How Often Do Orchids Bloom? (12 Tips for Reblooming)

Phalaenopsis orchids can rebloom within 8 to 12 weeks. Vanda orchids typically bloom twice a year, but cattleya and cymbidium orchids only bloom once.
Vanda orchids are not ideal for novice growers because they require more care than cattleya and cymbidium orchids.
When it comes to blooming, there are two types of orchid flowers: primitive and intermediate. Primitive orchids, which include Brassia, Cymbidium, Cattleya, or Dendrobium, bloom every year while intermediates (such Oncidium and Laelia) rebloom after a dormant period.

The following list represents the most common types of orchids and their approximate bloom times:
Cymbidiums – Typically up to a year, but shorter with strong variety showing early bloomers 
Cattleyas – 2 months 
Phalaenopsis (mop flowers) – 1-3 months 
Oncidiums – 3-4 weeks

Yes, Orchids can bloom up to three times per year. 
After the orchid has gone through its first blooming cycle, it will have spent all its stored energy and gradually dried out. At this point, an orchid goes into a state of dormancy called “resting,” in which they remain until their next season arrives. When new growth is observed at the base of an Orchid stem (known as pseudobulb), the orchid signals that it’s time for another round of blossoms! 
This process repeats itself two more times during a typical year, but the timing isn’t necessarily set in stone. Some orchids have been known to wait another 7 months before beginning their second blooming cycle.

The indoor orchids usually bloom only once a year, but if enough care is taken to mimic the floral environment they live in their native jungle, outdoor orchids can often be induced to re-bloom.
During winter and early spring (in North America), we might bring an indoor orchid into bright natural light for twelve hours per day. After flowering, all watering must stop until new growth starts again in late spring.
When greenhouse temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees Fahrenheit with plenty of light from April through October, most landscape orchids will flower annually and sometimes twice if their blooming season extends that long.
Proper fertilizing and other cultural practices are also important to keep your plants healthy and looking good. With regular care, your orchids will reward you with the flowers they’re famous for.

Indoor orchids flower between April and September, depending on the species.
During winter, orchids need at least 14 hours of darkness per day to flower. The availability of this time changes with the season, so an orchid might take a break from blooming when it is summer in the Northern hemisphere and vice versa for an orchid living south of the equator.
For indoor plants to flower, there must be sufficient natural light available during the daytime and plenty of water and humidity (sprayers are advised). Fertilizer will also help stimulate flowering. The flowering period should last between 4-6 weeks once certain conditions are met.

Different orchid varieties have different flowering seasons. 
Fall – Phalaenopsis, Cymbidiums (1st year); Oncidiums, Dendrobiums (2nd year) 
Winter – Hybrids; Aerides, Odontoglossums, Paphiopedilums
Spring – Vanda Tricolors, Stanhopea Tricolors

The length of the blooming period depends on the species and cultivar, but most orchids will stay in bloom from anywhere between 10 days to 8 weeks.
For example, a phalaenopsis can last six months, whereas some cattleya plants only last two weeks before they close up.

Some orchid flowers change colors as they mature, while others remain green throughout their life cycle. For example, oncidiums often have white blooms that gradually turn pink and blue when they are ready for pollination.

If the flower spikes are green, trim about an inch of it back. Alternatively, trim about two nodes off near its base to force more shoots to form in that location.
The orchid needs to be trimmed and fertilized at the right time. Generally, you should trim off an inch of one shoot after it’s finished blooming. Always use a sharp pair of scissors and cut just above the node where new shoots grow out from

To encourage new flower spikes, place the plant in a cooler area of your house. With each night spent at about 55–65°F, you may be able to create that long-awaited new flower.

Yes, removing the flower stem will improve root development and even reblooming.
The old bloom stalk can interfere with plant growth if it remains on the plant, obstructing sunlight or just blocking space that could be used for better use. Removing the stalk helps optimize a healthy amount of air circulation through the leaf axils (where flowers come from) and exposes an area at the base of each leaf for new roots to grow. More roots mean more water absorbency and caloric resources, which means faster-growing plants with stronger blooms.

There is a simple answer to this question. Flowers fall off when the plant runs out of resources with which to make them stay. In the case of orchids, those resources can be either nutrients or water – it most often depends on what type of orchid you’re growing. The resource can also run out after a certain stage in the life cycle, such as during autumn and winter while the plant is dormant.
Traditionally, people have managed to keep their flowers on longer by watering them less often. Different plants require different needs at each step in their lifetime, so check with your plants’ care.
Another reason is that the plant is entering hibernation mode for the winter and won’t be growing new flowers until next spring.

Don’t water the orchid plant after the flowers fall off. The post-flowering rest period is when new growth has stopped and usually begins a few days to a week or two after blooming has finished.
During this time, it is important not to over-water your orchids because they will most likely be dormant — only watering when the mix in their pot becomes dry, unlike during their growing periods where you should be watering actively unless instructed otherwise by an experienced grower.

No, fertilizing will exhaust your plant and slow down the flowering process. The nutrients in the potting soil should be enough to help it grow healthily for some time before harvesting.
Once this is done, you can start fertilizing again after about a week. This gentle feeding will ensure flowers are more likely to take. I wouldn’t recommend fertilizing throughout the blooming stage because most orchid flowers only last 3-4 days maximum anyway. A little bit of fertilizer too early could make them fall off too soon!

