I have a Cattleya which hasn't bloomed for the past year. Reading this article I guess my orchid doesn't get enough light. I'll have to buy some artificial lights as my window is shaded most of the time. Annoying because when I bought the plant they told me I wouldn't need ANY artificial lighting....

Thanks!

hi, after the flower dies on the stem, do you cut the stem? and if so will it flower
again on that stem? david.

Yes, I've found that I need artificial lights for my Catteleyas during the winter
months - and the humidifier needs to be going constantly.

PLEASE MAIL ABOUT ORCHID NUTRITION DOSAGE TEMPERATURE LIGHT AND THE VARAITIES THAT CAN EASULY BLOOM IN INDIAN CULTURE WARM REGARDS SUSOVAN SINHA INDIA

Hello, I recent bought an orchid from the supermarket,the flower buds on my plant does not keep growing and opening, and seems to collapse and shrink out one after one. Very worry,I don't know what I did wrong. What can I do to keep it blooming? Thanks and regards.
Michael Liu (Vancouver, BC)

Please let me know,, if after the flower dies on the stem, what I should do, cut the dead flowers? and if the flower come back again,if so, how long is going to take it?, and if I have to do something with the plant or leave it along.
Thanks. Hildi

I have an orchid that the blooms have already fallen off... should i cut back the stem so they can grow more? There are two stems and one of them is brown.. is that normal? Thank You.

i have a orchid which was bought from the supermarket,iwent away&i think some1as over watered it.the flowers in the middle look dead but there are 2flowers on the tip& 1at the start of the stem which are alive.should i cut the middle flowers off??i also put it on the radiator for a short time so it would dry out,i really don`t know,what is the best thing to do????

after my orchid gives me flower,where to cut for giving me a chance of new flower again

I have a Scent of a Woman orchid. The blossoms are gone. What do I do now? Please include tips for fertilizing and such. Thanks.

I have a Scent of a Woman orchid. The blossoms are gone. What do I do now? Please include tips for fertilizing and such. Thanks.

I have cut the stem of my orchid. A new leaf has begun to grow. Will I ever get flowers again? Also, What advice do you have for a beginner of orchids?

Thanks very much,

Janet

I have a beatiful orchid that has lost all it's blooms-the stem is turning brown from the tip towards the bottom-what should I do to encourage more blooms-do I cut the stem???

I have a beautiful orchid that has lost all it's blooms-the stem is turning brown from the tip towards the bottom-what should I do to encourage more blooms-do I cut the stem???

I have a beautiful orchid that has lost all it's blooms-the stem is turning brown from the tip towards the bottom-what should I do to encourage more blooms-do I cut the stem???

Hi

I'd like soem tips on growing a cymbidium and a dendrobium. My dendrobium flower has started to turn brown and I'm not sure if it's time for th eflower to fall off or if I am doing soemthing wrong?

I keep the dendrobium in the bathroom - a lot of natural morning light (not direct), large bathroom so plenty of light and air flow. Once a week I water it and keep in in the window (some direct winter light) for an hour or so. I have fertilized it too and am not sure how often I shoudl do this. I have used soem slow rekease fertilizere which says it lasts for 4 months.

Any tips would be much appreciated! Thanks.

i have had my orchid for 5 months and has not died but today it has my question if it dies can it grow blooms back or is it done.

I have a cymbidium that was blooming when I first got it, then the flowers fell off and the stem is now a brown, shriveled twig. I was told by a friend not to cut it off because it would not bloom again for a long time, so I have left it. The plant has produced a new set of leaves and has sent out about 5 or 6 new roots, but no sign of a new stem. The leaf base is starting to look a little leggy. I am new to orchid care...what do I do to help it bloom again? It does not have the best light....it is east-facing with a porch blocking some of the sun. I do have a humid south-facing environment I can move it to in my bathroom but it is a frosted window -- not sure if that would be sufficient light if that is the problem. Thanks for your help!

