How to make an orchid bloom at home

Lack of flowering

After transplant

Root system disorders

During transplantation, the plant experiences short-term, but very painful stress. Cut diseased roots should be sprinkled with crushed activated carbon to avoid rot.

Until the plant grows its usual root mass, it will not have the strength to bloom.

The soil does not hold the flower

It is possible that the substrate is overly compacted and interferes with the movement of nutrients in the roots. The opposite situation, when the plant "dangles" in the pot, does not bode well either.

After bringing the substrate to the normal fullness of the pot, the phalaenopsis will gain the required mass of roots and be able to bloom.

Correct position of the roots in the pot.

After trimming

The main problem after pruning is that there are no leaves, and there are no flower buds in the axils. They need to be re-grown. A small amount of green mass is associated with a lack of nutrients.

Treatment with succinic acid or epin should be carried out, and when the plant starts to grow, continue feeding with complex fertilizer for orchids. When the number of leaves is five to six, flower stalks may appear.

Orchid care after flowering

When the orchid has stopped blooming, do not rush to cut the peduncle. Firstly, after a while dormant buds can awaken on it. Secondly, there is a growing tip on the peduncles. If it stays green, chances are it will continue to grow and new buds will appear on it. This can happen during flowering or 1-3 months after the flowers have fallen off. The likelihood that the tip of the peduncle will never grow is also available.

If the tip is blackened, yellowed or shriveled, the peduncle can be removed - completely or only that part of it where the flowers were (in the place just above the last dormant bud). Many breeders leave all flower stalks as they are. it is easier to achieve repeated flowering, because each bud can form a lateral peduncle or a baby. But keep in mind that by leaving the old peduncle, you inhibit the development of new ones. But the decorative effect of the blossoming orchid on the new arrow is much higher than if the buds appear on the lateral shoot.

If a peduncle with a trimmed tip begins to dry out or turn yellow, it must be removed. Only a small "stump" with at least one bud should be left.

The question is often raised whether it is possible to transplant a blooming orchid. It is better not to do this, because at this time the orchid will again experience stress. The transplant should be postponed until the moment when the plant has completely faded. After placing the epiphyte in a new pot, leave it without watering for a while. This will allow the plant to acclimate faster and prevent decay of the roots damaged during transplantation.

It may seem that often blooming orchids are an unattainable goal. But this is not the case. When you understand what exactly epiphytes like, when you learn to recognize their desires and respond to their needs, they will surely thank you with numerous buds.

Why the orchid does not bloom at home

The lack of bloom lies in content errors.

• Too early they begin to wait for flowers - until the age of two, the orchid does not bloom. She throws out a peduncle after the appearance of the fifth leaf.
• Improper watering.
• Too dry or humid air.
• Failure to comply with the temperature regime.
• Insufficient or redundant lighting.
• Incorrect and untimely feeding.
• Pests and diseases attacked, and you missed the moment and did not treat.

It is important to avoid them.To do this, you need to choose from numerous recommendations exactly what suits your flower.

And this is possible only if you learn to understand it. Blind, thoughtless following advice will never solve the question of how to make an orchid bloom. Watch her

Pay attention to how she perceives your actions. Then she will answer you with grateful flowering

Reasons why the orchid does not bloom and what can be done

Orchids can have many reasons to stop blooming. Orchids can stop flowering due to errors in the maintenance and care or mistakes made during the transplantation process. If the orchid does not bloom, then the reason may be:

• lack or excess of lighting;
• too large daily temperature difference;
• excess or lack of fertilizer;
• excessive or insufficient watering;
• root damage during transplantation.

Any of these errors leads to the termination of flowering, and sometimes to the death of the plant. But sometimes the reason why the orchid does not bloom for a long time may simply be a period of rest. The rest of the plant can last for about a year. At this time, the orchid will not bloom.

