| How long does it take for an orchid plant to | | | | 50%F's for a month in the fall, that may help |
| rebloom? The answer is: it depends. I'm not | | | | trigger them into the bloom cycle. |
| trying to avoid your question, just being | | | | |
| truthful. The truth of the matter of when an | | | | If, by chance, the leaves fall off, leave the |
| orchid will bloom again depends upon what | | | | growths on the dendrobium as they are a |
| kind of orchid it is. Most orchids will | | | | storage mechanism for moisture and nutrients. |
| produce blooms once a year but there are some | | | | Only remove the growths that appear to be |
| which are capable of producing blooms several | | | | dying. As for those new growths, they may |
| time a year if the growing conditions are | | | | appear to stop growing due to the cold dark |
| just right, if not quite right they should | | | | weather but should perk back up once things |
| still bloom once a year. Since your orchid | | | | warm up and they receive more light. |
| was in bloom last Christmas, my guess is that | | | | |
| it should do so at that time again. | | | | You do not have to wait for a bloom to |
| | | | identify the type of orchid that it is if it |
| Since it is already October, if it were to | | | | is one of the more commonly available |
| bloom at Christmas time this year, it should | | | | orchids. The most common is "phalaenopsis" |
| be showing evidence of a new flower stem | | | | that has large roundish to oblong leaves at |
| growing. But, depending upon what kind of | | | | the base of the plant and the flower spike |
| orchid you have, it can take from one month | | | | grows from the apex of the leaves. Other |
| to six months for a new flower stem to be in | | | | common types are "the dendrobium, the lady |
| full bloom once it begins to grow. | | | | slippers, and the Cattleyas". Each has a |
| | | | distinctive vegetative structure. If there |
| On most orchids, once the flowers have all | | | | was no tag with the plant, then I'm afraid |
| died and fallen off, you may remove the stem | | | | there is no way to know the name of the |
| by cutting it off down near the base of the | | | | hybrid since so many different hybrids have |
| flower stem. Prior to cutting off the stem, | | | | similar flower types and colors. |
| take a look at the top or tip of the stem to | | | | |
| see if it has begun to dry, if it does start | | | | There are three principal types of containers |
| to dry that means the stem is dying and may | | | | for orchids. Phalaenopsis and lady slipper |
| be removed. If there are any bulbs on the | | | | orchids are usually grown in a plastic pot, |
| orchid, you should leave them alone as they | | | | the heavier or more top heavy plants such as |
| are a store of moisture and nutrients for the | | | | dendrobiums or cattleyas are better |
| orchid. | | | | maintained in clay pots. Baskets are reserved |
| | | | for vandaceous orchids and require a very |
| Most dendrobiums are not that hard to grow | | | | humid environment because the mix dries out |
| but getting them to bloom reliably is the | | | | very quickly. I would use a commercially |
| hard part. Moving them to Florida will make | | | | prepared orchid mix that you can buy in bags |
| it easier. Why? The climate and sunshine it | | | | at garden centers and mass marketers. I would |
| will receive all year round rather than the | | | | soak this mix overnight before using it and |
| cold darkness in Indiana. Dendrobiums prefer | | | | drain it well before potting up your orchid |
| warm bright weather, they will sulk and even | | | | plant in it. |
| die under cold dark conditions. | | | | |
| | | | Orchids that have maroon leaves generally get |
| From your description of them, I take it that | | | | that way from having grown in bright |
| they are of the evergreen family of | | | | sunlight. That suggests to you that either it |
| dendrobiums. If they were from the deciduous | | | | was neglected or it likes bright light. It is |
| family you would have mentioned that some of | | | | not uncommon for orchids to outgrow their |
| the growths had lost all their leaves. The | | | | pots. Many feel this is the time divide and |
| primary difference between the two families | | | | repot the plant, but that is personal |
| is that evergreens do not like dry conditions | | | | preference. Many orchids do just fine hanging |
| while deciduous ones need a pronounced dry | | | | way out of the pot. |
| period. | | | | |
| | | | Since I don't know what type of orchid you |
| Why your evergreen dendrobiums have not | | | | have, I can only hazard a guess that they are |
| rebloomed for you is in what you said "Since | | | | roots emerging from the pot drainage holes. |
| it is so cold and dark here in Indiana". | | | | Some orchids send out bloom spikes from the |
| Whether in Indiana or Florida, place them in | | | | base of the plant but those are potted in |
| a location with bright indirect sunlight, | | | | baskets not clay pots. |
| temperatures between 60 to 85%F, humidity | | | | |
| above 50%, light air movement around them. A | | | | For now, if the plant looks healthy,I would |
| good way to tell if it is getting enough | | | | leave it as is until you get a further |
| light is to look at the leaves, they will be | | | | development such as flowering, plant die |
| a medium green color when it is just right. | | | | back, new growth starting,etc. Orchids put on |
| | | | new growth once a year and usually, but not |
| A word of caution if you take them to | | | | always, in the spring. Just keep an eye on it |
| Florida, move them into any new light | | | | and it should be fine. Then you will be able |
| conditions slowly over several weeks, as too | | | | to know what type of orchid it is by the |
| sudden an exposure to brighter light may | | | | bloom. If not just go back to where you got |
| cause sunburn of the leaves. If possible, try | | | | the orchid and see if they know what type of |
| exposing them to temperatures in the mid | | | | orchid it is. |