Hi,

I am a new ochid owner. I have had 3 orchids for about 6 months now. i Have 2 phalaenopsis and another that has several stems coming from the pot that bloom independently (not sure of the species) I got them when they were blooming now I'm worried that they may be dying. New leaves and stems are sprouting on all 3, but the old stems that were blooming when I purchased them have turned brown and appear to be hollow. I water them about every 10 days and they are kept in my dorm room by the window. I have never used fertilizer on them so that may be the problem?
Thanks in advance,

Sara

Do I cut the flower stem on my orchid after the flowers have died?

i would like to have answers on all these questions because i am also new to grow orchids

Yeah, cut it off to the base, that'll
do it.

My orchid plant leaves keep going dark and dry and then drop off. Eventually the orchid dies. I have tried several different types. Can you make a suggestion?

I also have an orchid that came with no care instructions. One of the leaves began to turn yellow than brown, as did one of the stems. Do I cut them off? Do I trim the stems back after flowering?

I have the ladies dancing orchid (oncidiums) I was wondering now that it done blooming and the shoots dont have flowers on it do I cut them back yes they are very green. If I have to cut them back how far

My orchid puts out a bud on the end of the stem, but that bud always seems to shrivel and die. This has now happened twice. It seems healthy otherwise, since it is putting out stems along the main one, which also have buds on them. Is this overwatering? Or is the problem something else?

What's the point of having a blog with a bunch of questions and no answers?

excellent question! my questions are many of the same as above. Answers???
Thanks

