How do I revive my wilted Phalaenopsis orchid? Did I kill it, or is it natural for these flowers to wilt?
I’ve had one of those potted phalaenopsis orchids for about 2 months. Eight flowers bloomed all at the same time and were beautiful, but then all died at the same time.
I keep the plant inside and give it plenty of light every day and water it once a week. But now all my flowers are wilted. The stem and leaves are perfectly healthy.
Did I kill it, or is it natural for these flowers to wilt? How do I make it bloom again?
The flowers are not there permanently, they last 2-3 months and then die off. The stem can be cut back between two of the bumps on the stem and usually this will cause the plant to send off a side spike. However, the side spike might not have as many flowers. Some growers prefer to cut the spike at the base as the spike looks more natural and more flowers may be produced. Occasionally the whole stem will die back so just go ahead and cut at the base.
The plant will grow a new spike from scratch when ready. This also encourages the plant to go through its vegetative growth phase. New roots and new leaves will be produced before the spike is grown. The plant should be fertilised throughout the year with a diluted orchid feed, this supports flowering, leaf and root growth.