Home And Family

Orchids are at their most beautiful when they are in bloom, but unfortunately it doesn’t last forever and after bloom care for orchids is a question I am often asked. The main issues to be concerned with are, how do you care for the orchid once its bloomed, and how do you make sure it blooms again…

Once the bloom has passed on (we are trying to be sympathetic here) cut the flower stalk about one inch from the base with a sharp knife or pair of scissors. Some people are concerned with disease at this point, if you like feel free to treat the cut section with some rubbing alcohol. Many think that cutting the stalk this low is a mistake but this will ensure that the next bloom is as close as possible to the first in size and beauty.

The next step is to evaluate the root system. To do this I will always remove the plant from its pot to make sure it is still moving along and is healthy. No good blooms will come from a plant with a troubled root system. The roots need to be healthy so make sure everything looks ok and the orchid is taking on water. Without this you will get minimal blooms.

So remove the plant from the pot. Look real close. If you find black or brown mushy root, remove them – all of them. If the roots are white, off-white and green you are okay… as is the plant.

There’s no telling how long the plant has been in that mix so it would be a good time to repot. As for the green-gray external roots hanging out of the pot, tuck them inside the pot. If they are too long for the pot, trim them down to size. For future reference, external roots are not necessarily indicative of a plant that needs repotting, but rather simply the nature of the plant.

Once you get to this stage, simply take care of your orchid as you normally would and wait until it blooms again and simply enjoy the beauty.

This article is just the beginning of learning about orchid care. To make sure you are giving your orchids the best treatment possible check out http://www.orchidcarerevealed.com/. You can find out all about their orchid tips and tricks by clicking here.