Orchid plant care to help your plant bloom

Of all the potted plants you will find, orchids are by far some of the most elegant. Their flowers have an unusual appearance which is what makes them so appealing. If you have or would like to buy an orchid plant, you should keep the following tips in mind. Not only will they keep your plant happy, but they will also encourage it to bloom time and time again.

Environment

Your orchid plant needs to be placed in an area of your home where the conditions will be similar to that of its natural environment. In other words, you don’t want it to be too warm or dry. When watering your plant, you should do so from the bottom. You don’t want to pour water over the roots. Instead, you should place the pot in a tray of water and allow the potting mix to absorb the water at its own pace. You can also increase humidity around the plant by placing the pot on a tray of pebbles and adding water to this tray.

Nutrients

All plants need nutrients in order to grow and your orchid plant is no different. Different plants have different nutritional needs so, make sure that you use a fertilizer designed for orchids in particular.

Sunlight

Another important environmental factor when it comes to orchid plant care is sunlight. In their natural environment, these plants do not receive direct sun. For this reason, you should keep them in well-lit areas but out of direct sunlight.

Temperatures

Your orchid plant will prefer moderate temperatures. Make sure that the room in which it is placed does not get too hot or too cold. Anything lower than 15 degrees Celsius can affect the growth of your plant.

Time to trim

Sometimes your orchid plant may also need to be trimmed back in order to encourage growth. You should trim the stem at the halfway mark using a sharp, clean cutting tool. You can then apply some melted candle wax or cinnamon powder to the end that you cut in order to seal it and prevent infection.

Replanting

Your orchid plant will not need to be replanted too often. However, when it needs a new home, you should resist the urge to place it in a very large planter. You should only use a planter that is one or two sizes larger than the current one. If your planter is too large, it will not offer the roots of the plant any stability and your orchid will no longer thrive.

If cared for properly, your orchid plant should rebloom after 2 – 3 months. Once they rebloom, they should continue to produce flowers for up to 4 months! Just make sure that you keep a close eye on the stems, leaves, roots and the quality of your flowers.