Question
Hi, I have had two orchids for about three years now.  They bloomed beautifully the first year.  However, there hasn't been any flowers last year or this year.  I've been using the All Purpose Miracle Grow fertilizer.  Should I be doing anything else?

Answer
Hi Sarah,

You didn't say what type of orchids you have, where and how you've been growing them or where you live but I'll try to give you some ideas.  

That the two orchids are still alive means you must be doing most things right.  What may be the reason they have been growing but not blooming could be due to the All Purpose Miracle Grow fertilizer you have been using.  While this fertilizer is very good at promoting growth, using it all year round is probably sacrificing blooming.  To promote blooming, in late summer to early fall switch over to a fertilizer with a low N or first number, the other possibility is to not feed them through winter at all but only using plain water.  In addition to stopping or switching fertilizers is to use epsom salts in the fall.  Epsom salt or sulphate of magnesium used at a level teaspoon per quart of lukewarm water and fed three times over three weeks may help kickstart the bloom cycle.  

Depending upon what type of orchids you have, it may be that they need more or less sunlight in order to bloom.  Some orchids need full sun exposure while others require deep shade, that is why it is helpful to know what type of orchids you have.  Some orchids need high temperatures while other do not.  There are other considerations in where and how to grow orchids, but you've got the general idea.  

If you can find out what type they are or give a description of what the plants look like along with the flowers and how they were presented, I might be able to guess.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.