There are quite a few potential reasons why an orchid may not bloom. By identifying and eliminating the problem in time, you will help your pet to release the arrow again and form buds.
The plant is too young
The first flowering of orchids occurs at the age of 1.5 to 3 years. Therefore, if you are growing a tropical beauty from a baby, be patient. Although it also happens that the epiphyte is still too young, but has already released an arrow. Sometimes a peduncle can grow even from an unseparated child. In this case, be sure to break the arrow, as premature flowering will exhaust or even kill the plant.
Damage by pests
Orchids are affected by a mealybug, which sucks the juices from young buds, which leads to their wilting. The following can also interfere with the normal development of plants: scale, whiteflies, mites, thrips, nematodes and other pests.
An excess of fertilizers
It is necessary to feed epiphytes during the period of active vegetative growth with means specially designed for them. Universal fertilizers are not suitable for decorative flowering orchids. The reason why the orchid does not bloom, but the leaves grow and new aerial roots appear, may be an excess of fertilizers with a high nitrogen content. Phosphorus additives will help to stimulate the formation of buds in epiphytes.
Too dry or cold air
Orchids need warm and humid air (ideally around 25°C with 60-80% humidity). It is absolutely impossible to put the pot in drafts. Regular spraying or use of a humidifier will help to solve the problem of dry air during the heating season.
Epiphytes tolerate relative coolness (17-22°C) more easily than drought and heat. For example, phalaenopsis “holds” flowers well at low temperatures, while in a dry and hot room it often drops buds and blossomed flowers.
Excessive watering
Water epiphytes rarely, but abundantly. The substrate and roots should dry out between waterings. Use soft, slightly warm water. Once a week, you can lower the pot into a bowl of water for 20-30 minutes so that the substrate is well saturated with moisture. At the same time, the roots should not be in contact with water for a long time so as not to rot, so do not forget to drain excess moisture from the pallet.
Incorrect lighting
Orchids do not need a lot of light to grow and develop. But it is difficult to wake up a sleeping bud without good lighting. At the same time, it is important to avoid direct sunlight in the summer. The light day for epiphytes should last at least 10 hours. Therefore, if the arrow appeared in winter, use a powerful phytolamp. Place the light source directly above the plant. At the same time, make sure that the leaves do not heat up.
In a flowering orchid, in particular, in phalaenopsis, the need for additional lighting drops sharply. With a plant that has opened all the buds, you can safely decorate the darkest corners of the apartment.
What to do to make orchids bloom
If you practically turned the apartment into a tropical paradise, and epiphytes still grow, give new leaves and roots, but not arrows, it’s time to think about more radical ways to make an orchid bloom at home. You can often hear that you don’t need to blow dust off a capricious plant. It is much more effective to create real stress for her. And here is how it can be done:
- Sharply reduce watering;
- Create temperature fluctuations;
- Stimulate with fertilizers.
When the orchid has stopped blooming, do not rush to cut the peduncle. First, over time, sleeping buds may wake up on it. Secondly, there is a growing tip on the peduncles. If it stays green, chances are it will continue to grow and produce new buds. This can happen during flowering or 1-3 months after the flowers fall. There is also a possibility that the tip of the peduncle will never grow.
If the tip has turned black, yellow, the peduncle can be removed completely or only that part of it where there were flowers (in a place slightly above the last dormant bud). Many flower growers leave all peduncles, because it is easier to achieve repeated flowering, because each bud can form a side peduncle or a baby. But keep in mind that by leaving the old flower bed, you inhibit the development of new ones.