I am a member of the orchid society above and have worked in a small orchid nursery for two years. I am by no means an expert, but I will try to answer these questions. Some answers are also available at our website, so check it out.
The most common question was "What do I do after my orchid has finished blooming?" After the flowers have fallen off, cut the bloom spike off as far down as possible without cutting the plant itself. Put common, household cinnamon on that cut and any other cuts you make. Cinnamon is a natural antibacterial that will dry out the cut and prevent fungis and rot from entering.
There are a few exceptions to the rule for cutting a bloom spike. You may reflower your Phalaenopsis orchid on the same stem by cutting the flower stalk just above the first node after the flowers. A node is one of the little triangular pieces spaced along the stem. Then one of three things will happen: It will produce a side branch with four or five flowers, it will make a keiki (a baby plant), or the stalk will turn brown and then needs to be cut off. It can be done as many times as there are nodes.
However, we do not recommend cutting the stem in this way. Each time you force your phalaenopsis to flower you are taking energy from the plant and Phalaenopsis orchids have been known to bloom themselves to death. If you try this method, do it only once. Then allow your plant to rest.
Some orchids, like Psychopsis, rebloom off of the same spike. Cutting the spike on one of these slow-growing orchids could mean you have lost your chance to enjoy its flowers for a very long time. These are not usually sold anywhere except at places specializing in orchids and the grower will usually tell you ahead of time.
Once the plant has finished blooming and the bloom spike has been cut off, it is time to repot if it needs it. If you have repotting questions, ask. I will keep an eye on this blog for a little bit.
For Michael, Cheryl, and maybe Bob. Orchids sometimes develop a condition we call "bud blast" in which the flower bud yellows,shrivels, and falls off. This is usually in the middle of the stem (orchids seem to have an interesting form of revenge)and arises from a variety of problems.
Number one is a change in humidity or temperature. You have just brought that beautiful, blooming orchid home from the show which may have involved a long car ride, a hotel room, and possibly your air-conditioned house. This orchid is almost guaranteed to experience blasting.
Generally, the change in environment will stress the plant out to some degree and cause this phenomenon. What to do? Baby the plant like they've told you not to. Always water a plant you have just purchased.
Most orchids in grocery stores have not been watered since the day they arrived at the store. Put your orchid out of the direct path of your heating and air. An air conditioner sucks moisture out of the air and dries your plant out fast. Put it in a slightly darker place than its final home for the night. A stressed plant will succumb to traumas like sunburn and insect pests much easier than a plant that is established in its spot.
Reason number two is that the plant has more blooms that it can successfully support. If this is the case, it will abort flowers. Again, usually in the middle of the flower spike. On your phalaenopsis orchids, this tends to happen when a spike is multi-branching or you have several bloom spikes. To stop this from happening, it is recommended that you not allow your plant to have more than three bloom spikes and limit it to only one if there is a lot of branching.
Reason number three is also part of reason one. Your plant may need a little extra water when it is in bloom. The plant can lose blooms if it is dehydrated.
Finally, for Bob if the previous did not answer the question. On all flower spikes there is a "terminal bud" which will not ever bloom. This is the little blip at the very end of the stalk. It could be this that you are talking about. However, some orchids like paphiopedilum, phragmipedium, and psychopsis can be multifloral. One flower will be on the stalk while a bud forms slightly behind it. When the flower falls off, the next bud will open. If these are shriveling, then it is bud blast. Try increasing the water.
On to cattleyas and bloom times. Mary may be right about her cattleya needing more light, but that is probably not the case. While there are a few hybrids out there that will bloom multiple times in a year, cattleyas generally bloom only once a year. After it adjusts to your growing conditions, take note of when it blooms and mark it on your calendar. It will bloom again at the same time next year. Oncidiums will bloom on new growth which can mean three or four bloom cycles in a year. Generally, two bloom cycles will have a small amount of spikes (one spike for a plant in a six inch container) and two bloom cycles will be absolutely spectacular.
My Mtssa. C.M. Fitch Izumi (in the oncidium alliance) was in a four inch container when I bought it with four bloom spikes. I planted it in a six inch pot after blooming. The next bloom cycle had only one bloom stalk. The cycle after that had sixteen bloom spikes.
Phalaenopsis generally bloom once a year and they need a chill to do it. I'm in North Florida where we generally never open a window. In the early fall [September-November] I leave my plants outside in a sheltered location until the second time it drops into the mid-40s. If it drops below 40 I have to bring them in or protect them from the cold. This will initiate the bloom spike that will develop and open sometime in the spring. Northern growers can get away with leaving them in their window sill. The cold winter air will find its way around the frame and do the same thing.
The savy orchidist in the right climate can get their phalaenopsis orchid to bloom twice a year. Here it reaches those temperatures September-October and February-March. Remember that your phalaenopsis must rest sometime, though. Use your judgement to determine if your plant can withstand two bloom cycles before resting.
To Susana, Ann, and Maggie. Orchids will occasionally lose old leaves. On a phalaenopsis, if the bottom leaves are turning yellow then they are just old. Pull them off. Oncidiums will lose the leaves surrounding the pseudobulb in the same way. They can also lose top leaves on the oldest bulbs. Those will generally be the smallest bulbs on the plant. This is nothing to worry about.
Now, if the top leaves of a phalaenopsis or cattleya or the top leaves on new growth on your oncidium is turning yellow, the plant is getting too much light. Put it in a shadier place. You may lose the leaves that have turned yellow. With oncidiums and cattleyas go ahead and remove the yellow leaves. Remember to put cinnamon on any cuts.
With phalaenopsis you have to be careful. If it is the very top leaf, leave it but watch the plant carefully. Phalaenopsis grow up from the center. If any damage happens to that center your plant is as good as dead. It may produce a baby, but it will never bloom again. Sunburn can make a path for black rot to enter and kill your plant. If the yellow continues to spread, becomes soft, or changes to squishy brown or black you will have to cut the leaf off. Take a sterile razor and cut 1/2 in into the good, green flesh of the leaf. Put cinnamon on the cut. Avoid cutting the very center. If the rot has spread to the center it's too late to save it. Black rot in oncidiums and cattleyas will appear in the pseudobulbs first. Remove the entire psuedobulb and put cinnamon there. Get rid of the contaminated foilage and wash your hands before touching any other plants. Black rot can be spread to other plants from the fluid that will get on your hands and blade. That is why a disposable razorblade works best for this.
If a plant has shriveled or leathery leaves that eventually dry up it's usually either too much water or not enough. With too much water, the orchids' roots have rotted away. This decreases or eliminates the ability of the plant to absorb water and it dies of dehydration [water, water all around and not a drop to drink]. With not enough water, the roots will be there but there is no water to pull in.
First determine which it is. Do you water heavy or not at all? Unpot the plant and look at the roots. If they are squishy and brown they are dead-too much water. If they are silvery, white but shriveled-not enough water. Oncidiums, Paphiopedilums, Phragmipediums, and other orchids that can be terrestrial are exceptions. Ground orchids will have thin, brownish roots suited to soil. For oncidiums, look at the pseudobulbs. These are water storage containers for the plant. They should be plump and full. If the plant is wasting away with plump pseudobulbs-too much water. Shriveled pseudobulbs-not enough water. Phragmipediums you cannot overwater. We have ours growing in an orchid bark mix and sitting in water almost to the top of the pot! If these are not doing well, fertilizer has built up in the water (dump it)or the media has broken down (repot it). Paphiopedilums are the hardest to tell. They are evenly moist, but not wet. There are no telltale signs as to which it is except for an examination of your watering habits. Another easy test on your watering. Take a freshly sharpened pencil or a wooden skewer and insert it into the pot for about 10 seconds. If it comes out moist you don't need to water. If it comes out dry then water.
Cattleyas-Bright shade, dry out between waterings.
Phalaenopsis-shade and evenly moist. Don't let it dry out, but it shouldn't be soggy.
Oncidiums-medium to bright shade, can dry out between waterings or stay moist all the time. Looking at your pseudobulbs will help to gauge watering.
Other alliances-ask
Hope this helped
Haley

