Orchid Care After Blooming: Essential Tips

Orchids are undoubtedly one of the most enchanting and elegant plants to grace our homes. Their stunning blooms can brighten up any room, but what happens when those beautiful flowers start to fade? Orchid care after blooming is crucial to ensure that your orchid remains healthy and vibrant for years to come.

Why should you care for orchids after they bloom?

Like many other flowers, orchids expend a significant amount of nutrients during blooming. After each flowering cycle and orchid nurturing, when the flowers fade, the orchid enters a state of severe exhaustion and requires care and recovery.

If you neglect timely care and nutrient supplementation, the plant will weaken, suffer from nutrient deficiency, have stunted growth, become vulnerable to pests and diseases, lose vitality, and might even lead to plant death.

To rejuvenate your orchid, the root system should be your first concern because healthy roots are essential for the plant’s overall well-being. Once the roots are restored, the plant can effectively absorb and utilize nutrients for growth.

So, how should you care for your orchid after it blooms? Let’s explore it with xufarm.com.

How to Care for Orchids After Blooming

After orchid blooms have withered, what you need to do is monitor the development of new roots, provide adequate light, maintain the right temperature, fertilize, water, and prevent diseases.

Step 1: Trimming and Treating Diseased Orchid Stems

After the orchid blooms have faded, carefully inspect and remove any yellowing or withered flower stems. Assess the overall condition of the plant and decide whether minimal or extensive removal is needed. If only a few leaves are affected and less than a third of the stem is discolored, retain the healthy portions and use sanitized scissors to remove damaged sections. For heavily diseased leaves with extensive discoloration, it’s best to completely remove them.

Step 2: Addressing the Orchid’s Base and Roots

To prolong your orchid’s blooming life, generous watering is often required, which can make the roots susceptible to rot. Trimming or removing rotted root sections will prevent the spread of decay to healthy roots. Use sterilized pruning shears to eliminate all rot-affected roots, retaining the healthy, green ones. Afterward, apply chalk or nail polish or use a plant wound sealant to cover the cut areas and secure the orchid to its pot.

Step 3: Selecting Suitable Growing Medium

Once you’ve addressed the orchid’s health issues, it’s time to repot if needed. If the current growing medium is old and deteriorated, replace it with a suitable medium. Depending on the orchid species, choose an appropriate growing medium. For orchids like Vanda, Dendrobium, or Phalaenopsis, a mix of orchid bark and a bit of dried coconut husk or crushed peanut shells can help maintain root moisture. For orchids like Mokara or Catasetum, use only crushed peanut shells, ensuring you purchase these components after treating any disease to prevent future root infections.

Ensure you secure the base of the orchid firmly with copper or plastic-coated wire to prevent wobbling. Finally, add a layer of moss or fern roots around the pot’s edges, gently compacting it without covering the base entirely, allowing you to monitor root growth.

These steps will help rejuvenate your orchid and set the stage for healthy growth and potential future blooms.

Step 4: Revitalizing Orchids with Post-Blooming Fertilization

The orchid has been pruned, losing most of its roots, making it unstable in the pot. Use a rectangular foam block, place it in the center of the base of the plant, and position the orchid on top of the foam. Tie a string around the base and securely fasten it on both sides to prevent the plant from wobbling in the pot.

• Keep the orchid in a shaded area, avoiding rain entirely. After about three days, water the entire pot thoroughly.
• Prepare a diluted fertilizer mix, such as B1 or growth stimulants like Atonic or K/H. Mix 1/2 teaspoon into 20 liters of water and spray it lightly on the orchid daily for moisture.
• After 1-2 weeks, new roots will start to emerge. Wait until these new roots secure themselves in the growing medium before adding a layer of soil.
• Once the orchid has stabilized and resumed steady growth after 1-2 months, you can resume regular fertilizing and watering routines.

Step 5: Paying Attention to Light, Temperature, and Watering

Here are some essential care considerations for orchids after blooming:

• Light: Light plays a crucial role in orchid growth and post-blooming recovery. Place your orchid in a well-ventilated area with bright, indirect sunlight, ideally up to 9 a.m. After this time, it’s best to use shade cloth or move the orchid to an area that receives filtered light, ensuring it gets around 60% light exposure. Once the new roots are securely anchored in the pot, you can gradually increase the light exposure for healthy orchid growth.
• Avoid Overwatering: Ensure your orchid’s pot is well-drained, allowing it to dry out completely for 1 to 2 days between waterings to prevent fungal growth that can harm the orchid.
• Watering: During sunny seasons, water your orchid 1-2 times a day in the early morning and late afternoon. Mist the plant lightly until the water seeps into the entire pot. Only water again when the pot or the surface of the orchid roots appears dry.
• Rainy Season: In the rainy season, wait for the pot to dry out before watering again. Depending on the orchid’s placement, this may be every 2-3 days or even once a week.
• Regular Observation and Disease Prevention: Consistently monitor your orchid and take measures to prevent fungal diseases, ensuring the best conditions for growth and preparation for the next blooming cycle.

We hope this article on caring for orchids after blooming will help you in successfully rejuvenating your orchid and selecting the right fertilizer for your home orchid basket.