Orchid Care After Flowering

The orchids are among the most beautiful flowers found on earth. If proper and timely care is taken, one can grow healthy orchids that are able of producing flowers even after the first bloom is over.

Orchid Flowers Care
The orchid care after flowering is more or less the same as that of the new or young saplings of this plant. In case of reblooming, taking care of orchids during the dormancy period is of utmost importance. The orchid flowering seasons differ with different varieties; thus, the orchid flowering periods can be classified into sporadic and basic ones. The basic orchid flowering times for the Zygopetalum and the Odontoglossum varieties are the months from November to February and February to May respectively. The Phalaenopsis variety produces flowers throughout the year.

Orchid Care after Flowering
The most common commercial varieties of orchids used in gardening at home are the Phalaenopsis, Odontoglossum and Zygopetalum. Read more on care instructions for Phalaenopsis orchids.

Inducing Secondary Bloom
To begin with, the spent stalk of the orchid should be cut with a sterile and sharp tool at a distance of about one-inch from the base. Cutting the stalk almost near the base is looked upon by many as a mistake; however, if the stalk is cut halfway through its length, the quality of the next bloom or secondary flowers would suffer. In fact, the chances of inducing the second bloom reduces by 60% with this approach. The next step in the process is to take the orchid plant out of the pot and examine the root system. The root system, which is the entry point of water and nutrients to the rest of the plant body should be in a healthy condition. The problems such as floppy leaves and shortened buds could crop up, if one tries to go with a root system that is unhealthy. Black or brown mushy roots should be removed. The roots with white, green or an off-white color are the signs of a healthy root system.

Repotting
The medium to be used for repotting the spent stalk, should provide it with proper ventilation and also help in retaining the moisture. One should decide on the the size of the pot, taking into account the expanse of the root system and not the leaves. Use of ceramic pots is the best option for providing the plant with the necessary drainage since, these pots have holes on their sides. The pot needs to have enough holes in order to facilitate drainage. If possible, one can add Styrofoam peanuts to the soil for improving the drainage. The stalk should be planted at the center and the medium pressed firmly in order to anchor the plant properly.

Orchid Care Tips
Once the plant is repotted, care should be taken to provide water regularly and to allow the growth in ample light. Watering should be done by submerging the pot in warm water every 2 weeks. The pot should be kept aside for draining out the water, immediately after watering. The fertilizers to be applied, should be mixed in the water itself. In order to promote flowering, the plant should be provided with plenty of light. However, it is not recommended to place the pots in direct sunlight. Read more on tips on caring for orchids.

The option of hanging the pots from tree branches serve the purpose of providing the plants with filtered sunlight as well as the humidity required during the dormancy phase. The orchid stalk in this dormancy phase stores up energy for the next bloom. The plants should be kept outdoors, when the temperature reaches the lower 50s. It helps the plant to produce new flowers. The spikes need to be removed immediately from the plant. It helps in promoting the growth of secondary spikes, which are responsible for new outgrowths of flowers.

Orchid care after flowering can be carried out easily, if certain steps are followed. If the repotting is carried out properly and required temperature & humidity is maintained, it is possible to get a healthy second bloom of orchid. Read more on after bloom care for orchids.