How to rebloom?

[Fozzy8810]

Hi everyone,

I am a semi-new person to orchid growing. I have always loved their look and unique style compared to my other plants. I usually have a pretty easy time growing orchids in the summer time, however, when I went to attend school, the temp changes ( its either really really hot or really really cold) would really hurt them. Now I am at home for good cause I graduated and I don't plan on moving out just yet. I just a new set of orchids in December and about a week ago the blooms started to fall off ( the remaining ones on now are shriveled up).
Now is the hard part. Because of the past winter storm we lost power for 2 days (no heat) and we haven't had much sun coming into my house for a couple of days. I never really know exactly how to make them rebloom. I figured that the leaves will become firm again once the sun comes back, however I do not know how to make my orchid rebloom. I would like to use the "pinch" method but I am not sure where or how to do so. Your advice is very much appreciated!!!

I have a Phalenopsis.


Thank You

[orchids4me]

It all about their culture. You have to create the conditions for them to thrive. I can't post links from my phone but some thread have links added in for culture sheets. What type of orchids are you growing ? Maybe someone can post a link to the AOS culture sheets for you so you can make necessary changes in your growing space. I had to tweak mine for some of the ones I grow. It will take a season possibly for yours to recover this then maybe the following bloom season you may be gifted by them if you provide proper culture.
Good luck
Emmaye

[Filb]

Power loss...that is no good.
Has the power come back on for you? I lost heat in the dead of winter a couple years ago, it sucked! I pretty much didn't get out of bed. I didn't have orchids back then..

I guess just watch for any cool/cold damage and don't worry about getting it to bloom yet. Do you have any photos of them?

What's your temperature like in the house? What kind of sun do they get (I assume you are window-growing)? Have you gotten a look at the roots?
Million questions...sorry! I'll let you answer those before I rattle off more.. ><

Welcome to the forum by the way!

[Dorchid]

What's the pinch method?

[Fozzy8810]

I think I wrote the type of orchid I have at the end of my message, but in case you missed it I have a Phalaenopsis orchid. Here's some pics of my orchid from tonight. I do have power back on, but last week I lost power for 2 days and the temps throughout the house dropped to 52 degrees. With an exception of these winter clouds, my room has a lot of sunlight. It's a south window and the sunlight goes through my curtains, but sometimes I'll open the curtains a lil to give my Phal some direct sunlight on the leaves. The current temp in my house is between 74 and 77 degrees. My roots are pretty healthy, and some of the roots are starting to grow out of the potting mixture. The soil is made up of mostly bark, and the roots are mostly green, but I do have some dead roots allllll the way at the bottom.

[Fozzy8810]

i hope my info was helpful . The person who gave me the plant said to pinch the buds off, and continue watering it, but I have no clue what that means since my Phal. stems always died out/ never rebloomed in college.

THANK YOU!!!

P.S. I do have a snake tank, that is very humid and warm, that I may move the orchid to sit on top of ( cause the environment is really good and it's closer to the window)

[Dorchid]

My phals don't mind a 52 degree house, but I don't think it's been that low for more than 2 days at a time. Do you have chlorine in your water?

[Dorchid]

Did the flowers get direct sun on them?

[Fozzy8810]

No, the window only let sunlight onto the leaves, but my room is very bright even with the curtains closed. I'm not sure what we have upstairs, i get the water from a filter in the fridge. downstairs in the sink we have hard water. The blooms were doing fine for a whole month, I'm hoping that it's just their natural cycle of life

[Dorchid]

It was probably the cold, that's a big swing in temp to go from 77 to 52. Mine have probably adjusted to being at a low temp, my house at a high is 64. Do you have pictures of the leaves?

[Fozzy8810]

I don't have any off hand, but I can def get some tomorrow. The leaves are not as firm as they were before the winter storm. The storm has caused for the sun to be blocked, which also gives part to the cold temp outside. It is supposed to be sunny tomorrow, and for a few more days later on this week. So with the position of my Phals not blooming anymore, what should i do at this point? I'm really really scared of cutting the stem, because thats where everything has tend to go wrong in the past.

[Filb]

Well even in the winter, I like to give my phals as much light as possible. A winter southern exposure in the NE US (somewhat like Michigan) is a lot weaker than a normal southern exposure. So I would leave the curtain open if you are able and can tolerate the sunlight.

I wouldn't bother with cutting the stem/spike unless it is turning brown and crispy (like the almost white-ish one in your 5th photo). When you cut that dry spike, cut it as close to the base of itself as you can safely without bumping or damaging living tissues. If the spike stays green it may produce a sub-spike if it is happy enough.

You mentioned that you use water from the 'fridge; do you let it come to room temperature first or is it cold when you water?
When was the last time you watered? Lack of turgidity may mean it's time to water, though it could mean other things too.

If you can, post a photo of the whole plant, focusing on the leaves, roots and what-have-you like dorchid suggested.

[Dorchid]

I wouldn't cut the flower spike yet, let it die back on it's own, or maybe it will rebloom from the same spike. Just take care of the plant, make sure it's warm enough and has good humidity. No direct sun though, phals can't handle too much. It needs time to adjust to it's new environment after a shock like that. It should recover and eventually rebloom for you.

[Brooke]

You say the room is bright but how far from the window is it? Bright to your eyes may be dark to the Phal. Two feet from a very sunny window runs about 600 fc and is probably not enough light to keep a Phal happy.

You probably lost the blooms due to the cold but not enough to damage the plant. Your Phal probably won't respike for another year even if you give it the best culture there is.

Look on the forum for a sticky with AOS Culture tips and look up the correct culture.

Brooke

[11Orchid126]

As Brooke says, your phal probably won't bloom for another year. It has to go through its natural cycle. It sends out a flower spike, blooms, the blooms fade and most of the time so does the flower spike, then it rests awhile, then it starts to grow again and rejuvinate itself. When it's strong enough, which is usually late summer, it will throw out a new spike. In the meantime the plant needs good, bright light (not strong sun), watering it and then letting it get almost dry, and regular fertilizing weakly, weekly.