Your Michigan City guide


Orchids Will Bloom Again

How long does it take for an orchid plant to50%F's for a month in the fall, that may help
rebloom? The answer is: it depends. I'm nottrigger  them  into  the  bloom  cycle.
trying to avoid your question, just being
truthful. The truth of the matter of when anIf, by chance, the leaves fall off, leave the
orchid will bloom again depends upon whatgrowths on the dendrobium as they are a
kind of orchid it is. Most orchids willstorage mechanism for moisture and nutrients.
produce blooms once a year but there are someOnly remove the growths that appear to be
which are capable of producing blooms severaldying. As for those new growths, they may
time a year if the growing conditions areappear to stop growing due to the cold dark
just right, if not quite right they shouldweather but should perk back up once things
still bloom once a year. Since your orchidwarm  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 tois one of the more commonly available
bloom at Christmas time this year, it shouldorchids. The most common is "phalaenopsis"
be showing evidence of a new flower stemthat has large roundish to oblong leaves at
growing. But, depending upon what kind ofthe base of the plant and the flower spike
orchid you have, it can take from one monthgrows from the apex of the leaves. Other
to six months for a new flower stem to be incommon 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 allwas no tag with the plant, then I'm afraid
died and fallen off, you may remove the stemthere is no way to know the name of the
by cutting it off down near the base of thehybrid 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 startThere are three principal types of containers
to dry that means the stem is dying and mayfor orchids. Phalaenopsis and lady slipper
be removed. If there are any bulbs on theorchids are usually grown in a plastic pot,
orchid, you should leave them alone as theythe heavier or more top heavy plants such as
are a store of moisture and nutrients for thedendrobiums 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 growhumid environment because the mix dries out
but getting them to bloom reliably is thevery quickly. I would use a commercially
hard part. Moving them to Florida will makeprepared orchid mix that you can buy in bags
it easier. Why? The climate and sunshine itat garden centers and mass marketers. I would
will receive all year round rather than thesoak this mix overnight before using it and
cold darkness in Indiana. Dendrobiums preferdrain it well before potting up your orchid
warm bright weather, they will sulk and evenplant  in  it.
die  under  cold  dark  conditions.
Orchids that have maroon leaves generally get
From your description of them, I take it thatthat way from having grown in bright
they are of the evergreen family ofsunlight. That suggests to you that either it
dendrobiums. If they were from the deciduouswas neglected or it likes bright light. It is
family you would have mentioned that some ofnot uncommon for orchids to outgrow their
the growths had lost all their leaves. Thepots. Many feel this is the time divide and
primary difference between the two familiesrepot the plant, but that is personal
is that evergreens do not like dry conditionspreference. Many orchids do just fine hanging
while deciduous ones need a pronounced dryway  out  of  the  pot.
period.
Since I don't know what type of orchid you
Why your evergreen dendrobiums have nothave, I can only hazard a guess that they are
rebloomed for you is in what you said "Sinceroots 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 inbase 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. AFor now, if the plant looks healthy,I would
good way to tell if it is getting enoughleave it as is until you get a further
light is to look at the leaves, they will bedevelopment 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 toalways, in the spring. Just keep an eye on it
Florida, move them into any new lightand it should be fine. Then you will be able
conditions slowly over several weeks, as tooto know what type of orchid it is by the
sudden an exposure to brighter light maybloom. If not just go back to where you got
cause sunburn of the leaves. If possible, trythe orchid and see if they know what type of
exposing them to temperatures in the midorchid it is.



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