How to make my orchid plant bloom again?

Iris Garland
by Iris Garland
I have a potted orchid that was in full bloom when I got it. After the blooms died it bloomed once more. I've has the plant approx. 3 or 4 years and it hasn't bloomed again. It has runners to come out and they look like buds but never bloom. They just fall off and die. What am I doing wrong and what do I need to do to get it bloom again?

  7 answers
  • Terri Whittaker Terri Whittaker on Aug 26, 2017

    Had an orchid that was in bloom when I got it but the blooms fell off and the runners never did anything. Turns out the instruction that came with it called for too much water. I've since got it to re-bloom (took several year before I got serious about trying). I just soaked the container until the water came to the top, then drained it after a few minutes. Let it dry out a week or two between soakings (depending on your climate) It took about two more months before I saw the beginnings of the new stem and buds. It's in bloom again. Overwatering might be your problem.

  • Dor28865687 Dor28865687 on Aug 26, 2017

    More than likely it needs more moisture but not watering. (Don't water more than once a week. Let water run through by watering in kitchen sink. ) For more humidity get a tray fill with rocks put orchid pot on rocks. Fill tray with water but NOT up to bottom of orchid plant. As water evaporates it help with moisture around the plant. Also spray roots with water. And it needs to be repotted at least every two years with orchid bark. And fertilize with 13-13-13 osmacote. Hope this helps.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Aug 26, 2017

    What is it planted in, soil, bark, orchid mix? Have you ever repotted it? How do you water your plant? What light conditions does it have? If you let us know this, we can help you. I keep mine in wood chips, double potted. We only water every 7 to 10 days buy filling the outer pot with tepid water, let it sit about 10 minutes and remove the inner pot to let it drain. Once both are drained we put it back in the outer decorative pot. You may need to repot your orchid in a pot one size bigger after this many years. There is fertilizer out there for orchids, follow the directions. Do not water using the ice cube method, they like tepid water, not frozen. Orchids do best in a bright but not direct sun, like a south window with an overhang outside. That is where we have ours and we usually get three blooms a year. Hope this helps!

  • Bren Bren on Aug 26, 2017

    I was given an orchid as a birthday present. The instructions said to place two or three ice cubes in the pot once a week. This seem to do the trick. You don't want to overwater.

  • Beth Beth on Aug 26, 2017

    it maybe time to repot it

  • Iris Iris on Aug 27, 2017

    Mine bloom once every six months or so. Their timing is pretty reliable. They like fertilizer.