How To Enjoy Year-Round Orchid Blooms?

There is no better feeling than when your orchid finally begins to bloom! Once the blooms begin to fall off, it is a waiting game until the next blooms appear again.

Why not get a variety of orchids that bloom at different times of the year so that you will ALWAYS have an orchid in bloom? Year-round orchid blooms are not impossible, but with different varieties of orchids, you will have to remember to give each type their own specific care so that they will bloom and rebloom for you.

In order to plan for year-round blooms, it is helpful to create a record of your current orchids blooming schedules. Most popular orchids bloom once a year, so generally, if an orchid is in bloom when you buy it, it will likely bloom again around the same time the following year.

Below are some of the most common household orchids with their bloom season, bloom frequency, and bloom length to use as a handy reference:

* Some Catts bloom in Summer or Winter.
** Some Cyms bloom in Late Summer.

There are numerous combinations of types of orchids you can grow in order to try and get year-round blooms. Below are a few ideas that you can keep in mind when looking to add to your collection:

1^st combination:

• Phalaneopsis
• Cattleya
• Vanda
• Paphiopedilum Maudiae hybrid
• Summer-blooming Cymbidium

2^nd combination:

• Dendrobium
• Phalaenopsis
• Encyclia cochleata
• Brassia
• Zygopetalum

 3^rd combination:

• Odontoglossum
• Oncidium
• Phalaenopsis
• Vanda
• Paphiopedilum primulinum
• Dendrobium Phalaenopsis

In order to ensure that each orchid blooms for as long as possible, you will need to maintain healthy plants. Below are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Temperature: Make sure the temperature isn’t too hot—most orchid blooms enjoy temperatures up to 75°F (24°C).
• Lighting: Keep orchids out of direct sunlight, which can cause sunburn.
• Humidity: Avoid overly humid conditions because rot can set in.
• Watering: Continue to water your flowering orchids regularly and don’t mist your blooms, because too much moisture can cause disease or spotting.
• Keep insects away from your flowering orchid because if an insect pollinates an orchid bloom, the flower will wilt and die soon after.
• Keep your orchid away from air pollutants (i.e. aerosol sprays, paint thinner, smoke and the ethylene gas released from ripe fruit) because they can cause orchid blooms to fade.

Having at least one orchid in bloom at all times can be a fun challenge. It will take some careful thought and planning on your part, but being rewarded with beautiful orchid blooms year-round is priceless!