My cymbidium orchid has brown tips and didn't bloom. What can I do? I do hvae them in orchid bark. Thanks for your help. Carla

My cymbidium orchid has brown tips and didn't bloom. What can I do? I do hvae them in orchid bark. Thanks for your help. Carla

My first Cymbidium and the flower was in bloom for about 8 weeks after I bought it. last week 2 of the flowers shriveled and fell off and this week I came home and all of the flowers are brown and shriveled (but haven't fallen off). The stem is also getting yellow and turning brown. Is this normal? The weather did get a lot hotter this last week. what should i do?

Thank you!

why is it the buds on orchid have gone yellow

when should I cut the stem of my vanda when all the flowers have fallen off?

I purchased a cymbidium this week-end from a local supermarket. It had 3 flowering spikes. For the first few days it was on kitchen table with 1 hr of direct light and medium to little light for rest of day. By second day I noticed the blooms on one spike are turning brown and the spike is turning yellow. I have moved it outside in simishade. Should I cut the spike before or after the blooms fall? If so where.

right now my orchids are great. but i have one that has leaves and flowers coming out of the stem all over the place. where shoulg i cut it?

Please help!!!!!
I bought two beautiful new orchids from the National Orchid Society's meeting in Unionville, Connecticut about 3 weeks ago. One is a phalenopsis, and the other is a "Dtps. 'Sweetheart."' I was told when I bought them to not take them out of the plastic and moss they came in but to get pots or bowls 2" bigger in diameter and place on top of pebbles so they will not sit in water. I bought 2 glass bowls and the glass flattened marbles to put them in, and since then they have been losing blossoms!!!!!! I check the moisture every day, and it has seemed moist but not damp and I can't figure out what's wrong! I slid the phalenopsis out of the pot to check it and the roots weren't squishy, but there were a couple of small patches of white fuzz among some of the roots. What is this? How can I save my orchids?? Please help me. I love them and don't want to lose them (or the investment I put into buying them)
Thank you!

I have an orchid that has lost all it's blooms - the stem is turning brown from the tip towards the bottom. what should I do now??

We've clipped the stem on our Phalenopsis and have gotten a beautiful new offshoot stem with several flowers. Now we're worried of too much success: could the flowers get so heavy that it will harm the new stem? Should we be putting up some additional support for this new stem, or are we worrying for nothing?

hi i have several orchids when they have finished flowering the flower spikes turn brown and sort of hollow the leaves are still growing quite well but i never get any healthy flower spikes or flowers help what am i diong wrong

I have just been given a cymbidium orchid. My question is once it is finished blooming, do you cut the stalk that the blooms were on? Stalks currently are very black in color. Also, what is the best fertilizer and how often should be it be used on a cymbidium? Thank you.

The Orchid Society question answerer is wonderful! Thank you for such broad, in-depth information.

i have some cattleyas and epidendrums and oncidiums and at times the bases of the leaves get a little soft. its not the leaves them selves that get soft but the stalks or bases the lead up to the leaves that due. what would be the cause of this. i live in south florida and have them not in direct sunlight and have them where they get great circulation for them. please provide me with a little guidence for these issues thanks

the orchids i was talking about seems to soffen and look like they are wrinked, is this a result of heat or too much water or too little.

