Orchids are a one of the largest families of flowering plants. With over 22,000 accepted species and being capable of surviving in nearly every type of habitat across the globe it is a wonder many people struggle to keep them alive. Here were going to give a few simple tips to help make sure your orchid continues to flower over and over again.
Giving too much love
One of the first problems many people face is they are to kind too there orchid, over watering it and placing it in direct sunlight under the assumption that they are native to warm tropical climates and this is what they like. Unfortunately this is primary reason why orchids fail to live up to many peoples expectations as over watering or watering to frequently will kill the roots. The general rule of thumb is an orchid only needs watering every 5-12 days with such a large variance taking into account factors such as the location, the species, the room temperature and the time of year.
Each species of orchid falls into three basic types, those that like to be kept moist, those that like moisture during active growth and those that should be kept nearly dry between watering's. The easiest way to find out which category your orchid falls into is to ask for watering instructions when you buy it.
Lighting the way
Orchid's like all plants need light to photosynthesise and create energy, the right amount of light coupled with the right amount of water will produce a happy orchid. However when your orchid fails to bloom it is most likely due to insufficent light. A good indicator for the correct amount of light is an orchids leaf color. A dark green leaf suggests the orchid isn't receiving enough light where as a red/green leaf color suggests to much. The best location is in a south or west facing window where it should receive strong but be placed in preferably indirect light.
If all else fails
If your orchid will just not flower but has thick green leaves and a strong stem cut the stem up high just below the lowest bloom and just above a node. This will allow the plant to produce a new flowering branch at this location. However if your orchid has thin wilted leaves then you should conserve energy to replenish its leaves by not flowering straight away, with careful watering and fertilising the stem will grow back into shape allow for flowering in the future from a brand new stem. This however can be a slow process as the orchid can take up to a year to regrow.
