Orchid Care - 7 Important Tips to Guarantee Your Orchids Continue to Bloom Every Year

Orchids are well-loved because of their blossoms. With so many varieties of colorful and fragrant blooms, no wonder they are a gardener's favorite. Orchids can even produce flowers over and over for a lot of years. To help you keep on having amazing flowers year after year, here are 7 orchid care tips that you must know:

Making the right cut.

Orchids can bloom from several weeks to months when they are taken care of the right way. But no matter what you do, the time will come that the blooms will show signs of wilting and drying. When this occurs, the urgent and correct thing to do is to cut the flower stems off. Some may think that this is a weird tip or even a waste of good blossoms. But this is exactly what your orchids need you to do and most orchid care resources you'll find right now will tell you the same thing.

You see, blooming takes up a lot of energy from an orchid. Cutting the flower stalk early on before the blossoms entirely wither will conserve energy and make sure the orchid stays strong. One thing for orchids to continue to blossom is exactly this; they must be in a perfect and fit form.

When you cut them, be sure to use shears or knives that are sterilized to avoid infection. The place to cut depends on the size of your plant. A small plant may be cut an inch from the bottom. If it's a large orchid, cut it above its node. Then to sterilize it completely, try to put a dab of rubbing alcohol on the cut stem.

Time to propagate.

One error that most orchid growers make that interrupts the flowering cycle of the plant is when propagating. Keep in mind to only divide and repot new buds when you are positive that your plant can take it. Its age will show you that answer. Divide only mature orchids. What you have to know is that only ripened pseudobulbs produce blossoms. Division disrupts the blossoming cycle of an orchid.

Because creating blooms depletes a lot of energy, it cannot do both. If you wish to successfully have new flowers the following season, then wait for the correct time to propagate.

The correct temperature.

Orchids require a certain temperature to flower. Most orchids need a 10 to 20 degree drop in temperature at night to successfully produce flowers. Learn to provide the temperature your orchid needs. Daytime temperature also matters. Too high of a temperature can quickly produce flowers but won't last as long. Too low of a temperature will cost you the blossoming buds - they will freeze and die.

Research and find out the best temperature for your orchid. Different types of orchids have varying temperature needs. Providing the right temperature will successfully create flowers for the following blossoming season.

Provide them with sufficient moisture. In order for buds to produce blooms, they need to be watered on a regular basis. When budding orchids tend to lose a lot of water and although buds are composed of mostly water, it will not be enough for the entire plant. Monitor the water content of your orchid. If they lose too much water, the shoots may die and drop off. But be sure not to water them too much because this too will kill a plant instantly.

Giving the right amount of water all year round will also make sure that you have flowers for the next year. A good rule to follow is to provide extra moisture when the weather is warm and less when it cooler. Wait for the medium to dry out before watering again.

Adequate sunlight.

Another vital orchid care tip for re-blooming orchids is providing them with proper sunlight. Any plant needs good amounts of light in order for it to blossom correctly. One sure way to ensure they are receiving the proper amount of light is by checking their leaves. Yellowish leaves mean they need more sunlight and dark green to even reddish leaves mean they should get less. An extremely healthy plant that can produce great flowers has yellow-green leaves.

The proper fertilizer.

Orchids are in their weakest condition after flowering. During this time feed your plants the finest fertilizer you can find. Experts do not always say what kind of fertilizer this is, so you should check by asking professional growers and propagators. A good rule to follow is feeding them once a month. Remember not to fertilize them excessively or you'll damage or even destroy the plant.

Adequate nourishment through fertilizers will ensure your orchids are strong enough for the following season of blossoming. Take time to learn what kind is perfect for your orchids.

Learn the blossoming cycle. One of the best ways to get your orchids to bloom again is to learn their flowering cycle. Some orchids can bloom only once a year, some several times a year. Learn the best orchid care you can provide based on their cycle, and sure enough you will have long-lasting plants that can produce flowers when the right time comes.

No matter what happens, ensure that your orchids are always healthy. This and only this can certify that your orchids will have regular flower. There is no exact orchid care plan for every single kind of orchid, but if you follow these simple tips, you will have fit orchids ready for their next blossoming cycle. Happy blooming!


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And to learn even more tips about orchid blooming, download my totally FREE "5 Biggest Orchid Care Mistakes" report by going here: Orchid Care.

Mary Ann Berdak is the publisher of www.OrchidCareZone.com - a top online destination for orchid care tips and advice.