Lighting problems

Domestic epiphytic orchids, although they are southern flowers, grow under the crowns of trees, therefore, not tolerating a lack of light, they die even with an excess of sunlight. If the container with the orchid is located on the window on the north side, the answer to the question “why the orchid does not bloom” is quite clear: it lacks lighting. If it is impossible to place the flower in another place, you will have to attend to artificial lighting using a special phytolamp.

A plant located in the back of the room needs additional lighting even more. But the orchid standing on the south window receives too much light and needs to be shaded from the sun for it to bloom. With an excess of light, the roots of the orchid die. The best option for these plants is windows facing east or west.

Phalaenopsis orchid root

Optimal temperature selection

When breeding orchids at home, there is usually no way to provide the plant with natural temperature conditions. You can make an orchid bloom by providing it with a "natural" regime, that is, the difference between day and night air temperatures should be at least 5 ° C. To ensure such a regime, the container with the orchid will have to be moved from place to place 2 times a day.

Improper watering

Excessive watering can lead to decay of the roots and death of the plant, or to the development of green mass instead of flowers, if the orchid is hygrophilous enough. In this case, the orchid does not bloom. If the plant shows no signs of disease, it may need to reduce watering to stimulate flowering. But you cannot be too zealous with drought: a lack of moisture will lead to the drying out of the orchid.

Too cold water is also a stress factor: you need to water the orchid with water at least at room temperature. Many orchid growers advise to water with water at a temperature of +45 ° C, but not hot.

Orchid transplant errors

A common situation after transplanting flowers: the plant begins to develop actively and soon blooms. This is not always the case with orchids. There are usually three main reasons why an orchid does not bloom after transplanting: stress after transplanting / shaking, damaged roots and the plant does not hold well in the substrate. In the first case, the plant needs time to recuperate. Nothing can be done here.

The third case is caused by too much root pruning and a loose substrate in which the orchid is supposed to grow. There is no way to make an orchid bloom until it grows roots. But you can strengthen the plant in the substrate by tying it to a support. This will speed up the build-up of the root mass and the beginning of a new flowering stage.

Why the orchid doesn't bloom

If the orchid does not release flower stalks for a long time, you need to analyze all possible causes and immediately correct the situation.

Blooming factors:

Moving a plant (even a slight one) from one place to another. This leads not only to a delay in the appearance of flowers, but also to the dropping of already existing buds.
The root system does not receive enough light. Since the roots of the flower take part in photosynthesis, it is recommended to plant it in a transparent plastic pot.
Insufficient daylight hours

It is important for a flower that it lasts at least 10-12 hours, so additional lighting is needed in winter and autumn. For this, LED lamps are used.
Stable room temperature

The flower needs to create the conditions in which it grows in the wild. At night, the air temperature should drop by at least 4 degrees.

Important! For an orchid, it is necessary to create artificial wintering conditions for a month. The air temperature in the room should be no higher than 10 ° C

During this time, the plant rests between flowering periods.

The orchid has reached the correct age, but is not blooming

Extreme ways to stimulate flowering

• Stimulant drugs... The most common are epin and succinic acid. They must be used according to the instructions. It is believed that after their use, the appearance of peduncles and buds is accelerated.
• Bath... In this case, instead of watering-immersion, the flower pot is placed under the shower in the bathroom. Water it for about 15 minutes with warm water not higher than 350C. Leave in a steamy bathroom until the plant dries and cools.
• Creating stressful conditions... This can be the cessation of watering for a long time (more than three weeks). Or providing a sharp difference (more than 100C) between day and night temperatures.

Such events are carried out only with adults (3-4 years old), healthy flowers. If you see that the flower does not like your procedures, then stop them immediately. Better to give them up altogether. If the flower is healthy, and you take proper care of it, then it will choose the time for its flowering itself.

The main reasons for refusing to bloom:

• Root disease... Most often decay. If the pot is transparent, then it will be immediately noticeable. Healthy roots have a light green light. Rotten - brown or black.
• Not enough leaves... It is possible to stimulate flowering only if there are at least six leaves. With fewer leaves, the plant will not survive stress.
• Excess fertilizer... Especially if there is a lot of nitrogen. In this case, the plant begins to fatten. It releases a lot of leaves, but does not even think to bloom.
• Incorrectly organized lighting... Do not place the flower in the back of the room or in direct sunlight. Organize diffused light. Always turn the pot with the same side towards the light.

