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Why won't my orchid flower?

trefri

By Trefri

United Kingdom Gb

I purchased an orchid in July 2007. It flowered for 13 months and I rested it until March 2009. I gave it a little water weekly and four weeks ago I gave it an orchid liquid feed. It is now showing a new leaf and yet more roots but no sign of a flower stem. Any suggestions please.
I don't know what the name of the orchid is but it is very common in supermarkets - four or five broad leaves and a 12" flower stem with six or so blooms.




Answers

 

You're perhaps being too kind to it. I understood they only needed feeding while flowering. Give it a bit of neglect and it'll perhaps try to grab your attention!

6 May, 2009

 

The commonest one in supermarkets is Phalaenopsis - means something to do with butterflies. I have about five - some do just what the books say and form new flower spikes. Others in exactly the same situation don't do anything much. They usually form new flower shoots in early autumn.

6 May, 2009

 

It's common name is 'Moth Orchid' Celandine.

Mine flower once or twice a year in my bathroom. They're in an indirect light position, warm during the day and cool at night. I let the pots dry before watering again and feed every other watering with a weak orchid feed.

I cut the flower spikes off completely once finished.

6 May, 2009

 

Trefi have you been allowing the orchid to sit in water? The epiphytic orchids do not like this as in nature they only get wet when it rains. I'd take a look and see what the roots are doing and not water again until they are almost white, then just let water run through the pot for maybe five minutes before putting back in the cache pot. I cut the stems back to a visible bud node if I can see one but, as Rydeboyz says some never do flower again... at least they are lovely whilst they do flower and a lot easier on the purse than a weekly bunch of lilium longifolium.

6 May, 2009

How do I say thanks?

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