You need to fertilise them with Epsom salts which is high in magnesium and helps them use that as a sunscreen and it takes up the nutrients that they need to protect themselves at that time of the year and also to flower later on. I love growing orchids.
Some growers use ½ teaspoon per gallon with every watering, while still others use a higher concentration in the autumn to encourage blooming. A general rule is to err on the conservative side since orchid roots are sensitive.
Adding Epsom salt is a simple way to increase the health of their blooms, and is something that you can include easily as a part of a normal routine. For potted plants, simply dissolve two tablespoons of Epsom salt per gallon of water, and substitute this solution for normal watering once a month.
Help your orchids grow by providing plenty of indirect sunlight. Put your orchid in a cooler spot at night. Cooler nighttime temperatures (55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit) help new flower spikes emerge. When a new spike appears, you can return your orchid to its normal setting.
Overall, the most common reason that orchids fail to bloom is insufficient light. The Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum orchids are usually happy with the filtered light in a windowsill but many other varieties need more light than that.
Of all of the more commonly available orchids, only Phalaenopsis (the moth orchid) will re-bloom from its old spike. Phalaenopsis will generally re-bloom given a little extra care.
Growers suggest using a "balanced" fertilizer such as 20-20-20 that includes all "necessary trace elements." Regardless of the fertilizer formulation you choose to use, it should contain little or no urea.
On the 4th week when watering your orchid, do not use fertilizer.
So what's an easy way to encourage your orchid to spike? Give it a little cool air! Place your orchid in a cooler part of your home for about a week, avoiding cold blasts of air from fans or air conditioners. An optimal nighttime temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Carnivorous plants — Pitcher plants, venus flytraps, and sundews are some insect-eating plants that should not be applied with Epsom salts. Because they are adapted to grow in mineral-poor and depleted soil, supplementing fertilizers with even a tiny dosage could mean death to the bug-trapping ornamentals.
When a houseplant has a magnesium deficiency, it usually has green veins with yellowing leaves. To remedy this, dilute one tablespoon of Epsom salt in a gallon of water for houseplant usage. Water your plants with this solution once a month, or use it as a spray to mist the foliage.
If your orchids' leaves begin to yellow around the tips and the sides, your plant is likely low in nitrogen, magnesium, or both. Feed regularly over the summer, but halt fertilizer during the fall and winter and the spring flowering season.
An orchid with yellowing leaves may have been exposed to direct sunlight. You may actually see a white patch with dark brown spots surrounded by yellow. Orchid Plant Care Tip: Although this tropical plant loves light, it prefers indirect sunlight.
You can fertilize your orchid while it's in bloom, but it's really not necessary. Performing this step during the resting phase helps give your orchid extra nutrients for reblooming.
Before watering your orchid, check the moisture content in the pot. To tell if the orchid has sufficiently dried out, stick your finger in the growing medium if it feels almost dry, it is time to water.
Water Weekly
Just because your orchid no longer has its blooms doesn't mean you should stop watering it. Continue to water your orchid with three ice cubes (one ice cube for orchid minis) on the usual day each week.
Terrestrial orchids, such as paphiopedilums and some cymbidiums, grow in soil. But most tropical orchids are epiphytes, which means that they grow in the air, rather than in soil.
Osmocote® Orchid Controlled Release Fertiliser is a carefully balanced formula with increased levels of potassium, iron and other trace elements to give your orchids the nutrients they need for more beautiful blooms and greener foliage.
Place your plant in a bright location. Orchids do best with 12 to 14 hours of sunlight. Unobstructed south- or east-facing windows are usually the best. Or give plants a boost with artificial lights.
After the flowers drop from the orchid you have three choices: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, cut it back to a node, or remove it entirely. Remove the flower spike entirely by clipping it off at the base of the plant. This is definitely the route to take if the existing stem starts to turn brown or yellow.
Your orchid has tightly tangled roots.
This is a surefire sign your orchid needs to be repotted. Give plants breathing room by placing it in a larger pot every year or two with fresh potting soil.