Promoting Blooms In Orchids

Q: My orchid has had new growth but no blooms for two years. What can I do to promote blooms? 

A: Most often it is a question of light. Orchids grow naturally on jungle trees, so they like intermittent sunlight with a little shade for most of the day. That is hard to accomplish in most homes. Try moving your orchid to a brighter window. Keep an eye on the leaves for a couple of weeks. If they begin to have brown edges, the light is too much for the plant and you’ll need to move it away from the window a few feet. If it hasn’t been fertilized in a while, consider an application of orchid food now.