Question
QUESTION: I have 5 orchids, and I am trying to absorb as much information as I can to care for them correctly. I have had one of my orchids for about 2 1/2 yrs. I think I cut the 'stem' wrong, because it will not grow the stem back, but the leaves keep growing like crazy. Is there any way I will be able to get blooms to grow on this one? Here are some pictures of my orchids.
http://flickr.com/photos/thelewallens/sets/72157602409670639/

I don't seem to have any problems growing the other ones. Oh, and I live just outside of Chicago,IL.

ANSWER: Hello Denise,

Thanks for the photos, all 5 of your orchids are phalaenopsis orchids.  

On a couple of the photos you show the old flower stem and from its appearance it probably is dead.  You can cut it off as it will not produce blooms again.  

On the ones I could see the potting material, it appears they are potted in sphagnum moss.  If you have had them in the moss since you got them, the moss is probably well past its prime and should be replaced with either fresh moss or other orchid potting material.  Also, it appears that the newer leaves have not grown to be as large or larger than the older leaves, this is an indication that some thing might be wrong with the roots.  

Several of the phals have leaves with some damage.  Was the damage caused by an accident or did they grow that way?  Along with the damage, there appears to be several leaves with black edges near the tip.  Black edges could be caused by excessively hard water, feeding too much fertilizer or both.  

Living near Chicago, you have done pretty well with them with the exceptions noted above.  

To get phalaenopsis orchids to rebloom requires a little work on your part.  Over the next month, try to expose them to night temperatures near 55F, day temperatures above 65F.  This may prompt it to begin the bloom cycle, but be patient as it may be early 2008 before you see new stems growing.  Look for a green stem appearing between the leaves.  

Hope this helped.  If you have other questions or would like more information about the above, write back.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So the one plant that I have the stem peaking up out of the moss, do you think that plant will ever bloom again? I am thinking that a new 'stem' will have to grow, because/ that one looks like it pretty well had it? I do want to thank you for the information. We do have hard water. The leaves keep growing, the stems I do still have are a nice green color, and have bloomed a couple of times already. I will redo the soil, I bought orchid soil. My husband is going to make a shelf for me to put a light up, that is says it is for orchids. The pics were hard to get the coloring to show up nicely. The one plant with the yellowed leaves I believe were exposed to the cold we had a week ago from sitting in my kitchen window. Which they LOVED this past summer. I have since removed them from the window, and will try my hardest to make them last, I think it is just fulfilling to get something so temperamental to come back and strive. Thanks again!

Answer
Hi Denise,

All of the phalaenopsis are capable of reblooming.  Make them happy and they will make you happy.  Depending upon how hard your water is, you can try using bottled drinking water instead.  If you buy it in 2-gallon containers it is not quite as expensive.  No need to buy distilled water.  

The yellowed leaves may return to a green color but do not be surprised if they do not, it depends upon how severely they were damaged by exposure to the cold.  

If you have other questions or would like more information about the above, write  back.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.