Hello, I need help

[natasha]

Hello-
I wanted to see if you could help me figure out how to make them rebloom, what should I do to insure the best result, and what is the timeframe for them to rebloom?
Thanks,
Natasha

[Maba]

Welcome Natasha! Well, first we need a little info from you. What kind of orchids do you have? Tell us a little about how you are growing them now, and what you have already tried to get them to rebloom. And a picture is always a help too.

[jerrymeola]

Every group of orchids has slightly different requirements.

In general the most inportant thing for blooming is the proper light level.

Phalaenopsis (moth orchid big wide leaves) flower in low light and are a good choice for indoor growing. Most homes have a window sufficient to flower a phalaenopsis

Cattleyas (coursage orchids) and dendrobiums (common easy to grow orchid) need more than double the light of a phalaenopsis and usually will not flower inside unless it is given supplimental lighting. They do great outdoors in about half day sun, such as under a treee or where they get morning sun and some afternoon shade. They can be kept indoors for the winter in northern climates and put outside to flower each summer.

Oncidiums (long thin flexible leaves) like light inbetween. Outdoors is better but with a little more shade than cattleyas.

For those a bit more advance Lady slippers (Paphiepedilum) are very low light level orchids but require more care than the other types.

There are many more families but these are the most common groups. How often a year a plant flowers is genetic. Some bloom only once a year whereas others seem to be almost continuous. Most species orchids (no cross breeding - same as found in the wild) bloom only once, while many hybrids are being chosen to bloom more often.

[ryan_d_cruz]

There are a number of factors that affect blooming in orchids.

The plant should firstly be healthy and well set in in its pot preferably been growing in the same pot without disturbance for about 6 - 8 months

Lighting is a major factor, if lighting is inadequate ur plant will not bloom (do not overexpose them), but also keep in mind that a change in duration of lighting affects flowering in a number of orchids

Temperature is another major factor some orchids require atleast a 10 degrees difference between day and nightime temperatures to stimulate blooming.

Some orchids require reduced watering to induce flowering, others require an increase in watering to stimulate the post monsoon period in their natural habitat

Using a bloom stimulating fertilizer will help, these are fertilizers with a lower nitrogen and higher Phosphorous content (this is the 2nd number in the N-P-K number on the fertilizer box).

These are some conditions that work individually or in combination with each other to stimulate blooming, The best way to rebloom your orchids is to identify them and then try to stimulate the factors in a controlled environment that most closely matches the natural blooming season of the plant, so read a lot and experiment with your orchids. have fun. And hey when you find out don't forget to let us all know, what type of orchid you have and what you did to get it to bloom.

Ryan