When should an orchid bloom?

When buying an adult flowering plant, you can be sure that with proper care, the orchid will delight with its beauty often and over a long period. However, if the flower was planted from the "kids" or was transplanted, it will take a long time to wait.

At the time of flowering, the orchid should have 6 leaves

Experts recommend not rushing things, but be patient and wait. If the plant is very young, then earlier than 2 years after planting in a separate pot, it will not bloom. By the time the first flower appears, the phalaenopsis should have 6 leaves. In addition, a sufficiently developed root system will become noticeable. If flowering began earlier, this is a bad sign, which speaks of improper care. In this case, the orchid can quickly weaken and even die. Therefore, you should not try to speed up the flowering of a young plant. Let the phalaenopsis grow to at least 2 years.

After transplanting into a new container, you do not need to wait for flowers very early.The first six months for an orchid are spent on restoring and building up the root mass. Only then can the phalaenopsis release the first arrow. The best option would be the period when powerful roots become visible in the plant. As for the question of how the orchid begins to bloom, at first the roots come out a little to the surface, as it should be for a healthy flower, then new leaves appear and flowering occurs. If after this flowering begins, everything is in order, then the orchid is developing harmoniously and it is completely healthy. The more favorable conditions for flowering are created, the more beautiful flowers will be laid in the axils of the leaves.

With proper care, the orchid will definitely bloom.

The main thing at this stage is to give phalaenopsis everything it needs for normal development. This should be correct watering, diffused lighting in the dark, constant temperature and humidity. It is worth noting that orchids are very difficult to tolerate when the air temperature changes at night and during the day. Therefore, everything must be foreseen so that the indicators do not jump by more than 5 points.

Feeding is especially worth noting. Many flower growers know that orchids cannot develop normally without them.

But it is important to choose the right fertilizer. For the period when the phalaenopsis will not bloom yet, it must be fed every 10 days with liquid fertilizer with nitrogen

After the appearance of an arrow with a future flower, it is necessary to immediately suspend fertilizing watering.

Water properly

Someone is talking about what, and we are again about the tropics. How does it happen in natural conditions? The long rainy season gives way to a slightly dry period. This means that we do the same.

First, we water the orchid for a long time, abundantly and in plenty, and then sharply reduce the watering. The plant understands that it is time to release the peduncle. After all, pollinating insects do not fly in rainy weather. Therefore, only after the cessation of the abundant supply of moisture can flowers be expected.

If you constantly moisten the roots with a little water and do not take breaks, then you can not wait for flowers.

By the way, about the rainy season. Almost all orchid species have very small seeds. And in nature they are found many kilometers from the mother plant. Could the wind carry them that far in rainy weather?

It is said that the appearance of flowers is very good at stimulating the spraying of warm water directly on the plant itself for two weeks. The temperature of the water is approximately + 35 ° С. Perhaps the orchid perceives this procedure as the rainy season.

Post-flowering care

Caring for a flower during a dormant period includes:

• temperature and humidity conditions;
• watering rules;
• additional lighting
• top dressing.

Compliance with all the rules for care ensures that faded orchids will reward with their splendor next season.

Watering mode

During the dormant period, the plant is watered less often. The water should be warm and settled.

It is important to ensure that the substrate is completely dry between irrigation. Excess moisture should flow out of the drainage holes, since in cold weather stagnant water can have a detrimental effect on the flower

To avoid hypothermia of the roots, the pots are recommended to be placed on a stand.

Roots

Due to stagnant water during the dormant period, root rot and the development of fungal diseases can occur. This period is optimal for examining the condition of the roots.

If the roots are rotten or dry, they are cut with sterile sharp scissors and the cut site is treated with an antiseptic. With a strong growth of the root system, the plant can be divided into parts for further planting.

