I have been crazily in love with Orchid planting.... they are excellent plants indoor as well as at the balcony. So beautiful and .... last so long.
When i buy the plant, the flowers are usually blooming beautifully, and last for months. But after the flowers died, new one never seems to come out, although when i buy them i was told after each bloom, another bloom will come out after a few months.
why, i waited 6 months liao still no new flowers?
Can someone give me tips as how to keep orchids blooming all the time?
really appreciate......
my mom is into orchid planting as well. last CNY i bought her a pot and it's still blooming nicely. here's some tips for you.
Consider it's natural conditions
When you buy an orchid, make sure you can recreate the conditions the plant requires in its natural environment. There are all sorts of varieties, some hardier than others so look at the label to check.
Careful Watering
Watering them about every 4 - 7 days seems to be enough, but it does depend on the season. To check if the plant needs water, push a wooden stick or pencil into the medium, if it comes out darker, there is enough there. Orchids can require different amounts of water at different times of the year, so keep checking!
Feeding
Most orchids benefit from a specialist orchid fertilizer that is fed as a weak solution and applied once a week. To do this, use only half the amount mentioned on the packet. The type of fertilizer will depend on what your orchid is growing in, so it is wise to check that first.
Repotting
Sooner or later, unfortunately, the orchid is going to need repotting. Remove the old mix from the pot, being careful not to damage the roots. Rinse the roots and trim off any hollow or mushy ones, as they are considered dead. Place the plant into a new pot, orchids apparently like being root-bound, so there should only be about 1' between the roots and the edge of the pot. Add the new mix/medium to the pot, tapping the sides to make sure it settles properly. Press gently to settle the plant but don't use too much force or the roots may break. Use a stick to support the plant in the pot so it is secure. If your plant is growing in sphagnum moss, make sure it is damp before wrapping it round the roots and repotting, that way you don't have to worry about pockets of air. After repotting, the plant should not be watered for 3 - 5 days to allow it to recover.
After it flowers
Check whether your orchid flowers only once from the flower spike or will flower repeatedly from the same spike. Once the plant has finished flowering, the spike needs to be removed at the base with a sharp instrument to lessen damage to the plant itself. If you aren't certain, don't cut it off!
Caring for it
An important part of orchid care is looking out for various fungi or parasites. Isolate any plant that has a problem, check it out, find the remedy and start treating as soon as possible.
welcome.... i think most importantly you must give more TLC. plants are living things, you spend more time sayang them they will grow more beatifully, the rest are just neccessities.
the 1st and 4th picturre - this 2 orchid very easy to keep them. They will only flower once, everytime a new left or should i say shoot come out that is new leaf appear - a new flower will definitely come out with it and it will only flower once in its lifetime. - for beginner this is a sure success story for them i guess if they start with this type of bread.
Next time i will show you shot of the progress. i just started taking the shot.
2nd shot - i am so happy with this one thought this plant died, after i adopt the watering only in the morning ritual. It suddenly grow shoot and not only that it flowered - cannot describe the joy
Last edited by happylalapo; 12th June 2008 at 11:03 PM.
wow happylalapo, you seems like a proud mother. you orchrid really seem growing well. does my tips work? my rose still cannot make it leh. i give up liao.