Every plant needs a period of rest in which it can gain new strength for the coming growth phase. After all, the beautiful blooms took a toll on her. This also applies to the orchid. It usually keeps its gorgeous flowers for several months and often on several flower shoots at once. She absolutely deserves her break! But what happens after that? How to make orchids bloom after dormancy?
You can support, stimulate and encourage the beautiful flower to form new flowers by easily adjusting your orchid care. The focus is particularly on temperature, light, irrigation and of course nutrient supply.
How long do orchids have a dormant period?
The rest phase basically begins withFalling of the flowersand you should treat her to this too. The orchids usually go dormant in winter. Encourage the break by changing locations when necessary or at least changing care by watering less and stopping fertilizing. By ensuring this break, you automatically promote future orchid blooms. This is optimal for the rest phase:
- Temperatures that are 5 to 10 degrees lower, when they were during the growth phase. Temperatures between 12 and 16 degrees are considered optimal. This is difficult to achieve during warm seasons, but if you have a cooler room available for this purpose, you can take advantage of it.
- It can be a little darker. You can dim the room a little using curtains or blinds. But it shouldn't be too dark.
- FertilizeYou shouldn't do this at all during the rest phase.
- WaterThe plants still need it, but in smaller quantities or less frequently. You can therefore extend the distances between the casting and dipping units slightly.
When is the break over?
Since the duration not only differs from species to species, but can also vary over and over again for the same orchid (sometimes a few weeks, sometimes up to three months), it is advisable to simply inspect the plant from time to time. If you notice new growth (new leaf or new aerial roots), the orchid has definitely ended its dormant phase and you can begin the necessary care measures to get orchids to bloom after the dormant phase.
Getting orchids to bloom after the dormant phase - this is how you should care for them now
So that you canMaking orchids bloomIn principle, you should restore the previous care measures and site conditions. Now you have another chance to check whether you have done everything right so far and to do it better. So if you have the feeling that the dormant phase has lasted far too long or that the plant doesn't seem to want to bloom, this could perhaps be due to incorrect care. How do you care for orchids after this phase?
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The location is essential
If your flower had a location that seemed to be really good for it before the rest period and you have temporarily changed it as described above, you can now put it back again. Would you like to try another location?
Do orchids have to be on the window? Well, it depends:
- Orchids like it nice and bright. So if you want to get orchids to bloom after the dormant phase, it shouldn't be too dark.
- The window sill therefore seems perfect. However, this is only the case if the hours of direct sunlight are low.
- South-facing windows are absolutely unsuitable unless the sun is blocked by canopies or blinds.
- West windows and east windows are usually best suited. If necessary, a north-facing one is also suitable.
Furthermore, make sure that it is at least 16 degrees warm and that the temperatures do not rise above 30, as this stresses the plant.
Water and spray orchids properly
It should be neither too much nor too little. Butthe right amount/frequencydepends not only on the type of orchid, but also on the season. For example, it dries out more quickly in summer than in winter. In general, the orchid should be dived no more than once a week or at least twice a month. But you can see the water requirement even better like this:
If the plant is in a transparent pot, you will notice that the inner walls fog up or droplets form after watering. As long as this is the case, you do not need to water. The planter can be opaque (although then the roots won't get any light, which isn't necessarily profitable), then you can simply lift the orchid out briefly to check it.
Also, if possible, mist the aerial roots growing from the pot once a day. Or at least try to do it a few times a week if you want to get orchids to bloom after dormancy. The pleasure roots are extremely important for supplying the plant with nutrients and moisture.
More about caring for aerial rootsfind out here.
Getting orchids to bloom after the dormant phase – fertilize correctly
Of course, you can particularly encourage the orchid's flowering period if you give the plantadd enough nutrients, because this strengthens you for the new growth phase. In general, liquid fertilizer administered via submerged water every two weeks is considered optimal. It shouldn't be more often, because then over-fertilization quickly occurs. If you skip fertilizing, that's not a big deal.
Interesting tip:Before you prepare for a rest period after the flowers fall, it is worth trying a second flower on the old flower stem. To do this, simply shorten it to above the nearest eye. So you just remove the part that had previously bloomed and definitely won't bloom again. With a bit of luck, the plant will sprout again before the dormant phase or after a very short one at the top eye.
