There’s No Need to Panic When Your Orchid Blooms Drop

Wondering where all your gorgeous orchid blooms ­disappeared off to? Phalaenopsis orchids, while incredibly durable, will eventually experience bloom loss. Not to worry, though! This is totally normal and just means it’s time for some orchid housekeeping. So what is an orchid owner to do after the plant has finished blooming?

Here are some options to choose from once that last bloom falls:

Wait it out.

Your orchid may not be ready to throw in the towel just yet. As long as its spike is a healthy green color, your Phal can produce brand new buds.. Continue to water your plant with three ice cubes once a week and give it some time to regroup…You’ll be glad you did.

Cut down to the node.

Want your orchid to rebloom? To trigger orchid reblooming, cut the flower spike down to just one inch above the first node under the lowest bloom. Drawing a blank on what exactly a “node” looks like? A “node” is the triangular shaped notch found on the orchid’s stem. Doing this might result in the appearance of brand new spikes that produce blooms all their own.

Cut the spike altogether.

Has your spike’s healthy green hue been replaced with a curious shade of brown? If so, it’s time to let it go. If a spike is brown, it means that no more blooms will grow on that particular spike. It’s common for double-spike Orchids to have one healthy green spike and another that’s turned brown. Just because one spike is brown, doesn’t mean your orchid is gone forever. It simply means that it’s time to cut the brown spike at the base of the plant. This gives your orchid the chance to focus its energy on its roots and leaves and grow a strong new spike. For the remaining healthy spike, you can choose from one of the options already discussed.

Have additional Orchid Care questions? Visit our FAQ section for more helpful tips.