Make sure it’s not in a pot without a drainage hole…. For some reason the trimming of the spike passed me by i will look at your post about keiki to see if it helps. Is there a specific amount of space I should cut back to? Can you please let me know what you think? Which is good because I have a lot of orchids and that would take awhile Please help! Do you trim orchid stems? remove it? I have a phalenopsis orchid that I got for Mothers Day . That is normal and you will want to cut the stem down to the base. I have an orchid (present)which has been flowering for about 4 months. Even on the brown stem. Just remove it from the decorative pot (if it’s in one) and don’t put it back in. . Is it good? You can Google “how to grow orchids from seed” and it’s the second one. Thank you your comments were so well explained I now know how to look after my first orchid!! This is very helpful and well written. Orchids generally grow best when fertilized regularly with a weak fertilizer solution. You’re super helpful! I left the full stem over the winter after the flowers fell off. ), each with beautiful large white blooms (yellow in the center if I remember right). Go to next slide - You may also like. If that is the the case it may be potted in a pot without drainage? Ok..I received it in November as a gift, so I don’t know how long it’s been in its pot. Orchids are very hardy and once you get the hang of them – they are very easy to grow! My orchid has a brown flowering stem. Completely love your website, I’m on my first orchid journey at age 22 and have kind of fallen in love totally, already. By cutting the shoot back entirely it allows the plant to gather more energy for a greater bloom next year. The stems are now browning and dropping blooms and I wanted to cut the stems back but it has 2 leaves that have grown from the nodes. I’ve had my orchid for a while now. Hi Hannah- 25 blooms per box - this means that there will be 25 flower blooms per box. Any pointers you can give me. That’s normal for the stems to turn brown. 2. I removed the brown spike by cutting it off at the end/roots Either way you will be fine. I have noticed new leaves coming and I have roots with the silver color coming up and out all over the place. My Orchid lost it blooms in feb, It since has grown 2-3 big leaves and now notice it growing off the old spikes with buds. I would love to help! For now: Hello what soil would be the best for orchids, http://repotme.com/orchid-mix/index.html?no_redirect=true, Sphagnum Moss I usually over water plants so I water it about every other week. All rights reserved. Thank you Every since I’ve had this poor thing it’s never stopped blooming. Most likely it bloom again with one stem. Then, water the orchid lightly, and lift it out of its current pot. Make an offer. http://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/sphagnum-moss/. I will purchase fertilizer to start feeding them too. The only thing you need to remember is to ONLY water it when it’s very very dry. You can always send me a picture at myfirstorchid@gmail.com. Some types of orchid pests might cause stems to look unhealthy, wilt and eventually dry up. I am glad that works for her. You should cut the stem back. $15.99 $ 15. Do I keep watering the mother plant until others are big enough to pot on? Replant the orchid in a new pot with fresh growing medium to give it a nutrient boost. So I cut my two stems back and I have watered like you said! You can cut if you like. https://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2016/08/12/bud-blast-2/. Keeping the container underneath the orchid, start looking at the plant’s root system. I have a moth orchid that I got a couple of months ago. Hello Hannah, I live in FL and have a a couple dozen orchids hanging outside in baskets or attached to trees. https://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2015/09/06/orchid-disaster/ I also had an orchid as a gift that bloomed once and then the stem died. There is only one flower left, so I am getting ready to cut the stems and repot once it has fallen. Is just me here answering questions:) I would love to help. Hi! I would not repot it again and wait till the cooler months to see if it sprouts a new stem. No new spikes for many months from my Phalaenopsis orchid plants – no direct sun; cut some back to base; watered every 7-10 days when they seem dry; repotted x2; don’t know what else to do. I have only ever seen two. Should I water them once a week regardless of if they’re dried out or not? It blooms beautifully and has sprouted some new leaves along the way BUT it has some old very dry wrinkly leaves as well. You may not see a new shoot for quite sometime. I cut my stems back when the last flower drops off. P.s. Get it as soon as Thu, Dec 3. Look carefully at the spent flower stem. This was like 4 days ago and now the stem is red. It dropped flowers once but then immediately started forming new buds on that flower stalk and sent up a second one a few weeks later. During all this, a new shoot grew from the base. Again, I have only been doing this for 6 months, but everything I’ve read and watched from other Orchid websites, contradict this blog…so I just wanted to let you know and perhaps look around first. $15.99 $ 15. Although I haven’t tried this yet, yours was the only site that had a picture of my browning orchid, and I will surely give this a go! Dyed orchids It may not have the energy to bloom again or it could. Then we get them and think we have killed an orchid because of all the stuff that happened to it before we got it. http://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/bud-blast-2/. I was surprised how fast the blooms fell off but I figured it was perhaps due to the shock of being in a new environment ( Its in indirect light on the top of a bookshelf that faces a West window). I have a lot of them and their stems normally are green until the flowers fall and then they turn brown. Unfortunately this can lead to them rotting and dying. P.s. View our privacy policy and terms of use. My question is, do you think I should cut both stems off? I water it once a week and give it enough light i think. You can wait till this loses all the blooms to cut it off or cut the branch that has already lost its blooms. https://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2016/08/12/basal-keikibaby-orchid/, Perfect, I’ve got my answer. Good luck. The when it did fall I saw new shoots so I assumed more flowers, but no it leaves. Hannah. Lastly make sure it’s potted in a pot with a drainage hole and only water when it’s VERY dry. I know you recommend repotting after purchasing a store bought orchid but will they be ok since I can see most of the roots? And A LOT of places sell orchids in pots with no drainage which exacerbates all the problems stated above because the roots are basically trapped in water and begin to rot (even though the blooms may look beautiful at the time). You can cut it off but I normally just let it fall off. It’s natural for the whole stem to die back. Shoe roots are bright green some or white. I notice some of the leaves are starting to look wilted or wrinkled. That is wonderful! It’s so frustrating when this happens. I was really nervous about this and haven’t cut the main stem even though the tips of all 3 branches have dried. Well we can hope it will grow another spike. Please help. It had alot of flowers on it but the pot was tiny and I was new to orchids so I repotted and about a week later all the flowers had fallen off. