We've known a couple of orchid fanatics over the years -- people who keep entire greenhouses devoted to hundreds of them, and delight in the cross-breeding, all of that. It always seemed so extreme that we had no interest in the plants until a couple of years ago, when we received one as a gift and learned how easy their care can be.
We've only ever had the simple white or purple Phalaenopsis, which you can find at Smith & Hawken, starting at $29 -- or Trader Joe's, where prices start at about $8 for small ones. If you choose a plant with closed buds, and feed it a couple of pieces of ice once a week, it can last for up to three months.
my boyfriend brought me one from trader joe's last spring, and it bloomed for a while, and now, it's still green and got healthy leaves, and I continue to water it the same way I did as when it was blooming. Can I expect it to bloom again? And should I be doing this ice cube trick instead of regular watering?
shannon -
I've purchased several orchids over the years, which I feed and water regularly. After the initial blooming, it seems to take them a few years before they'll bloom again. If anyone has advice on how to get them to bloom more frequently, I'd love to hear it.
About the ice cube, I have no idea. Why would ice be better than regular water?
I've read the ice works because it throws them into shock which causes them to throw blossoms in a frenzy to reproduce. I've also read it's very bad for them...
For Phalaenopsis the trick to reblooming is having a night time temp decrease of 10-15 degrees. If they are in an enviroment with central heating they often don't get this "signal" that it's time to bloom. So, place them on a patio or window sill with the window cracked (if safe in your enviroment) and see if that helps.
The ice cube thing is to help people who chronically over-water (it's just simple portion control). You can also take it out of the cachepot or whatever decorative container you keep it in and run it under the faucet, let the water completely drain and put it back. They don't like sitting in a puddle of water or the roots will rot.
Other than what DK mentioned, if you're having a difficult time getting it to re-bloom, try putting it in a brighter location. Orchids need more light than you'd think to bloom (just don't put it in hot direct sun or it'll burn). So an east window works with a bit of cool morning sun or a west or south room filtered from the direct sun. Pay attention to the leaf color. The more light the orchid is getting, the lighter green the leaves and that's usually good (within reason...and I personally think purple-flowered phals tend to have darker green leaves naturally compared to white-flowered ones).
A weak solution of balanced fertilizer also helps. I usually go 1/4 strength compared to the directions and fertilize every other week/watering.
Lastly, if your orchid has just dropped it's last bloom and the bloom stem is still green and healthy, you can trim the stem to just above the first "node" that hasn't had a flower or branch grow out of it. You can often get a second flower spike out of the same stalk within a couple of months.
Sorry for the long post. I got a little carried away.
Great info Juli thanks. I'm inspired to get one now.
Try a lady slipper orchid, same care as other orchids. Water when dry (water the leafs and roots), don't let it sit in water. give very bright, but not direct light, and fertilize monthly. I have never had an orchid rebloom till I got my ladyslipper, it's in the 3rd reblooming now!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/illmethinks/sets/72157594539572080/
I have 3 orchids, one of them blooms around 3 times a year and the other 2 bloom usually once a year. Mine seem to really like being on a windowsill in my bathroom. I thought maybe it was the steam from the shower that was helping them also. I only water them about once a month.