I got so many questions on Instagram when I shared that my orchid plants were budding for a second time and then again when they actually re-bloomed in my stories. You voted for a blog post with my tips to get your orchids to re-bloom. So here we go my orchid care tips for beginners! The best part is, it really isn’t hard!
When my orchids re-bloomed for the first time it was like Christmas morning as a kid and felt like magic. I’m not an expert and I got 4 out of 5 of my orchid plants to re-bloom this spring, that’s why I know you can do it too!
I used to be the person that killed orchids so quickly, I couldn’t figure out how to keep them alive let alone make them re-bloom. But they are my favorite flower and my husband buys them for me for special occasions like anniversaries or Valentine’s Day. With a little patience, sunlight and ice cubes I finally got orchid care as a beginner down.
Basic Orchid Care
- Sunlight is important. You’ll need a nice window or well lit room to house your orchid plant.
- Watering can be tricky. I put 3 ice cubes in my orchid plants every 3 days. I get the ice from my freezer’s ice maker that runs through a filter. Don’t use straight tap water for your ice cubes, it could contain too much salt and salt build up in the soil kills orchids quickly.
Getting Your Orchid to Re-Bloom
Once your orchid’s flowers all fall off don’t toss the plant or forget about it! Keep giving it 3 ice cubes every 3-4 days. There are a few options for the flowerless stem of your orchid. I’ve tried them all and had success with each.
*Orchids re-bloomed with each method pictured
- Cut the stem off at the base of the plant. A new shoot will grow from the base of the plant in a few months. Be patient, it doesn’t happen overnight and it’s definitely worth the wait! *Be careful, the new shoot is very fragile while its growing. I got so upset that I accidentally knocked a new shoot off one of my orchid plants while watering it. I barely knocked it and it has not grown since.
- Clip the stem where the flowers grew about an inch under where the last flower was. I’ve been told you get the best results with this method.
- Leave the stem untouched. This is the fastest method. The stem will re-bud in a month or two after it lost it’s flowers. The stem will get very long. If you don’t want a huge stem coming off your plant method 1 or 2.
The most important thing is to remember to water them after the flowers have fallen off. I know they aren’t as pretty without the flowers but when they eventually grow back they are even prettier than the first flower cycle!
I hope this helps orchid lovers who couldn’t figure out how to keep them alive and flowering like me!
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