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. https://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/my-orchid-wont-bloom/. If not we can figure it out here. Should I cut back to the root? If it were me I would probably cut it. There is nothing left of it at all. It probably used up a lot of its energy producing three flower spikes. I have only ever seen two. I would cut the bloom stem down to the base once the blooms all fall off because when it blooms again (sends up a new spike) it will be from an entirely different spot on the orchid. I am unsure if the plant has died and I should separate it from the other two or if I just need to cut the stem down near the base? You can also cut the entire stem off at this point. Ahh resting stage – yes I water them the same year round. I don’t don’t do anything with it other than watering it when it is dry. What worries me, however, is that my other orchid’s stem has turned brown after I cut it, and seems to be dying. I had some beautiful flowers prior to hospital stay and now after viewing your tape, I want to continue with my orchids again. Thank you! I am hoping you might be able to help. The picture below is a Phalaenopsis spike dying back after blooming, it is brown half way down the shoot. It has one stem with another that shoots off of it, the shoot still has a few blooms on it and when I broke the little part off I broke off the last bud on the main stem. The overwatering cause little flies to show up as well. Have you heard of this? If it has that much new growth then I could let it bloom. It needs to be watered year round because it’s a plant and needs nutrients and water. Thank you so much in advance! I have a great blooming orchid the I found has an colony of tiny ants. Thank you so much for the compliment! , There is not set schedule – they can dry out at different times. For pollinating (hybrids!) Here is my link on that. Is it potted in a pot with drainage holes? Have I killed it. When the blooms fall off cut it back to the base. Thanks Hannah! a few days ago, at the time a spike was preparing to flower and was a little brown on top but I just thought that it wasn’t finished growing. I cut my orchid stems to the base about 1/2 inch from the plant. My fingers are crossed for blooms next a year. May I also give that after cutting off the spikes? you can YouTube it. They are brown and very dry and brittle. Repotting them when they are in bloom may make the blooms fall of prematurely (because it shocks and orchid) but it won’t hurt the orchid. Thanks! So my question is since I’ve already repotted it like 3 weeks ago would I need to do that again when my blooms fall off? Everything you talk about will ensure everyone can have beautiful orchids, and keep them that way. How to water Humidity This is a stem, correct!?! I just bought an orchid. Sounds like a Keiki to me… http://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/basal-keikibaby-orchid/. If your orchids are producing new leaves and roots then it is healthy and growing. Now this ‘baby’ is the tallest out the bunch and growing stronger by the day however it now has what looks like little seedling bushes bursting out of the stem. Once the blooms fell I basically stopped doing anything with it. I never cut back the stem on my orchid. It looks like there were a couple new spikes that branched off the main one in the past. Took your Option #1 and cut them back a little above the base. But the other ” fork” still have really healthy flowers. The blossoms fell off my orchid at work, but the stem still seems healthy & is growing! The pot does have drainage holes and slits down the sides too. Cutting Orchid Roots. One shoot is trying brown both shoots It’s up to you to use fertilizer – it helps but not necessary. My one Orchid is almost done dropping it’s flowers. Now, the leaves are beautiful, thick, green. Orchid Mixed Materials Dried & Artificial Flowers. I especially do this with a young plant or one with a smaller or weak root structure so that it can gain a bit more energy for the future. Should I cut the stems back? No Drainage I left the plant alone and now new buds are growing off the tips of both these shoots. No Drainage What’s it potted in? It should fall off naturally but you can cut it off if you like. Awesome! Evelyn. When it had flowers on, it was brown. Orchid blooms falling off can be normal as shown here…. What should I do to bring it back to good health? Also when it blooms again it will bloom from an entirely different spot. Also, am I able to trim the top of the other stem even though there are still blossoms there? I also purchased a phal with 1 stem and 2 side branches a while ago (Apr? My Mom was given an orchid when she was in the hospital. produces a flower stem at the end of each of its leafy canes. When your orchid looses it blooms you can repot it after to make sure all the pest are gone. Some people like to cut only the brown part back in hopes that it may bloom again this year. Your website is fantastic, everything I need to know to care for my precious orchid… I have recently bought my mum an orchid and have just recommended this site to her as I’m pretty sure she’s convinced she will kill it lol! Let me know if you have further questions after reading the links and I hope this helps. I’ve read several pages (that include The National Orchid Society) that say you should wait. As long as the orchid … It’s my personal preference bc I like their full energy to go to growing new leaves and new roots. Don’t want to chop off a whole healthy stem for one brown branch, but wouldn’t know where to cut?