Important! Healthy roots are firm and green

sunlight

Tropical beauties require a lot of sunlight to bloom annually. Considering that there is little sun in winter, pots with a plant are recommended to be displayed on the east or southeast side.In case of insufficient lighting, the flower needs additional artificial sources.

Lighting

A flower in winter needs additional lighting: it is necessary so that the leaves do not stretch out and fade. To do this, you can use 60 W phyto and fluorescent lamps. They are placed at a height of 20 cm from the plant.

Time to move

Once every 2-3 years, the green friend needs to be transplanted.

Prerequisites for transplantation:

• The potted substrate has settled and crumpled;
• Rotting of the leaf plate sets in and the smell of dampness appears;
• The root system is colored black or gray;
• The flower takes on a wilted look.

If one of the signs is present, this is the best time to move to a new planter.
The transplant is carried out during the rest period.

Do I need to trim the arrow of an orchid after flowering

Rather yes. Partial pruning of the orchid after flowering will not be superfluous. Firstly, she will not spend her energy on a green peduncle, and secondly, it will acquire a more aesthetic appearance.

Each arrow contains dormant buds, from which buds, babies or new flower stalks can form. When the plant has faded, the part of the peduncle is removed, on which there are no living and dormant buds. If you cut off the arrow, a living organism will redirect all its forces to the development of a living kidney.

As a result of partial pruning, a new peduncle appears, which will soon bloom. Also, cut stems make it possible to reproduce.

Important! It depends on the variety and condition of the epiphyte whether it is necessary to trim the arrow after the orchid has faded

Fertilizers

Plant feeding in winter is carried out maximum 2 times a month with special fertilizers for orchids. Short daylight hours, low air temperature impede the rapid absorption of feed.

Temperature and humidity

During the dormant period, it is not recommended to spray the plant, as this can cause fungal diseases, but dry air can also adversely affect the flower. Insect pests will appear on it, which will be difficult to get rid of in the future.

The optimum air humidity is 40%. To create comfortable conditions for orchids, you need to put a container of water next to the planter, place the pot on wet moss or expanded clay, or use a humidifier.

The optimum temperature for an orchid during the dormant period is 23 ° C during the day and 15 ° C at night. This temperature drop is important for the setting of flower buds. If the temperature is the same, then the living organism will instead build up green mass.

Author of the text: Marina Kucheryavaya

The reasons for the lack of flowering and how to eliminate them

1. To exclude a disease, the plant must first of all be carefully examined. The cause for concern will be:

• Watery spots on the leaves. They are usually indicative of brown bacterial decay in the orchid.
• Softened roots. Most often this is a sign of root rot.
• A dark bloom covered with fluff directly indicates gray rot.
• Black-bluish "foci" on the leaves - most likely indicate the presence of black rot.
• Yellow leaves that are losing elasticity. There may be several options here, one of them is fusarium rot.
• Spots on the ground part of the orchid. This symptom in an orchid can also speak of several different diseases at once, of a fungal or bacterial nature.
• White bloom on the leaves. Powdery mildew is the most likely diagnosis in case of white bloom on phalaenopsis leaves.

As soon as one of the listed symptoms is found, the first thing to do is to isolate the plant from other flowers and try to mechanically remove the affected areas. This will not completely solve the problem, but will significantly reduce the focus of the disease.
Next, you need to determine the most likely type of disease. Based on the symptomatology, it is quite easy to "diagnose" the orchid.
And, finally, the final step towards eliminating the disease will be the purchase and use of the drug that will relieve phalaenopsis from the disease that has arisen.

Pests can also cause the lack of flowering. Parasitizing the plant, they weaken both the root system and the ground part of the flower. In this state, the orchid does not physically have enough strength to fire an arrow.

The most common parasites on Phalaenopsis are:

• mealybug,
• spider mite,
• thrips.

To get rid of pests in a flower pot, you need to act in a complex way - first, manually collect those insects that are visible to the naked eye, then use chemical preparations to get rid of undetected pests and their larvae.

