Question
I have an orchid I bought from Hawaii 2 years ago. I don't know the type.. just know that the flowers are white (in the label that came with the small plant).. It never flowered since I bought it.. I bought it very small, with two tiny leaves. Now it has 3 leaves.. they are dark green , all coming from a single point..(i.e., there is no long branch, stem or anything.. just the leaves).
It also have those thing long roots that spread around the air.. It grows very slow.I have put it in a container with bark and peat moss (80% bark and 20% peat moss). Around once in 3 or 4 months, I give an orchid food (Schultz).During winter and fall I left it in a room exposed to the South. Now (June/July) I leave it in a room that gets Northeast light.
I live in Southeast Michigan. Summer temperatures get to 85, and sometimes 90s, and humid. We have been getting lots of rain these last weeks.
I have two questions:
1- why is it not flowering? Am I doing something wrong? should I change the bark or add something to it?

2- Can I move the plant outdoors during the summer? And if that is recommendable, where should I move it to? Under a tree? shaded area? can it get lots of rain?

Tank you so much for your time!

Tina


Answer
Hello Tina,

My first impression was that you had a Dendrobium orchid but reading further it sounds more like a Phalaenopsis orchid of maybe even a Vanda orchid.  

You say it now has 3 tiny leaves, are they roundish or more pointy in shape?  If roundish then it may be a phalaenopsis but if pointy it may be a vanda-type.  Depending upon what kind of orchid it is, the growing requirements would be different.  

Phalaenopsis orchids prefer bright shade with even full early morning sun exposure (dark to medium green leaf color), warm temperatures between 60 to 85 F, humidity above 50%, slight air movement.  Water when the pot becomes barely moist, watering too often will cause the roots in the pot to rot.  Fertilize it with a mild solution of orchid fertilizer with each watering.  

Vanda-types prefer bright light, enough to make the leaves turn light green (you said the leaves on yours are dark green).  Try moving it slowly over 3-4 weeks into brighter light to prevent leaf sunburn.  Give it warm temperatures between 55 to 85 F, humidity above 50%, with some air movement.  Water the pot when it becomes barely moist but several times a day mist the exposed roots to keep them from drying too much.  Fertilize with each watering and add a little to the mist bottle.  

Why it is not flowering depends upon the type of orchid and how it is being grown.  As noted above, light exposure plays a role in flowering.  Try moving it to slightly more light even if it is a phal., that may help.  Also, try exposing it to temperatures in the low to mid 50's in mid-fall for 2-3 weeks to help initiate the flowering cycle.  But, if it is a vanda-type, you may not have enough sunlight in SE Michigan to get it to bloom reliably as vandas require quite a bit to grow and bloom.  

You can move either type outdoors but be careful of sun exposure if it turns out to be a phal. and give it overhead protection from rains.  If it is a vanda-type orchid you probably can place it in full sun but with a little overhead protection (about 30% shade) from the hot midday sun (10 to around 2) and it is okay if it gets rained on.  If you do move it outdoors be sure to treat it for insects that may have decided to make a home in it.  Give it 2-3 treatments with a good general insecticide per manufacturers directions.  

Wish I could be of more help but hope the above helps a little.  If you have more information about it from the label that came with it, let me know and I may be able to give you more specific advice.  

Good luck and good growing.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.