Help with an abandoned Orchid...?

Question

I acquired an orchid, I don't know what type it is, it hasn't bloomed since I got it last year in October. What can I do to get the stems to bloom, they look green and a few of them are really long but doesn't look like it will bloom and I'm afraid it may be lacking nutrients. Some of the stems look like they have been cut. Will those grow/bloom eventually or is this a lost cause? How can I get this plant to thrive again? Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Your orchid sounds like a Dendrobium or perhaps a similar species. The stems you refer to are pseudopods. They should be cut off at the base when they turn brown. Don't cut the green ones as this is where the plant stores food. When the plant is ready to flower it will grow a new pseudopod from it base root (rhizome) which will bear the flower. Each pseudopod will bear flowers only once. In good conditions, the Dendrobium may grow multiple pods and flower several times a year, but more likely only once a year - sometimes not at all.

Orchids can be forced to bloom by manipulating its photocriticality but I wouldn't recommend that is this can get complicated. It it's healthy and conditions are right (warm and moist, indirect sun) it will bloom when it's good and ready.

If you plant has six or more pods on it, it may be time to divide it. Cut the rhizome so that there are at least three pods on each piece and pot them separately. The front piece will grow the new pod. The back piece may or may not. Chuck it if nothing happend in a few months. Don't do this if a new pod is growing or the plant is in flower. Wait till its done.

Keep it warm and moist. Feed it once in a while. Orchids do best if left alone.

Answer 2

It would help to know what type of orchid you have. They often have little white tags in the pots. It might say any of the following: Cat, cattleya, phal, phalenopsis, den, dendrobium, onc, oncidium, etc. This would help to know how much light, fertilizer, and other things it needs. If you put it near a window, just make sure it does not get so much sun that it burns. Using a mist bottle to mist the surface of the potting medium daily, will encourage good root growth. A thorough soaking will be necessary once or twice a week but don't let it sit in any standing water, but let it drain through. The water requirements will depend upon the light, temperature, variety and pot-size. Orchids usually do well with a very low amount of fertilizer added to their waterings, but you might look that up online to get the exact amounts. Addtionally, orchids will only bloom if they have a warmer temperature in the daytime compared to the evening. This drop in evening temperature can be attained through the temperature changes on a windowsill. Some orchids will bloom from the existing stems, but most produce new growths called sheaths in which the new blooms will be contained. Some bloom once per year, and some bloom more than once per year. The blooms usually last a few weeks and often have lovely fragrances. Whether the plant blooms or not depends upon if you give it the care for that particular variety. Lots of books are available that can help you identify what type of plant you have and its care. Won't it be a surprise to see what type of blossoms you get, if you care for it properly. (Also some orchids like to be outdoors in good weather, but you really have to watch that they do not dry out, and they CANNOT be in direct sunlight, but indirect, slightly protected, depending upon variety.)

Answer 3

Transplant using a good orchid mix, find the right light, give the plant a fertilizer made for orchids it will bloom. Use a newly sharpened pencil stick into plant potting mix if the pencil comes out dry then water. Get a book about orchids if you are really interested.

Answer 4

Orchids bloom once per year, don't want to be in good soil, preferring bark. They like high humidity -- put gravel in the bottom of a drip pan, add water, set pot on gravel making sure it is not in the water. Here are some links.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=orchid+growing&fr=ush-ans

good luck.