The flooding procedure will help to collect the maximum number of parasites:

1. The flowerpot is placed in a container, like a regular basin.
2. Water at room temperature is poured into this container so that its level is about a centimeter below the edge of the pot.
3. Then you just need to wait 5-10 minutes.

After this time, all the pests that are in the soil will begin to crawl out onto the surface of the substrate. They need to be collected and removed.

Wrong care conditions

It is improper care that is the most common reason for the lack of phalaenopsis flowering.

The main mistakes made by inexperienced growers are:

• wrong location of the plant,
• insufficient lighting
• disturbed temperature regime,
• improper watering,
• excessive fertilization of the flower.

It is not difficult to fix all these errors, the main thing is to follow the following rules:

1. The location of the flower. Do not place your orchid where direct sunlight will fall on it. This will slow down the development of the plant and flowering will take a very long time.
2. Lighting. In summer, natural light will be sufficient. But in the winter, the phalaenopsis must be additionally highlighted. For this, ordinary fluorescent lamps are suitable.
3. Temperature. Orchid is a thermophilic flower. Therefore, the temperature in the room where it grows must be at least 25 ° C.
4. Watering. Do not moisturize Phalaenopsis too often. Each subsequent watering must be carried out only when the soil from the previous watering has already dried out.
5. Fertilizer. It is worth purchasing, first of all, those fertilizers that contain phosphorus and potassium. This will have a beneficial effect on the formation of flower buds. Such useful substances are introduced into the soil no more than once every 5-6 weeks.

Ways to stimulate orchid flowering

Before trying this or that method of stimulating flowering, be sure to make sure that the plant is completely healthy. To do this, you need to carefully examine the leaves and root system for the presence of pests or rot. If during the inspection problems are identified, they must be eliminated. In most cases, a healthy plant will bloom on its own in the future. So how to make a healthy orchid bloom?

Stimulants

One of the simplest ways to stimulate flowering is to use growth stimulants or phytohormones. For example, you can use the well-known "Epin". It should be diluted in strict accordance with the attached annotation.

The resulting solution is sprayed daily with an orchid for a week. Spraying is best done in the evening. This is due to the fact that under the influence of sunlight, the drug has the ability to break down very quickly. And also, instead of spraying, the solution of the drug can be added to irrigation water once a week.

Florists also respond well to succinic acid. You can buy it at a regular pharmacy. In appearance, these are colorless crystals, readily soluble in an aqueous medium or alcohol. To prepare a solution for spraying, 1 g of acid is dissolved in a liter of lukewarm water.

The result is a concentrate solution, which is diluted again immediately before spraying. To do this, 200 grams of concentrate solution is poured into a liter of water. The resulting solution can be used not only for spraying, but also for root watering. The prepared solution can be stored for no more than 3 days.

Temperature difference

In phalaenopsis, the budding of flower buds is well stimulated by the difference between day and night temperatures. In this case, the difference between them must be at least 5 °. To create such conditions, the plant can be moved to a cooler place at night. But you can also just open the window. In the summer, orchids are very beneficial to stay outdoors.

In a city apartment, they can simply be taken out onto a glazed loggia or balcony. The main thing is to ensure that the plant does not get sunburn during the daytime. Private home owners can take out orchids under the shade of trees or other secluded, partially shaded areas. There, the plants will be exposed to natural temperature fluctuations. The main thing is not to forget about them and bring them back into the room with the onset of too cold nights.

Drying

You can also stimulate flowering at home by drying. The effectiveness of this method is based on the natural biological rhythms of the plant. Orchids are native to the tropics. And there, as you know, there is a rainy season and a dry period. During the dry period, orchids fall into a state of forced dormancy for 1–3 months. During it, all active growth processes stop and buds are laid for future flowering. After the start of the rainy season, rested orchids quickly start to grow and throw out flower arrows.

Drying at home is very simple. In this case, watering should be reduced gradually. After its complete cessation, the plants are not watered for several weeks. It should also be renewed gradually. After that, almost all orchids, without exception, usually bloom.