My orchid plant is losing its flowers?

Question

I have an orchid plant that has been in bloom for almost 2 months (I've had it that long) and the flowers are starting to wilt. It is growing new stems and the leaves are healthy and green. It gets indirect sunlight throughout the day and I water it when the moss starts to dry. Any recommendations? I'm not killing it am I?

Answer 1

Lol, orchids sometimes keep their flowers from as little as a few days to several months, it just depends on the type of orchid you have.  Chances are you have a regular run of the mill phalaenopsis. 2 months is pretty normal for the flowers to last.  Don't throw the plant out when it's done though, water and feed regularly, give it a couple more months and it will flower again for you!

Answer 2

It has to lose it's flowers sometime! It  sounds healthy enough to me.

Answer 3

Perfectly normal behavior for an orchid after two months of flowers.

They should be shriveling in the order in which the opened – first to open on the bottom of the stem are the first to die. Cut off the spent flowers one by one as they wither and when they have all been removed – cut the stem as close to the plant as you can.

Keep it where you have it and BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER WATER. The top inch or two of potting material should be drying out before you water again. It can flower once or twice a year for you, depending on the type of orchid it is.

I have three that flower in the beginning of the year – each year. They are in an east window and I only water when the TOP of the medium is dry. In the summer they can need water as much as twice a week and in the winter they may only need water twice a month – but they flower every year. The two yellow orchids flower first, followed by the orchid with white/purple/yellow flowers. All three are Phalaenopsis orchids.

You are not killing your orchid.

Answer 4

No you are not killing it. Most orchids do bloom anywhere from a few weeks to months (I had one bloom for almost 8 months). Two months sounds about right. Just make sure to fertilize it (maybe every other watering with a 20-20-20 fertilizer) and sufficientt light. From what it sounds like you are doing everything right for the orchid. The leaf health and the stem growth are a positive sign. Keep up the good work. It should rebloom in the spring (if not sooner).