Question
I'm a beginner with Orchids. I got one for my anniversary in Feb, there were blooms on it. But, now the blooms have fallen off and the stem is turning slowly yellow and brown. What am I doing wrong??

Answer
Hello Twanya,

Congratulations upon getting an orchid for your anniversary, hope you have many more anniversaries and maybe orchids too.  

You did not say what kind of orchid it is but I believe it may be a phalaenopsis orchid.  

You probably have not done anything wrong with it, the stem is just dying back after the blooms died off.  You can remove the stem by cutting it off an inch or two from the bottom, this will allow the orchid to concentrate on growing stronger for next years blooming.  

Phalaenopsis prefer bright light but little or no direct sunlight, temperatures between 60 to 85 F, humidity above 50%, light air movement around it, watered when the potting media becomes barely moist.  Feed it with a balance type orchid fertilizer to help and promote new leaf growth over the coming months.  

Hope this helped ease your fears.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.