Our 7 steps to reblooming your orchid.
Yes, you can rebloom your Phalaenopsis.
Just remember, it takes a little time and patience! Once your orchid is done with its initial bloom, most people like to start with a new Matsui Nursery orchid. If you want to try to rebloom your orchid, keep in mind Phalaenopsis are the easiest orchids to rebloom at home. Other kinds of orchids can be tricky or near impossible to rebloom outside of a greenhouse, but we think they make excellent foliage plants if you can’t stand throwing them away.
Just remember, it takes a little time and patience! Once your orchid is done with its initial bloom, most people like to start with a new Matsui Nursery orchid. If you want to try to rebloom your orchid, keep in mind Phalaenopsis are the easiest orchids to rebloom at home. Other kinds of orchids can be tricky or near impossible to rebloom outside of a greenhouse, but we think they make excellent foliage plants if you can’t stand throwing them away.
Step 1 Fertilize monthly.
After your Phalaenopsis orchid drops its last flower, you can start fertilizing once a month with an orchid fertilizer. Follow the fertilizer manufacturer’s instructions. Keep your orchid in its location, in bright, indirect light.
Step 2 Cut the flower spike (or don’t).
After the flowers drop, you have three choices:
Step 3 Don’t forget to water.
Water your orchid per care tag instructions, about every 10–14 days for most standard sized Phalaenopsis or 7–10 days for mini Phals. Again, watering less is best. Let the potting medium almost dry out before watering again.
Step 4 Wait about a few months for a new leaf.
If you’ve cut the flower spike, you’ll want to wait a few months before you induce spiking. Once it gets a new leaf that is fully grown, your orchid is recovered and ready to rebloom. Note that this new leaf will likely be as big, and possibly bigger, than the other leaves on your plant.
Step 5 You’ll need some cold.
To get a new orchid flower spike, place the plant in an area with a lower room temp — about 55–65°F at night should do it. Placing your orchid in a window away from the heater might work, too. We’ve had best success getting new flower spikes in winter, when our homes and their windows aren’t as warm.
Step 6 Watch for a new flower spike.
Wait a month or so for a flower spike to grow. It will look like a root growing straight up it will have a knobby end on it, called a “mitten.” Once your orchid starts spiking, you can return it to its normal growing location with a moderate room temp of 65–75°F and bright, indirect light. Give it a few more months for the spike to grow tall and for new flowers. Once it hits about 5” you can start supporting the spike with a stake and a loose tie. If you don’t get a new flower spike after a couple of months, try moving the orchid to a different location. It might not be getting enough light or cold enough temperatures.
Step 7 Keep up the good work.
Continue watering and fertilizing. Don’t move your orchid around; otherwise its flowers might get twisted and it won’t have that pretty arching affect. Our Phalaenopsis can usually grow a new flower spike (or two) once a year. Enjoy!
After your Phalaenopsis orchid drops its last flower, you can start fertilizing once a month with an orchid fertilizer. Follow the fertilizer manufacturer’s instructions. Keep your orchid in its location, in bright, indirect light.
Step 2 Cut the flower spike (or don’t).
After the flowers drop, you have three choices:
- There’s a chance that new blooms will flower at the tip of the plant, so you can try leaving the flower spike in place. But often, this doesn’t work. And if it does, the flowers will probably be smaller than the original flowers.
- With a sterile razorblade, sharp scissors or clippers, cut the flower spike at a slight angle in between the second and third triangular node, counting up from the bottom. Please note that this is only works for Phalaenopsis and that it only works about half the time.
- Matsui Recommended Our expert grower team likes giving the plant a fresh start by removing the flower spike entirely, using a sterile razorblade, clippers or sharp scissors, clipping it about ½” from the base of the plant. This method makes for the best blooms and gives the plant a chance to reset and grow stronger roots. You’ll also need to remove the spike if it has turned yellow or brown. If you’re trying to re-bloom an orchid other than Phalaenopsis, you’ll want to cut the old flower spike off at the base of the plant no matter what.
Step 3 Don’t forget to water.
Water your orchid per care tag instructions, about every 10–14 days for most standard sized Phalaenopsis or 7–10 days for mini Phals. Again, watering less is best. Let the potting medium almost dry out before watering again.
Step 4 Wait about a few months for a new leaf.
If you’ve cut the flower spike, you’ll want to wait a few months before you induce spiking. Once it gets a new leaf that is fully grown, your orchid is recovered and ready to rebloom. Note that this new leaf will likely be as big, and possibly bigger, than the other leaves on your plant.
Step 5 You’ll need some cold.
To get a new orchid flower spike, place the plant in an area with a lower room temp — about 55–65°F at night should do it. Placing your orchid in a window away from the heater might work, too. We’ve had best success getting new flower spikes in winter, when our homes and their windows aren’t as warm.
Step 6 Watch for a new flower spike.
Wait a month or so for a flower spike to grow. It will look like a root growing straight up it will have a knobby end on it, called a “mitten.” Once your orchid starts spiking, you can return it to its normal growing location with a moderate room temp of 65–75°F and bright, indirect light. Give it a few more months for the spike to grow tall and for new flowers. Once it hits about 5” you can start supporting the spike with a stake and a loose tie. If you don’t get a new flower spike after a couple of months, try moving the orchid to a different location. It might not be getting enough light or cold enough temperatures.
Step 7 Keep up the good work.
Continue watering and fertilizing. Don’t move your orchid around; otherwise its flowers might get twisted and it won’t have that pretty arching affect. Our Phalaenopsis can usually grow a new flower spike (or two) once a year. Enjoy!