While walking at Lowes, I found a discarded strap leaved orchid plant with one wilted magenta flower. Its tomb was a clear plastic cup. The leaves were large at about six inches wide and about one two feet in length. Monopodial. I am new to orchids. This plants leaves are wilted and a vibrant green color but one is 1/4 yellow. The roots look good and the bark mix it was in was bone dry. I got the plant at half price from the toss bin. I rushed my new patient home, placing it in a rainwater soak for fifteen min., then fed it with orchid fertilizer. I placed the plant in a larger pot not disturbing the wood chip mix or roots, then filled the remaining space with a spagnum and perilte mix 50/50. Next I hung the whole assembly by green yarn apx two feet under a four foot full spectum lighting set up. I have a small fan running nearby. My tempatures are 80 by day and 70 by night. My photoperiod is 16 hrs by timer. I have temporaly filled my bath tub to increase humidity. It hovers around 25 percent in the house without it. With the bath tub filled it is now 34%. My old sick room humidifier apparently has bit the dust. I plan to get a new one payday and place it near the patient. Is there any thing else that can be done to nurse this guy back to health? My resurch says this is most nearly a Vanda. How is cinamin good for orchids?
Respectfuly, Greg Hunt gregory_hunt590@yahoo.com

Dear all,

I received a beautiful orchid a month ago and the flowers are dying, should I cut them off? or should I let them fell them selves? Also, what do I do with the sprig? should I cut it off or should I just leave it?

it was a gift from my wonderful boss and she comes by my desk everyday and I feel so bad to see how my orchid is dying!
It is a beautiful Huge Orchid :)

Thanks!
Iris

I am a novice orchid grower with a lovely Phalenopsis. It bloomed beautifully when I first got it a little less than a year ago.

Now, it is sending out shoots with buds at a rapid pace. I'm a little worried that too many buds are appearing for the plant to feed. So far, there are 5 stalks and over 25 potential flowers. Currently the buds are very small and some look more formed than others. Some look like they might not turn into buds at all.

My question. What is the best care I can provide to make sure they survive? Do I fertilize more? Thanks. I think your website is terrific.

I would like to know if Orchids like it root bound or room for roots to grow.Mother has two and i need to find out before she transplant's them. What is good to put with the roots besides plant soil. My mother uses miracle grow.Mother has it in the right conditions they are growing well.

Good Day,

When my orchid flower dies should I just cut and remove the stem?

Thanks

Would like any info re: cymbidiums. Mine are outside on the patio in a sheltered spot but bright light. I live in Central California near the coast.

Thank you.

Jean Mitchell

I got a lady slipper orchid for mother's day last year and it bloomed for about 3 months after. Since them the flower has fallen off, i still have the stem on though. Am i supposed to cut that? Also, now the leaves seem to be wilting. I fertilize once a month and haven't repotted it (it came in a spagnum moss) I've searched everywhere as to what i am supposed to do with it. I spray the moss once a day or every second day to keep it moist and the humidifier is on constantly. It gets indirect sunlight for part of the afternoon. What am i doing wrong? Or is it supposed to be like this until it blooms again? I was under the impression this was supposed to be a beautiful plant even while not in bloom? I'm ready to toss it!

I have one Phalenopsis that bloomed beautifully the first year I had it and then had a baby and I did all the things to it to successfully replant it. Both plants now have green foliage but have not grown a stalk to start flowering from what do I need to do now? please help

I was given an orchid last year for the first time. There was no tag, so I have no clue what kind it is. But the buds are shriveling up and falling off before they open. What could this mean. The only care instructions by the grocery store, told my daughter to give it 3 ice cubes once a week. Thanks in advance for any advice.

I have several phala. type orchids that
that are doing well. My niece sent me
a long thig leafed orchid last June 2009 the plant and the flowers were'nt
inpresive and no name tag. After a while I realized there was'nt any drainage so I took the wrapping off.
I live in the north so it can't go out until spring,so in the mean time I've been trying to place it correctly not moving it alot just once this Feb.2010.
I'm just worried about the bulbs three of them have lost all leaves two rotted
and one has two shoots comming from the sides.two bulbs don't have anything, but they are firm will they ever do anythig or not should I transplant this how and when. HELP PLEASE. I no it sounds bad ,there are still many leaves will this ever bloom.