When Blooming Ends: A Guide

With proper care, you can expect your orchid blooms to last anywhere between six to eight weeks.

After the blooming ends however, this does not mean your orchid has died.

When the last blooms fall, it means that your orchid has started a resting phase. During this cycle, it will grow new leaves and roots to get ready for its next blooms.

You can continue to care for your orchid in the same way you cared for it when it was blooming. This means, continue to water once a week and follow the directions on your orchid food packaging.

Continue watering your orchid once a week

Continue fertilizer cycle as indicated

At this point, if your spike is still green and healthy we also recommend cutting the spike at least two nodes above the root as shown below:

Note that during this phase your spike may turn brown. When this happens you can trim it at the base of the plant.

With the right orchid care, you can expect your orchid to bloom again within about a year. You don’t need to repot your orchid unless you see more living roots than medium. Watch out for warning signs like molding and rotting which can jeopardize your orchid. Learn more about an orchid’s ideal environment here!