Ideally, the butterfly orchid (bot. Phalaenopsis) blooms for several months without a break, sometimes even for a year or more. It often takes a long time until the next flowers bloom. Some orchid owners then lose patience.
How do I make my Phalaenopsis bloom?
To get a Phalaenopsis to bloom, you should ensure temperatures above 18 °C, provide sufficient light (12 hours a day, daylight lamp), avoid waterlogging and fertilize appropriately (nitrogen in the vegetation phase, phosphorus for flower formation).
Why isn't my phalaenopsis blooming?
There can be various reasons why your Phalaenopsis is not blooming. For example, it is possible that the location is too warm or there is poor lighting. Your Phalaenopsis may have been watered too much or fertilized incorrectly.
Orchids usually bloom about once a year. If the last flowering lasted particularly long, the subsequent flowering break may also last a little longer. That's nothing to worry about. If your Phalaenopsis doesn't produce new buds after a year, then it's time to act.
What stimulates Phalaenopsis to flower?
In its tropical homeland, the amount of sunshine per day is relatively constant at 12 hours, but the Phalaenopsis is not exposed to direct sun. In the Central European winter, the amount of light is not enough. You can easily remedy the situation with a daylight lamp (€89.00 on Amazon). At the same time, the temperature at the location should not fall below 18 °C.
The Phalaenopsis cannot tolerate wet feet at all. Then it quickly suffers from root rot. The best way to avoid waterlogging is with moderate watering and a permeable substrate. As an alternative to regular watering, you can also dip your Phalaenopsis once a week.
Flower formation in Phalaenopsis can also be stimulated with appropriate fertilization. For good growth, a nitrogen-based fertilizer is recommended. You administer this between March and September. In October, switch to a phosphorus-based fertilizer that promotes bud development.
The most important things in brief:
- Do not allow temperatures to fall below 18°C
- Provide sufficient light, if possible 12 hours a day (daylight lamp)
- Avoid waterlogging
- fertilize appropriately: nitrogen-based in the vegetation phase, phosphorus-based for flower formation
Tip
If your Phalaenopsis gets enough water, light, warmth and fertilizer, then it will certainly bloom again soon.
