
In this article, we’ll break down the steps to keep your orchid healthy and ensure that it blooms again in the future. We’ll provide a complete guide to understanding the needs of your plant and how to best meet them. From proper watering and fertilizing to when to prune and repot, we have all the information you need to get the most out of your orchid.
Preparing for Re-blooming
When it is time to prepare your orchid for re-blooming, you must first check the health of its roots. If they are brown and dry, you will need to cut them, leaving only healthy white-green ones behind. Relocate the remaining healthy roots to a potting container that is just one size larger than the original one.
Potting the Plant
When potting your orchid, use a sterile and well-drained potting mixture that is mostly organic such as fir bark or ground-up coconut husk mixed with perlite. For additional nutrition, mix in some rounds of orchid fertilizer into the potting mixture as well. Plant your orchid in this new soil making sure it is not pressed too tightly into the pot. Water your newly potted orchid lightly and place it in a very bright area with daytime temperatures of 75º F or more and nighttime temperatures of 65º or more.
Trimming and Training the Plant
Once re-potted, trim orchids to their desired shape and size by removing any dead leaves and stems. Leave about four leaves for every stem so that the plant can regenerate itself more easily when it comes time to bloom again.
In addition to trimming, training your orchid is also important as this encourages healthy growth of side branches by attaching them to a stake with string ties. Doing this will allow light and air to get closer to the center of the plant to promote a more even growth of buds that will eventually turn into flowers!
Enhancing the Environment
In addition to properly repotting, trimming and training your orchid, making sure it has an optimal environment around it is also key to helping it re-bloom again. You can do this by providing it with plenty of humidity with a humidifier or regular misting of the leaves and roots (although avoid directly drenching the flowers as this can damage them). It’s also important that it gets enough sunlight (not direct) as this will help strengthen its stems for when buds begin to appear once more.
Diagnosing and Treating Common Orchid Problems
Sometimes despite our best efforts, an orchid may fail to re-bloom due to various problems like over-watering or nutrient deficiencies in its soil. If none of these factors apply, then you may want to consider issues such as a mealybug pest infestation. If this is the case, applying 70% rubbing alcohol would be necessary in order to restore your plant’s health and get it on its way toward blooming again.
Conclusion
All in all, properly caring for an orchid after it blooms can be a bit tedious. But, with attentive care and upkeep, you will be able to enjoy watching your beloved orchid flourish again in no time!