Taking Care Of An Orchid Plant With No Blooms

There are so many different kinds of orchids that it's difficult to make generalizations about how to take care of them all

. There are however, some general maintenance ideas that should not only maintain health when not in bloom, but will encourage it to bloom in the future.

First of all, make sure that you are keeping your orchid in an environment where the temperature is correct for your specific type. In general, although there are so many exceptions because there are just so many different types of orchids, the lowest temperatures most can handle at night is somewhere between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. During the day the temperature of the room needs to be AT LEAST ten degrees higher. If they are kept at the same temperature all day, all year, they may live and be healthy but they won't bloom.

Don't forget to fertilize weekly, weakly. In other words, it is better to fertilize often with a weak fertilizer solution that to offer them a strong fertilizer less often. There are fertilizers specifically made for orchids, or you can make your own. Just make sure that it gets some fertilizer in order to provide it the necessary energy to not only be healthy but to bloom.

Don't forget to water well and often and make sure, in general, that the roots dry between watering. Orchids, in nature, are often used to a deluge of water from above (after all, a lot of them live in rain forests) but then their roots, which are usually not covered, quickly dry before the next deluge. Orchids do not like "wet feet." It's a big paradoxical but they like lots of water but don't like to be wet. An orchid that is watered correctly is much more likely to bloom than one that isn't.

Don't forget light. The main reason they do not bloom is because it doesn't get enough light. And even non-blooming orchids are more beautiful with the correct amount of light as the leaves are often thick and a glossy green. Read up on your specific type and figure out what kind of exposure to light it needs and how much. It's possible that you might need to provide a source of artificial lighting. Leaves that are dull may be an indication that the orchid is getting too little light. If the leaves look sunburned or yellow or black, the plant may be getting too much light.

Don't forget to provide humidity and air flow. Orchids that are not kept in a humid enough environment simply will not bloom. Keep one of those plastic spritzers on hand and make sure your orchid gets a good spray every day. Don't spritz late in the evening because, as much as they need humidity, they also don't do well with water that sits on them for too long. Like their roots, leaves need some moisture that dries quickly. Orchids that are moisture covered for too long will be subject to diseases and pests and this situation is certainly not conducive to health or to blooming.

Follow all of the above to keep your plant healthy when it is not in bloom. And as a bonus, you will be encouraging your healthy, happy orchid to bloom in the future!

by: David E. Carlson

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