Why orchids flower?

 These tropical orchids are famous for their bright, showy flowers that come in a variety of colors. While the general meaning of the orchid ranges from charm and beauty to sophistication and fertility, these stunning flowers are perfect for any occasion, even just to bring joy. A well-maintained Phalaenopsis orchid (one of the most common species) can bloom for up to four months. The popular Phalaenopsis orchid is one of the easiest orchid varieties to grow as a houseplant and is often referred to as the beginner's orchid for its docile nature or the moth orchid for its flower shape. 

The most popular orchids on the market, members of the Phalaenopsis family, grow on larger plants and trees and absorb moisture from the air just like their roots. For example, phalaenopsis orchids are usually grown with rough bark, cattleyas with medium bark, and young orchid plants are best grown with thin bark. There are several types of growing media that can be used to grow orchids: mahogany or fir bark, sphagnum peat, rocks, cork, charcoal, sand, potting soil, etc. The basic orchid growing mix consists of coarse perlite, bark, and sphagnum moss. 

Use a specially formulated orchid growing medium instead of regular potting soil, which can kill your plant. While your current orchid container may not be ideal, don't try to report a flowering plant or it will become stressed and lose its flowers. Plan to repot your orchid at least every three years or so, moving it to a container one size larger. 

Once their flowers have completely faded, it's tempting to throw your plant away, but with a few simple tricks, you can get your orchid to bloom again, not only in a few months but for many years to come. Once flowering is complete, cut off the tip of the dead flower with sterile scissors and transplant the plant into an orchid pot that specializes in orchid mixes. Some orchids need to remove wilted flowers while the stems, also called thorns, are left uncut, so it's important to know how to prune a particular plant. Orchids have developed highly specialized pollination systems so the chances of being pollinated are often slim, so orchid flowers usually remain receptive for a very long period of time, making unpollinated flowers long-lasting in culture. 

If the temperature drops for a few nights, some orchids will start blooming, such as phalaenopsis, which is, fortunately, one of the best-selling houseplants. When your orchid has faded and the flowers have fallen off, this is normal: don't think you've mistreated the plant, or that it's dead or dying. When our watercolor orchids bloom again, their flowers will be a natural vegetal color (white or light pink), and there will be no dye color.