‘Uncommon’ Orchid Care Questions Answered

Caring for orchids can raise a lot of questions. We have heard a lot of the common questions, but what about the not-so-common?

Here are some uncommon orchid care questions we've received over the years. 

Question 1: My orchid is alive but never blooms. Why?

If your orchid is in a dormant state, it will not bloom. If you find your orchid isn’t blooming but isn’t resting either, temperature could be the culprit. Too high of a temperature could affect the plant’s blooming. Also, if you’ve got your plant indoors, exposure to too much artificial light may cause long days, which would prevent flowering.

If neither of the above seems to be an issue, your orchid is likely not receiving enough light. Make sure you place them somewhere with lots of bright, indirect sunlight. 

Question 2: My orchid never quits blooming. When can I repot it?

If your orchid is in need of repotting and still blooming, repot it. If it’s healthy, you can leave the spike on. If not, remove the spike. Get repotting tips here.

Question 3: The buds on the spike open at weird angles. What can I do?

Once the buds begin to form on the spike, you shouldn’t try to reposition the plant. Like most plants, buds are drawn toward the light. If you frequently move the plant, the buds will twist and turn to find the light source, which can cause the arrangement to look odd.

Question 4: I’m getting a lot of crown rot. What can I do?

Prevention is the best solution for dealing with frequent crown rot. Crown rot happens when water is deposited on the top of the plant. To prevent this, be sure to water under the leaves. Also, watering before noon can help any splashed water to evaporate before nightfall.

Question 5: Can I propagate my orchid with its leaves? 

Not with the leaf alone. There are three ways to propagate an orchid: stem cutting, division and cutting offshoots. Each requires your plant to be older and more substantial. 

Find more information here.  

Question 6: Why are my buds falling off before blooming?

This process is called bud blast. Orchid bud blast happens when there is a sudden change in the orchid’s environment that traumatizes its systems. When your orchid drops its buds, it's signaling the orchid’s reaction to environmental shock and is the plant’s way of protecting itself. By shedding its buds, the orchid can divert more energy to maintaining its vital systems.

Find more information here. 

Looking for more frequently asked questions about orchid care? Find the answers you need here.