Question: My orchid has finished blooming, but it still has two stems. How can it be forced to rebloom on these stems?
Answer: There are many types of orchids, but if yours is a moth orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.) reblooming is a simple process. Begin with a healthy plant and ensure you are meeting the basic needs of the orchid: good light (a bright window) but no direct sun; temperatures around 60 degrees at night and 75 to 85 in the day; proper watering (never let the plant dry out — water in the morning and let the excess water drain); proper humidity (50 to 80 percent); and regular feeding with an orchid fertilizer.
You will notice little bumps along the stem; these nodes are capable of growing a new stem (spike). Cut the stem on an angle just above a node, leaving at least two nodes on the stem. Use sterile tools to cut the stem, to prevent the introduction or spread of disease. Night temperatures of about 55 degrees are suggested for a few weeks to produce a new spike. This will develop from one of the nodes on the old stem and produce flowers in about 12 weeks.
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