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A gracefully curving stem studded with a long line of large, beautiful blooms is the classic image of the ideal Phalaenopsis orchid. Plants that achieve this elegant form are the ones that take your breath away at orchid shows and botanical gardens. The desire to have one of these stunning beauties in your home is probably what enticed you to pop a Phalaenopsis orchid into your cart as you passed the orchid display at your local grocery or home and garden store. With visions of prize-winning show orchids dancing in your head, it’s understandable that you should feel a little tug of disappointment when your orchid tops out with a bloom of only 3 to 4 flowers.
Superior care in ideal growing conditions is certainly a factor in producing prize-winning orchids; but orchid variety and genetic luck also play a role. Like all living things, each orchid plant is different. Some will produce many blooms; others, just a few. Most Phalaenopsis orchids produce a single flower-lined spike, but some send up double spikes or produce spikes that branch into multiple flower groups. (Click here to see the variety of Phalaenopsis growth patterns in our online orchid photo gallery.) The budding pattern of an individual plant may also vary from year to year.
You can encourage your Phalaenopsis orchid to produce more and larger blooms by carefully following our orchid care instructions. Providing your orchid with correct amounts of indirect light, water and humidity; keeping it out of drafts; exposing it to proper day and night temperatures; and fertilizing it every other week will encourage optimal blooming.
If you have additional questions about orchid care and blooming, check out our Ask the Grower series in our orchid care videos.
