Question
Hello,
I'm pretty sure I have phalaenopsis orchids. One purple and one white. The purple orchid I have had since June. I just recently bought the white orchid and it's doing fine. In the last 2-3 weeks, the last flower of the purple orchid fell off and none have bloomed since. There are still green leaves and a new green leaf growing. Will it bloom anymore flowers? If not...do I need to trim it?? When should I expect it to bloom again and in the meantime how can I be sure that I am properly taking care of it??

Thanks!
Lauren


Answer
Lauren, you should obtain a bag of orchid potting mix and repot your orchids whenever they have just finished flowering.  Soak the fresh orchid potting mix while unpotting the plant.  Rinse the roots off and remove amy roots that are mushy before repotting.  Be sure you repot to a plastic pot with lots of drainage holes in the bottom.  Phalaenopsis like to grow in an east facing window so they get some morning sun.  Most phalaenopsis orcchids bloom once per year-- usually in the spring.  If the old flower spike remains green, you could cut it off just above node (joint) and it might send a flower spike branch from that node.