No, orchids do not rebloom on the same stem. A phalaenopsis orchid on a pseudobulb will have two to three flowers at a time, and this is the only type that will rebloom on the same stem. The other types of orchids typically produce one single flower at a time and cannot rebloom on the same stem.

Phalaenopsis blooms can rebloom every year without the need for lost flowers on the other end of that stem. It’s not uncommon for a Phalenopsis to be around fifteen years old and have had all its original blooms, with many more blossoming every year!

The University of Kentucky recommends using a high-nitrogen formulation such as 20-20-20 to match the needs of an active growing plant such as Phalaenopsis Orchid plants. They recommend monthly fertilizing in periods of growth (usually spring and summer) until the buds have reached the desired size.
Another best fertilizer for orchids to bloom is a high-nitrogen fertilizer, such as 10-10-10. While there are many more sophisticated fertilizers on the market, when it comes to flowering cycles, often you need more nitrogen by way of something like 10-10-10 or a bloom booster.
Select a high nitrogen formulation for most of your fertilizing needs and use this product monthly during periods of growth (usually spring and summer) until the different buds have reached the desired size. The best time to use flowering boosters is monthly from when shoots start appearing until about two weeks before they mature – usually in early winter for North America and late spring-early summer elsewhere. 

When you see that the orchid has started to grow tiny buds along the old stalk, it means it’ll bloom soon. After about a year and a half of being attached to the mother plant, there will be visible shoots, or you may have already seen small flowers emerging in these areas.

When an orchid does not flower, it is often because the type of light it gets is not strong enough at certain times. Orchid flowers need 12-16 hours per day of strong light to grow and produce flowers.
Most homes are too dark during the day for these plants to flower properly. Consider dedicating one part of your yard or garden to flowering plants that need more light, such as summer-blooming roses, camellias, or dahlias – they’ll reward you with color throughout the year!
You might also want to try moving your indoor orchid plant outside during those 6-12 hours every day when there’s too much direct sun for the plant (too much direct sunlight will scorch leaves!) instead of sending them to the sunroom.
If you’re not sure what kind of light your orchid plant needs, try putting a grow bulb close to the leaves and see if they begin to change colors – usually, this means they need more red spectrum lighting. A professional can also help diagnose any problems with flowering cycles (they are qualified in horticulture).

The University of Kentucky recommends putting the orchid in an east, west, or south window. They say that this is good for most orchids because they like bright light and warmth but prefer cooler temperatures at night than most other flowering plants require.
Orchid varieties differ in their range of light, heat, and humidity requirements. Some, such as African vanda flowers (Vanda meriana), prize the humid climate of an indoor bedroom or bathroom for most of the year. Others can grow outdoors in mild temperatures with light shade. The ideal placement for an orchid depends on its type, so it’s important to know what your variety prefers before choosing a location. Here are some general rules:
In warmer weather, find a shaded area with partial sun exposure; if night temperatures fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, find an even cooler spot with plenty of shade and protection from the midday summer sun until early evening. In cooler regions, plant them in full sun with adequate drainage and plenty of air circulation.

For orchids in their active growth period, you can fertilize every other week. If they are inactive during the winter, you should fertilize them less.
For best results, it’s also important to use a balance that includes all nutrients and not just NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium). Check labels carefully because some fertilizer products might provide more phosphorus than nitrogen while others might reverse.
A good mix would be one with equal amounts of each nutrient: 8-16-8 is a popular ratio for many perennial flowers. Still, it could be too much if your plants are in an active growth period, as this mixture would produce lush foliage while neglecting blooms.

Dendrobium hybrids are the longest blooming orchid plants, with durations ranging from eight months to two years. Other popular breeds are Zygopetalums with around six months, Phalaenopsis and Epidendas that last for four weeks, and Cymbidiums near three weeks. Some other varieties include Oncidiums at 2-3 months, Cattleyas lasting 1-1½ months, and Laelias lasting for only a few days before they need new water as their roots will dry out quickly without it.

Orchids vary in size, and as such, the pots that hold them also have different dimensions. If you’re unsure about what dimension to use, it’s best to consult a professional at your local garden supply store who can help assess which will work best for your plant.

It is important to keep your plants watered at all times, but watering routines will vary depending on the type of orchid you have and how warm the environment is. For example, if your orchid has been in the same room as a humidifier for an extended period of time and you feel it’s drying out too quickly, try watering less often.

When you notice that the pot feels light, there are dry leaves on the top surface, or the leaves are wrinkling up – it’s time for a water change.

This indicates too much sun exposure, so move your plants to areas with indirect sunlight and reduce watering. If you don’t adjust these aspects of care, then the plant will eventually die off.

Epsom salt is a mineral compound with high levels of magnesium and sulfur. It can be beneficial for orchids in two ways, both of which are backed by scientific research. First, Epsom salt can produce bushier orchid plants that produce more flowers than an untreated plant. Second, it can help to soften the skin on the orchid’s pseudobulb and encourages healthy new tissue growth in that area.
Additionally, magnesium increases chlorophyll content as well as calcium uptake and utilization in the plant to photosynthesis. In other words, it means your plants will grow faster–especially when they get older. 
Overall this means that you’ll enjoy better yields from your time spent taking care of them over extended periods of time as opposed to if you were only growing the plant for a couple of months at most. Those are some pretty good perks! Plus, how cool is it that you can get some pretty impressive science in just a few minutes of reading?